Hi. Can you give me the best option you know of for downloading charts and audio files to learn to improvise jazz? It's been, like, 35 years since I went through that process and at the time there was nothing online. About the only thing available was Music Minus One or Abersol and you had to order a CD and a physical book. And even then there wasn't much available for trombone.

So, if one were to want to learn jazz on the trombone today, what's the best online source for standards, with bass clef parts and download or streaming accompaniment?

Thanks! :)

IReal Pro?

Band-in-a-box is also great, but not on your phone.

There aren’t really a lot of options for play along AND the actual melodies. Aebersolds are really still kind of the gold standard. Hal Leonard has a USB they sell to accompany their real books, but it isn’t 100% of the tunes and they aren’t very long, although they are good recordings.

Generally speaking, real book 1 and irealpro will go a long way. But it’s very obviously generated midi rather than a live, recorded accompaniment. But it lets you switch the key up, tempos, isolate spots, etc. When you download the app, you have to go to their forum a to download the tunes, but it only takes 2-3 minutes and then you have like 1400 chord sheets. It doesn’t do nelodies though, only chords.

[quote="Bach5G"]IReal Pro?[/quote]

Plus 1

I recommend improvise for real and a good jazz trombone teacher who will focus your study. Learning basic skills that are the foundation for playing jazz is essential in my view. The teacher will assess existing skills and then assign new studies. After years of practicing and playing classical music, I am learning jazz. My teacher is the centerpiece.

[quote="Matt K"]There aren’t really a lot of options for play along AND the actual melodies. Aebersolds are really still kind of the gold standard. Hal Leonard has a USB they sell to accompany their real books, but it isn’t 100% of the tunes and they aren’t very long, although they are good recordings.

Generally speaking, real book 1 and irealpro will go a long way. But it’s very obviously generated midi rather than a live, recorded accompaniment. But it lets you switch the key up, tempos, isolate spots, etc. When you download the app, you have to go to their forum a to download the tunes, but it only takes 2-3 minutes and then you have like 1400 chord sheets. It doesn’t do nelodies though, only chords.[/quote]

Consider Jim Snidero's books. There are two recordings of each jazz chart; one is played by Slide Hampton himself! Whoa! The second recording is the rhythm section alone. This is where you solo! Listening is essential to learning any genre of music. Snidero's books capitalize on this idea. Listen first, play with the master second, and finally, solo. But remember, go back to Slide Hampton. You will hear many subtle expressions that make jazz great.

That’s true although they are contra facts rather than the actual standard. I was thinking OP was looking to learn standards. They would at least have a dozen or so changes to improvise over though.

There's a new app called moises which does a really good job of separating songs into tracks. You could try taking a jazz recording and muting the lead instrument and then play along yourself. Can't get any closer than the real thing!