The Evolving Bassist [Plastic Comb]

Rufus Reid (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2000

A comprehensive new edition based on major revisions to Reid's The Evolving Bassist and Evolving Upward. Contains more transcriptions of Reid's recorded solos, original compositions arranged as duets, new etudes, and additional ways to learn tunes and conceive better bass lines. The Evolving Bassist will continue to be an all-inclusive bass player's reference book as well as a classic method book.

Product Details

• Plastic Comb
• Publisher: Alfred Publishing Company (January 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967601509
• ISBN-13: 978-0967601502
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 9.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #201,646 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Standard Method for Jazz Bass, April 11, 2001

By 

Charles S. Hill (Cohasset, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Evolving Bassist (Plastic Comb)

"The Evolving Bassist" has come to be the standard bass method book in the world of jazz. In it, Rufus Reid explains his "concept" of playing bass, moving beyond merely playing quarter notes to progressive and thoughtful bass lines.

As the title of the book indicates, this is a process. The book is designed for players of any level to develop a well-rounded approach to the bass.

The main portion of the method includes etudes, scales, and standard patterns for Latin bass lines, Rock bass lines, etc. Also included are many practical hints, answers to frequently asked questions, discography, and transcriptions of a number of Mr. Reid's compositions.

"The Evolving Bassist" is all around an excellent aid for the growing jazz bass player.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the two or three must-haves for a jazz bassist, June 17, 2002

By 

Michael J Edelman (Huntington Woods, MI USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Evolving Bassist (Plastic Comb)

I came to bass playing in my late 30s after a lifetime of playing mainly guitar, banjo and mandolin, and I went through a lot of books looking for a clear and solid foundation for upright jazz playing.

Of all the methods out there, Reid's is the one that has really stood the test of time, and for good reason. He starts the reader off with basic scales and simple patterns for playing over changes. From there it's on through more complex scales and patterns and finally, soloing, illustrated with a number of transcribed classics.

Combine this book with the Simandl book for basic technique (and a good library of jazz albums), and you have just about everything needed to guide the beginning bass player through the intermediate stage. For a player who already had a basic classical technique, this book alone is just about all that's needed to learn to play jazz.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a "must have" for the jazz bass player..., April 25, 2007

By 

J. Janssen (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Evolving Bassist (Plastic Comb)

Rufus Reid's revised edition of the classic "Evolving Bassist" is a literal tour de force and a must have for all bass players regardless of what level of proficiency they play at. The companion DVD (available separately and highly recommended) is a gem in which Rufus jams with two of the finest contemporary musicians illustrating various aspects of the text. The DVD is worth the price just as a performance video.

While loosely defined as a method, the "Evolving Bassist" is really more of a well thought out approach to playing the instrument. The skills taught follow several threads of theory and practice, but it's not a beginner tutorial even though very early players will benefit from the material...and continue to benefit throughout their playing career. If one is desirous of a more basic text in the jazz genre then you must get "The Michael Moore Bass Method", probably the best tutorial currently available; the classical "Simandl" material notwithstanding. The two books and the "Evolving..." DVD really are complimentary and easily stand at the forefront of a limited field. Highly recommended.