Hal Leonard Puts Jazz Bass on Top

The world¹s largest music print publisher, Hal Leonard

Corporation has just released a must-have book for upright bassists ­ Jazz

Bass on Top: A Guide to Left-Hand Technique by Andy McKee.

A one-of-a-kind, comprehensive approach to left-hand technique for the

double bassist, Jazz Bass on Top features 50 classic jazz songs* with

precise fingerings to help players gain mastery of the fingerboard. The

songs are presented in order of difficulty, making this the perfect workbook

for classroom situations, or for any individual who wants to develop a solid

foundation for soloing and walking basslines.

A native New Yorker, Andy McKee has been performing on the world¹s jazz

stages for more than 25 years. He has been a longtime member of the Mingus

Big Band and the Mingus Dynasty, as well as groups led by Elvin Jones,

Michel Petrucciani, Chet Baker, and Philly Joe Jones. He has toured and

recorded as a leader of his own group since 1995. The deep resonance of his

sound adds unmistakable dimension to every band he plays in.

McKee recognizes the value in passing on the skills and insights he has

gained through his years of study both on and offstage. He has been a

faculty member at the New School University in New York City since 1993, and

has conducted clinics and workshops throughout the United States and Europe.

McKee comments, ³Developing a thoughtful and organized method for the left

hand is fundamental to the evolution of a bassist¹s artistic endeavor. This

theme is central to my teaching students of the double bass, guiding them in

their quest for instrumental mastery and musical excellence.²

For more information or to order Jazz Bass on Top (HL00701375 / $14.99) from

Hal Leonard, please visit your local music retailer or contact Music

Dispatch (www.musicdispatch.com / 800-637-2852).

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* Here is the complete songlist for Jazz Bass on Top:

Afternoon in Paris € All of Me € Along Came Betty € Anthropology € Au

Privave € Autumn Leaves € Bass Blues € Billie¹s Bounce (Bill¹s Bounce) €

Bloomdido € Blue Skies € Blues in the Closet € Bohemia After Dark € Bye Bye

Blackbird € Confirmation € Dig € Don¹t Get Around Much Anymore € Doxy €

Epistrophy € Four € The Girl from Ipanema € Goodbye Pork Pie Hat € I

Remember Clifford € In a Sentimental Mood € In Walked Bud € Interplay €

Invitation € Israel € Lament € Lester Left Town € Lullaby of Birdland €

Milestones € Moose the Mooche € My One and Only Love € Nardis € A Night in

Tunisia € Oleo € Ornithology € Pent Up House € Ray¹s Idea € Receipt Please €

Recorda-Me € Satin Doll € Scrapple from the Apple € Self-Portrait in Three

Colors € Softly as in a Morning Sunrise € Solar € Tail Feathers € Teen Town

€ Well You Needn¹t € Yesterdays.

Read what fellow educators are saying about Jazz Bass on Top:

³This work is solid and sure to become the Simandl/Bille for the jazz

bassist.²

­ Jeff Carney

New School University € New York, NY

³I am grateful that you are taking the time to do this. I feel it would be a

very valuable addition to the literature, and would most certainly help

developing jazz players devise much more logical fingering patterns for

themselves.²

­ Associate Professor Todd Coolman, Director of Jazz Studies

Purchase College­SUNY € Purchase, NY