Review: Jazz Play-A-Long Series: "Volume 123: Now's The Time"

by Staff.

Modern Guitars magazine columnist Dr. Matthew Warnock reviews a new addition to the Aebersold Jazz Play-A-Long series. From the review: "The latest book and CD package from the Jamey Aebersold Play-A-Long series, Volume 123: Now's The Time, gives musicians a chance to play alongside one of the finest rhythm sections in the world, the Joey DeFrancesco Trio. One of the reasons that the Aebersold Play-A-Long series has become so popular is the ability of its owner, Jamey Aebersold, to attract some of the best names in jazz to perform on each CD, and Volume 123 is no exception. The rhythm section of Joey DeFrancesco on organ, Byron Landham on drums and Paul Bollenback on guitar is one of the hardest swinging and energetic trios on the scene today.

While some of the titles in the Aebersold series feature rhythm sections that were put together specifically for that recording, this trio has been playing together, in one form or another, for years and even a beginning player can feel the tightness of the ensemble when jamming alongside them. Practicing along with a trio of this caliber will not only help players learn the songs on the recording, but will teach them about time, feel, rhythm and phrasing in a way that can only be learned by playing with experienced, world-class jazzers, like those in the DeFrancesco trio."

The entire review, with track listing, is available on Dr. Warnock's column.

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