Jimmie Blanton on "Jack the Bear": Studying an Early Masterpiece

PARTIAL PDF: payhip.com/b/v37CK
FULL PDF: payhip.com/b/1Vj6B
PDF BUNDLE: payhip.com/b/DAvGC
Paul Thompson's video ( @pdbass)
• Let's Check Out Jimmie...
00:00 Intro and overview analysis
04:17 Full performance of "Jack the Bear"
07:33 Notes of the transcription
10:06 More Blanton recordings
12:03 In-depth analysis of multiple parts of the piece
27:02 Closing thoughts

[@cisraels]

Matt, you are faithful to Blanton’s 12/8 feel-strong/weak, strong/weak. As wonderful as this is, playing it with bebop timed 8th notes (Oscar Pettiford/Lucky Thompson) renders it more linear, and even more effective to my ears. Congratulations on taking the time and effort to work this out and demonstrate it so clearly. Chuck

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Mr. Israels, it’s a sincere honor to hear your kind and informative words! Thank you for taking the time to comment, I’m so touched that you’d write. We met about 23 years ago at a festival in the city, and I hope it won’t be another 23 until I get to hear you in person again.

[@andy-jupytermoon]

Thank you so much for sharing such valuable lessons.

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Thank you for watching!

[@ralfspitaler8921]

Great thx

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Thanks for watching!

[@thomascordery7951]

I'm quite sure that when Ray was pushing ahead it was intentional. As long as the drummer doesn't get sucked in, the bass playing just ahead of the kick gives a constant sense of picking up the pace even though the tempo doesn't change. In the rhythm section it's all of a piece with the way some really great drummers push ahead with one limb while holding back with another, all while being bang on the beat elsewhere.

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Thanks for your comment

[@Mohawk763]

Really enjoyed watching this. I tried playing along using the chart but I intend to make it a more full study actually reading the notation, which I can't do and should really learn because it will only improve my knowledge. Thanks again.

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

So glad that you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching

[@dtfoel1230]

I enjoyed this post - demo - lesson -

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Thank you!

[@danielandrades5238]

Great content as always! What is going to be the next iconic bassline you're going to cover?

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Thank you! Not sure exactly - I have about 15-20 more on tap. (though not yet recorded) any requests?

[@danielandrades5238]

I've been meaning to learn the bassline that Ron Carter played on Freddie Hubbard's Red Clay but I know that was played on electric. So maybe you could do seven steps to heaven or a night in tunisia

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

You got it :)

[@danielandrades5238]

Wait I thought of another one. I would really love if you did Strausburg / St. Denis since its a relatively modern and easy tune that gets called up a lot where I'm from.

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

@danielandrades5238 cool no problem! I was gonna do all 3 anyway at some point. I’ll do SSD first!

[@ilfino]

hi Matt, thank you. What strings are you using?

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Hi and thanks for watching. These are Genssler RW-J strings.