Sheet Music Looking for: Blues, Rock, or Funk playalong book

[Chris98]

I'm getting back into the sax after flirting with other things for a few years, luckily I never sold my saxes, just thinned the mouthpiece collection!

I've been banging away at some of my old play along books getting my fingers back on the pearls and I'm now at the stage of needing something new, and something different. All I seem to have done is jazz, jazzy ballads, jazzy blues, and jazzy other stuff. And dare I say it, I don't really listen to that much jazz, (I like a tune 😉) I'm more of a blues, rock, funk type of a person, so I guess that's where my heart lies in playing too.

So does anyone know of good, blues, rock or funk play along book, preferably with a decent backing track CD, and preferably for tenor too?

My initial hunting has turned up:

Bob Mintzer: 14 Blues & Funk Etudes

Mark Deke McGee: Learn to Play Rhythm 'n Blues Saxophone for Bb Tenor

If anyone has either of these I'd be interested to know what you think, but also grateful to hear of any other suggestions.

Thanks​

 

[Greg Strange]

You could try the Hal Leonard Saxophone Play Along Books and CDs which have recently being introduced and the Denis Taylor Blues Saxophone Book/s. The Hal Leonard books have parts for Eb / Bb, alto / tenor parts.

Greg S.

 

[Pyrografix]

I can't copy the link (technological incompetence!), but have a look at Funk and Soul Power Live playalongs by Gernot Dechert ......

 

[Chris98]

Thanks Greg, I've not come across that book, but it looks good, and always nice to have the option to play either the tenor or alto.

Hi Amanda, I saw that Gernot Dechert has done two books, the funk one you've suggested and a blues one, which is already on route to me. If I like the blues book, the funk book will be next on the list.

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[thomsax]

Andrew Clark (Rock & Roll saxophone/Saxophone Journal/Saxophone Today) made a Masteclass called "Five Common Styles In Rock" in 2009. The masterclass cover Blues (basic blues, style), Funk (JB style), Reggae (Marley style) Soul and Ballad (Van Morrison style). Charts for alto and tenor and a CD with comments, Andrew playing and a play-along for every song. All songs are in concert A. PM me if you want help.

We are going to have a "Five Common Styles in Rock" workshop with Andrew Clark here in Sweden (if everything turns out well) coming summer, somewhere between end of June - middle of August. A Rocksax weekend (Fri-Sun) with jam with a rhythm section (gtr,drm, bass). Andrew use to play keys and sing. And of course, saxophone as well. To fly from UK - Copenhagen is not so expensive. The problem is to bring a tenor without paying extra. An alto in a flightcase use to be ok to check in as hand luggage.

 

[Jez Watson]

i have had the Mintzer book and it is great, but i think its still way too jazz for your needs

 

[SaxDon]

Thanks Greg, I've not come across that book, but it looks good, and always nice to have the option to play either the tenor or alto.

Hi Amanda, I saw that Gernot Dechert has done two books, the funk one you've suggested and a blues one, which is already on route to me. If I like the blues book, the funk book will be next on the list.

Thanks for the suggestions.

The Dechert two I found to be excellent. I still haven't found anything as good

 

[rhysonsax]

The Deke McGee book and CD is good for bluesy effects like growling but doesn't really tell you much about blues scales, riffs, chord progressions, structuring a solo etc.

The Mintzer books are definitely more on the jazz end of the blues spectrum than rock or R&B.

The Dechert book has good rock and R&B style backing tracks and written out solos but not much in the way of instruction or theory.

Another couple of books on blues saxophone that are worth considering:

Improvising Blues Saxophone by Nick Beston Improvising Blues Saxophone: An Introduction to Blues Saxophone Styles, Techniques and Improvisations (Schott Popstyles): Amazon.co.uk: Nick Beston: 9781847611475: Books

Blues Improvisation Complete by Jeff Harrington (Berklee Press) J Harrington: Blues Improvisation Complete For B Flat Instruments: Amazon.co.uk: J Harrington: 0739994948608: Books

The second has a range of excellent backing tracks in different styles and all the keys. It introduces blues scales (effectively minor and major blues scales but doesn't call them that).

Rhys

 

[Jez Watson]

I think you would be better doing some Transcribing of stuff you like, not writing it down but memorising licks and solos or part of and internalising the language, books cant teach you the emotional content or inflections of the language, only copying someone who has it till it becomes part of your playing, start small and work up

 

[c9off]

Improvising Blues Saxophone by Nick Beston Improvising Blues Saxophone: An Introduction to Blues Saxophone Styles, Techniques and Improvisations (Schott Popstyles): Amazon.co.uk: Nick Beston: 9781847611475: Books

Rhys

Just got back in from a big band concert with Nick Beston's big band, guest trumpeter Mike Lovatt 🙂

 

[Chris98]

Brilliant suggestions, thanks, I'll hold back on the Mintzer book, the Dechert Blues book turned up and looks and sounds great, I'll know more when I attempt to play along with it.

Rhys, thanks for your two suggestions, they both look like decent books to get. I'll probably stagger getting them and the book Greg suggested over a number of months otherwise it's just too much new material all at once.

Thanks again for everyone's help.

 

[SaxDon]

Funk & Soul Power Live! Sheet Music By Gernot Dechert (SKU: HL.49015685) - Sheet Music Plus

This has a good selection of sound samples from funk and soul power

 

[Colin the Bear]

Busker Books

 

[thomsax]

Maybe the book "Hot Rock Sax" by Tim Price. No playalong book. Tim Price is also teaching via skype.

Amazon.com: Hot Rock Sax - Techniques, Licks And Effects (0073999732320): Tim Price: Books