Re: [Harp-L] Jam Tracks

[Ken Deifik <kenneth.d@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Ohio Ken wrote:
> I recently bought Steve Baker's Vol 1, 2, and 3 Playalong books and CD's 
> http://www.musicroom.com/Search/gsearch.aspx?searchtext=steve+baker

Steve Baker's jam tracks are the only ones I use.  I recommend them very 
highly.

The band plays with great swing and exhuberance and the grooves are 
terrific.  Most jam tracks are boring and academic, but not these 
boogers.  I've tried many jam tracks in the past, but most of them drained 
the energy out of my practice routine.  These tracks continue to be fun to 
play with, and my ideas flow because I feel good.

Steve Baker's jam tracks are the ones to buy.

I never understand why they give the guitar player a solo in jam 
tracks.  If you use tracks over and over again you're forced to listen to 
the same damn solos over and over too, and no matter how good they are, 
they have no business getting in the middle of my holy practice time.  Even 
Baker's tracks contain this inconvenience.  Fortunately, in the age of 
Aquarius it's easy to edit that stuff out.

I excised the solos and then lengthened the tracks considerably for good 
luck, and because I could.

If you're not whiny like me you don't even have to do that.

Note: I cracked the book for one second and never have listened to the 
actual tunes as played by Mr. Baker, but I'll bet they'd be good stuff for 
the whippersnappers to study.

California Ken