Playjazznow.com - Vocal Tracks now Available

One of the first experiences I had playing jazz with a professional rhythm section was with the Jamey Aebersold records (yes, they were 33 RPM) back in high school. I had a very hip band director who purchased the first 8 or 9 records (that’s all there was then), and I promptly borrowed them and wore them out basically.  Back in the late 70’s, it wasn’t easy to find jazz educational materials like you can find today.  The internet has made finding jazz materials really easy and there is enough material out now to keep you busy for 3 lifetimes. 

One of my subscribers sent me a press release announcing a new series of play along tracks for vocals.  Playjazznow.com is a very cool site that basically takes the Jamey Aebersold concept and puts it on the internet – play along tracks that are instantly downloadable.   The site is very comprehensive and should meet the needs of just about any level of aspiring jazz player.  Pick up Steve Neffs books in PDF, then head over to playjazznow.com – then start practicing. No excuses anymore.  Start becoming a better jazz player TODAY.  Here is Bill’s press release:

 

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CHICAGO, IL (September 24, 2007) – In its desire to provide jazz educators and students the kind of materials they can really use, PlayJazzNow.com announces a new series of sing-along tracks.

“I’ve been hearing from a lot of jazz vocalists who want what instrumentalists have had for years,” says PlayJazzNow “trackmeister” Bill Harrison, a professional jazz bassist who has been playing and teaching for nearly 30 years. “We’ve just posted arrangements of some of the best loved standards, in comfortable keys for singers.”  

Instead of chord progressions only, these tracks feature typical introductions, several choruses of the chord changes to the song, and a written ending. Vocalists can now have their own personal trio on call whenever they feel like practicing! As they have in the past, PlayJazzNow provides free downloadable charts in all the available keys for each tune.

Over the past fifteen months, PlayJazzNow has garnered a reputation for producing high quality, swinging tracks for horn players, bassists, guitar and piano players and drummers. “The instrumental tracks have proven to be a great help to many musicians all over the world. Now vocalists can get in the game as well,” says Harrison.

Bill Harrison is an accomplished jazz bassist who has performed with many jazz masters including; Clark Terry, James Moody, Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach, Kenny Burrell, Bunky Green and Joe Daley.  He has been a faculty member of Chicago State University and the American Conservatory of Music, and has taught at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Clark Terry’s Great Plains Jazz Camp and the Saskatchewan Summer School for the Arts.  Harrison currently plays jazz, commercial and theatre gigs in Chicago and maintains two teaching studios.