It’s been several years since I posted about Meet The Bass Player. Since then there have been some new bass only recordings that I’ve added to my practice routine.
What I like about practicing with a walking bass line is that I’m forced to listen to (and play) the form, even if it’s a simple blues. It adds another layer to each session that I enjoy and can be an extra challenge.
Most of you probably know about Quincy Davis’ play-along tracks. He has several of them, but the two that I use are:
The blues tracks are great! There are 14 of them, ranging from 60bpm – 320bpm with an average length of about 4:30.
The rhythm changes pack is pretty new. The set includes one 37 minute track that gradually speeds up, starting at 55bpm and ending up at 335bpm. In addition to the long track, Quincy includes 15 individual tracks. They’re chopped up versions of the long recording, so each track is only about 2:30. I wish they were a little longer, but they’re still really useful.
Finally, the newest addition to this category comes all the way from Switzerland! I’ve been a fan of Peter Primus Frosch on Instagram for a while. Many of you likely are as well. His breakdowns of bebop licks are great. He’s a smooth player with a nice feel and touch.
Peter recently released Walking Bass Play Alongs – Blues. There are 32(!) tracks ranging from 50pm – 340bpm and totaling 160 minutes! Almost every track is over 5 minutes, so you can really dig in and get a workout. Highly recommended!
If you know of any other jazz bass play-along recordings, please let me know. I love adding to my collection.
