Ease It – Paul Chambers
A rhythmic bop-influenced head that makes a great bass feature. Exclusive MP3 tracks available, including a special quartet track, a multiple bass track featuring rising star Daryl Johns, and a Minus You practice track for bass players to practice the melody.
- Recording: Paul Chambers - Go
- Recorded on: February 2, 1959
- Label: Vee Jay (LP 1014)
- Concert Key: B-flat
- Style: Swing (medium up)
- Trumpet - Freddie Hubbard
- Alto Sax - Cannonball Adderley
- Piano - Wynton Kelly
- Bass - Paul Chambers
- Drums - Jimmy Cobb
Video
- Kurt Rosenwinkel Trio: Kurt Rosenwinkel (guitar), Alexander Claffy (bass), Mark Whitfield Jr. (drums), NAMM, 2018. (Note: in Eb).
Paul Chambers was a master at writing melodies featuring himself on bass, playing the melody as well as sharing the melodic duties with other members of the ensemble. In the "Go" excerpt the melody is played by bass, muted trumpet and alto sax in octaves. The piano lays out for the melody except for the very last chordal ending. The melody's rhythmic nature makes it interesting and challenging for the drummer, who adds melody setups. The lead sheet editions come from this original recorded version.
Unfortunately, this original recording is not currently available as a download. There's a bootleg version on Spotify, but it's grossly distorted. Luckily, there's good audio on YouTube. Other musicians' recordings of Ease It are also available on iTunes or at Amazon.com.
Unfortunately, this original recording is not currently available as a download. There's a bootleg version on Spotify, but it's grossly distorted. Luckily, there's good audio on YouTube. Other musicians' recordings of Ease It are also available on iTunes or at Amazon.com.
Don Sickler: "Chambers' 1959 recording is the first recording of Ease It. In writing these notes, I've found a recording listed in the Lord Discography that I'm unfamiliar with, and it seems to be out on CD: Miles Davis Quintet: Miles Davis (tp) Sonny Stitt (as) Wynton Kelly (p) Paul Chambers (b) Jimmy Cobb (d) Concert, ‘Concertgebouw’, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, October 15, 1960. The trio alone plays Ease It. Rocky Boyd with Kenny Dorham recorded it in 1961, with Ron Carter walking instead of playing the line. Quite a few bassists have paid tribute to Paul by recording the line."
Bass Melodies
Ease It is a tight, logical, rhythmic highlight for the bass that was composed by one of its paragon practitioners, Paul Chambers. This piece utilizes a ton of syncopation and variation yet is still a cohesive structure that contains repetition melodically and rhythmically. In fact, the tune retains the esteemed 12-bar blues form used by countless others throughout history.
There are three versions of note here. The first is the inaugural recording, as laid down by Chambers in 1959. Please make a special note of how he phrases this piece. The nuances and subtleties are very important in capturing the essence and atmosphere of this work, and there is no greater place to start from than the beginning itself! The second version, by the "Don Sickler Quartet" (click on the album cover) features trumpet and bass on the melody. There's another version we'd like to show you, which is Don Sickler's arrangement for three basses. Click on the "Tribute To Paul Chambers" album cover for details.
Bass players should purchase the C bass clef lead sheet.
Ease It is a tight, logical, rhythmic highlight for the bass that was composed by one of its paragon practitioners, Paul Chambers. This piece utilizes a ton of syncopation and variation yet is still a cohesive structure that contains repetition melodically and rhythmically. In fact, the tune retains the esteemed 12-bar blues form used by countless others throughout history.
There are three versions of note here. The first is the inaugural recording, as laid down by Chambers in 1959. Please make a special note of how he phrases this piece. The nuances and subtleties are very important in capturing the essence and atmosphere of this work, and there is no greater place to start from than the beginning itself! The second version, by the "Don Sickler Quartet" (click on the album cover) features trumpet and bass on the melody. There's another version we'd like to show you, which is Don Sickler's arrangement for three basses. Click on the "Tribute To Paul Chambers" album cover for details.
Bass players should purchase the C bass clef lead sheet.
- Recording: Don Sickler - Don Sickler Quartet featuring Daryl Johns
- Recorded on: January 31, 2010
- Label: jazzleadsheets.com (JLS 1001)
- Concert Key: B-flat
- Style: Swing (medium up)
- Trumpet - Don Sickler
- Piano - Michael Cochrane
- Bass - Daryl Johns
- Drums - Steve Johns
Video
- Zaq Davis practices with the Minus You track.
We have something special: jazzleadsheets.com's exclusive recordings of Ease It, which will be the foundation for the Bass Corner. These two recordings (quartet and multiple basses) are available only on jazzleadsheets.com. This one is a quartet.
"Don Sickler Quartet Featuring Daryl Johns" was recorded at the legendary Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs.
Don Sickler: "Shortly after Daryl Johns got honorable mention in the Thelonious Monk International Bass Competition in 2009, I took Daryl, his father drummer Steve Johns, and pianist Michael Cochrane to Rudy Van Gelder's Englewood Cliffs recording studio. I was so impressed by Daryl's performances in the Competition that I wanted to hear him on some of the compositions Second Floor Music publishes. It turned out to be an excellent decision: Daryl sounded great, and Rudy loved recording him. "In this quartet version, I played the melody."
Several other titles were recorded on this session.
Don Sickler: "Shortly after Daryl Johns got honorable mention in the Thelonious Monk International Bass Competition in 2009, I took Daryl, his father drummer Steve Johns, and pianist Michael Cochrane to Rudy Van Gelder's Englewood Cliffs recording studio. I was so impressed by Daryl's performances in the Competition that I wanted to hear him on some of the compositions Second Floor Music publishes. It turned out to be an excellent decision: Daryl sounded great, and Rudy loved recording him. "In this quartet version, I played the melody."
Several other titles were recorded on this session.
Bass Melodies
This quartet version, with trumpet and bass playing the melody, is also available with minus you audio, so you can put yourself in the ensemble. Bass players should get the Bass part. Check out the minus you notes.
This quartet version, with trumpet and bass playing the melody, is also available with minus you audio, so you can put yourself in the ensemble. Bass players should get the Bass part. Check out the minus you notes.
Play along using our lead sheets with these exclusive audio tracks.
MP3 minus melody (this track works for any melody instrument - get the lead sheet appropriate to your instrument)
-- 8 bar drum intro
-- play the melody twice with the bass clip
-- solo (accompanied by piano, bass, and drums) [4 choruses]
-- solo (accompanied by bass and drums) [4 choruses]
-- solo (accompanied by piano and brushes) [4 choruses]
-- trade 4s with drums [4 choruses]
-- play the head out
MP3 minus piano (C treble clef lead sheet)
-- count off
-- 8 bar drum intro
-- play the melody in octaves with trumpet and bass
-- comp behind trumpet solo [4 choruses] CLIP
-- solo (accompanied by bass and drums) [4 choruses]
-- comp behind bass solo [4 choruses]
-- comp behind trading 4s [4 choruses]
-- play the head out
MP3 minus bass (Bass part)
-- count off
-- 8 bar drum intro
-- play the melody with the trumpet clip
-- walk for trumpet solo [4 choruses]
-- walk for piano solo [4 choruses]
-- solo (accompanied by piano and brushes) [4 choruses]
-- walk for trumpet on trading 4s [4 choruses]
-- play the head out
MP3 minus drums (C treble clef lead sheet)
-- count off
-- play along with the trumpet & bass on melody [2 choruses] clip
-- trumpet solo [4 choruses]
-- piano solo [4 choruses]
-- bass solo [4 choruses]
-- trade 4s with trumpet (snaps added): trumpet begins [4 choruses]
-- play along with trumpet and bass on head out [2 choruses]
As recorded by Don Sickler Quartet featuring Daryl Johns clip
-- drum intro [8 bars]
-- melody [2 choruses]
-- trumpet solo [4 choruses]
-- piano solo [4 choruses]
-- bass solo [4 choruses]
-- trumpet & drums trade 4s [4 choruses]
-- head out [2 choruses]
MP3 minus melody (this track works for any melody instrument - get the lead sheet appropriate to your instrument)
-- 8 bar drum intro
-- play the melody twice with the bass clip
-- solo (accompanied by piano, bass, and drums) [4 choruses]
-- solo (accompanied by bass and drums) [4 choruses]
-- solo (accompanied by piano and brushes) [4 choruses]
-- trade 4s with drums [4 choruses]
-- play the head out
MP3 minus piano (C treble clef lead sheet)
-- count off
-- 8 bar drum intro
-- play the melody in octaves with trumpet and bass
-- comp behind trumpet solo [4 choruses] CLIP
-- solo (accompanied by bass and drums) [4 choruses]
-- comp behind bass solo [4 choruses]
-- comp behind trading 4s [4 choruses]
-- play the head out
MP3 minus bass (Bass part)
-- count off
-- 8 bar drum intro
-- play the melody with the trumpet clip
-- walk for trumpet solo [4 choruses]
-- walk for piano solo [4 choruses]
-- solo (accompanied by piano and brushes) [4 choruses]
-- walk for trumpet on trading 4s [4 choruses]
-- play the head out
MP3 minus drums (C treble clef lead sheet)
-- count off
-- play along with the trumpet & bass on melody [2 choruses] clip
-- trumpet solo [4 choruses]
-- piano solo [4 choruses]
-- bass solo [4 choruses]
-- trade 4s with trumpet (snaps added): trumpet begins [4 choruses]
-- play along with trumpet and bass on head out [2 choruses]
As recorded by Don Sickler Quartet featuring Daryl Johns clip
-- drum intro [8 bars]
-- melody [2 choruses]
-- trumpet solo [4 choruses]
-- piano solo [4 choruses]
-- bass solo [4 choruses]
-- trumpet & drums trade 4s [4 choruses]
-- head out [2 choruses]
- Recording: Daryl Johns - Tribute to Paul Chambers
- Recorded on: May 29, 2010
- Label: jazzleadsheets.com (JLS 1002)
- Concert Key: B-flat
- Style: Swing (medium up)
- Multiple Basses - Daryl Johns
Full score and parts for Bass Ensemble: Bass 1, Bass 2, Bass 3, Bass 4 (optional) plus the full version MP3.
Minus You instrumental parts for all instruments work with the accompaniment-only MP3. The accompaniment track has two basses playing the accompaniment with the melody bass (Bass 1) removed.
Don Sickler: "This is my arrangement for three basses, recorded by thirteen-year-old Daryl Johns (using multitrack overdubs). The arrangement includes a two-bass version of the background behind Paul, from Paul's ‘Go’ album. There's also an additional two-basses-against-soloist interlude before the out melody choruses."
Minus You instrumental parts for all instruments work with the accompaniment-only MP3. The accompaniment track has two basses playing the accompaniment with the melody bass (Bass 1) removed.
Don Sickler: "This is my arrangement for three basses, recorded by thirteen-year-old Daryl Johns (using multitrack overdubs). The arrangement includes a two-bass version of the background behind Paul, from Paul's ‘Go’ album. There's also an additional two-basses-against-soloist interlude before the out melody choruses."
"Tribute To Paul Chambers" was recorded at the legendary Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs.
Don continues: "Daryl Johns has a special touch on the bass, and a thumping, driving way of making the music swing. I wanted to capture some of Daryl's talent as he was at thirteen, so I came up with the idea of a Paul Chambers recording project. I arranged about ten Paul Chambers titles for Daryl, with the idea that Rudy Van Gelder would record Daryl's multiple bass tracks, in isolation, in the bass booth in Englewood Cliffs.
"It was an amazing experience for us, as we watched Daryl mature as a player every day. Before this, he'd never recorded in a professional studio, let alone done multiple overdubs."
Check out other titles Daryl recorded for the "Tribute To Paul Chambers" jazzleadsheets.com project.
Don continues: "Daryl Johns has a special touch on the bass, and a thumping, driving way of making the music swing. I wanted to capture some of Daryl's talent as he was at thirteen, so I came up with the idea of a Paul Chambers recording project. I arranged about ten Paul Chambers titles for Daryl, with the idea that Rudy Van Gelder would record Daryl's multiple bass tracks, in isolation, in the bass booth in Englewood Cliffs.
"It was an amazing experience for us, as we watched Daryl mature as a player every day. Before this, he'd never recorded in a professional studio, let alone done multiple overdubs."
Check out other titles Daryl recorded for the "Tribute To Paul Chambers" jazzleadsheets.com project.
Bass Melodies
This can be a very fun and exciting way to enable the community of bassists to play together. So frequently bassists run into each other only when one is leaving the gig and the other is arriving; almost never does the jazz bassist get the opportunity to play with their fellow low-end friends.
Get the complete arrangement and experiment with different configurations. The players can trade off with one on lead and the others on the supporting lines. It will be a valuable tool to help a player learn more about their vehicle of choice in an inspiring and insightful way. We hope this acts as an empowering seed, planting this idea into the heads of musicians all around.
This can be a very fun and exciting way to enable the community of bassists to play together. So frequently bassists run into each other only when one is leaving the gig and the other is arriving; almost never does the jazz bassist get the opportunity to play with their fellow low-end friends.
Get the complete arrangement and experiment with different configurations. The players can trade off with one on lead and the others on the supporting lines. It will be a valuable tool to help a player learn more about their vehicle of choice in an inspiring and insightful way. We hope this acts as an empowering seed, planting this idea into the heads of musicians all around.
The minus you track works for all instruments. The Bass soloing has been removed from the original recording so any instrumentalist can play along with this unique arrangement. For melody instruments, it's a great workout for your ear, as you adjust to playing with basses only. Drummers and pianists have two options with this track. One, you can be the soloist. Two, since the original recording has no piano or drums, you can comp for Daryl. Bassists can play the melody and solo, but there already is a walking bass.
MP3 track format for soloing [and doubling the melody with the bass] all instruments C, B-flat, E-flat, C bass clef
-- count off
-- (A) play melody in unison or octaves with the bass [2 choruses: second time with backgrounds]
--(B) "questions and answers": Basses ask the questions - you answer [2 choruses] clip
-- solo over walking bass [4 choruses]
-- (C) different "questions and answers:" Basses ask the questions - you answer [2 choruses] clip
-- play the out melody with the bass [2 choruses: first chorus with backgrounds, second time in unison or octaves with the bass]
Format as recorded by Daryl Johns on the complete multiple Bass "Tribute To Paul Chambers" track clip
-- melody [2 choruses: one solo, one with backgrounds]
-- Bass solo with backgrounds [2 choruses]
-- Bass solo with walking bass [4 choruses]
-- Bass solo with backgrounds [2 choruses]
-- out melody [2 choruses: one with backgrounds, one solo]
MP3 track format for soloing [and doubling the melody with the bass] all instruments C, B-flat, E-flat, C bass clef
-- count off
-- (A) play melody in unison or octaves with the bass [2 choruses: second time with backgrounds]
--(B) "questions and answers": Basses ask the questions - you answer [2 choruses] clip
-- solo over walking bass [4 choruses]
-- (C) different "questions and answers:" Basses ask the questions - you answer [2 choruses] clip
-- play the out melody with the bass [2 choruses: first chorus with backgrounds, second time in unison or octaves with the bass]
Format as recorded by Daryl Johns on the complete multiple Bass "Tribute To Paul Chambers" track clip
-- melody [2 choruses: one solo, one with backgrounds]
-- Bass solo with backgrounds [2 choruses]
-- Bass solo with walking bass [4 choruses]
-- Bass solo with backgrounds [2 choruses]
-- out melody [2 choruses: one with backgrounds, one solo]
Paul Chambers
April 22, 1935 – January 4, 1969
Bassist Paul Chambers was a leading rhythmic force in the 1950s and 1960s. He became one of the signature bassists in jazz history. Born in Pittsburgh but raised in Detroit, Chambers initially took up the baritone horn as a child. He followed suit with the tuba and didn't become interested in the string bass until 1949. Listening to Charlie Parker and Bud Powell and studying under a bassist of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Chambers began making headway in small bars of Hastings Street area and doing club jobs with Kenny Burrell, Thad Jones and Barry Harris. He did classical work in a group called the Detroit String Band, a rehearsal symphony orchestra. Read more...