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5 reviews
Everything it claims to be! Especially wonderful for developing bass guitar players.
Executive summary, TL;DR: I'm so glad I bought this, for the musical transcriptions, the history and biography, and the online audio contents.
Details:
This was a great buy for me, as a bass guitarist trying to up his game musically and become more familiar with the music and lives of those who have gone before. It combines fascinating, unflinching, yet also kind, understanding, and appreciative insight into the life and music of James Jamerson and the "Funk Brothers". The book is about half biography and history and half transcriptions of some of James Jamerson's most excellent and influential bass lines.
As the original purchaser of a new hard-copy of the book, I was able use the included code to download the associated online files of notable bassists (including Jamerson's son James Jamerson, Jr.) playing the transcriptions given in the book. The playing of these files can be slowed down and transposed to different musical keys using the included integrated player software. Definitely worth buying a new copy of the book, rather than used, unless one is *only* interested in the biographical material.
It it wonderful to hear Jamerson's lines played clearly by excellent musicians, and with the bass on one stereo channel and everything else on the other, you can choose to hear the bass line in all its glory and then listen again to see how it fits in the mix and supports what's going on with the other musicians and the piece as a whole.
One heads-up for those who want to play, as well as hear Jamerson's bass lines: The written transcriptions are in standard musical notation, not tab. That's fine by me, as it gives me further motivation to develop my facility with reading, and with placing bass lines on the fretboard.
Anyway, I don't know that there is anyone who could offer an authoritative tab for every note, whereas the recordings from which the transcriptions were made are a matter of musical record! Even if I couldn't read standard notation, I think the online files would still be worth it to me. As useful as sight reading can be, there's much to be said for getting the music in one's head before working it out on the instrument. And I need to train my ear and feel every bit as much as I need to develop my chops. I'm grateful to the author and publisher of this book, and to all who made it possible. Wow!Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: prepbooks
The definitive resource on Motown, James Jamerson and their recording process.
This is a really informative book, not just about Motown records and James Jamerson, but on the whole recording process that they used. Indispensable for record producers and bass players.
Verified purchase: Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: seaveyda
Good in depth book
Very informative with both music theory and examples as well has history of James and others.
Verified purchase: Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: cleanhouse1589
Nice book about Jamerson.
Good book for bass players interested in the history of James Jamerson. Has many musical examples of his playing, etc.
Verified purchase: Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: prepbooks
This bass book
Reading and applying information from this James Jamerson book will help me become a better bassist.
Verified purchase: Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: dreambooks_co