Hi all,

After learning the flute for a year I am actually starting to find styles that interest me rather than just 'A Tune a Day' type stuff. I am starting to get into jazz/big band style music and wondered if anyone could recommend any falutists it would be worth listening to, and also any good tutor books?

Thanks

In big bands flute tends to be used occasionally, to add colour, usually by one of the sax players doubling, so although many big band recordings will feature some flute it won't usually be the predominant instrument.

Jazz flautists correctly playing and recording in the UK and well worth looking out for are Gareth Lockrane (the only one I know who is just a flautist with no sax doubling), Andy Panayi, Theo Travis and Finn Peters.

Difficult to suggest fluters in big band style, as TSax says, but you might listen to some Cuban music, where flute often has a high fast and improvised part in big salsa/son bands. And some past masters you might enjoy - James Moody, Jeremy Steig, Herbie Mann etc etc.

Thanks guys - it's a tricky one, a bit like saying 'I've taken up the violin and really want to get into rock music' or similar! Probably not the best instrument to attempt the style of music - but as per my other thread in Viva Woodwind I am hoping to get into the sop sax when I've got some cash (i.e. never!), so hopefully that will be better suited.

Well ... you can play any style of music on any instrument, so there's nothing to stop you. I have played in/seen a number of big bands with flutes, just that it's not part of the standard line up (mind you, neither is soprano sax). For a fairly recent example of a wonderful big band (though not a swing band) with flute, listen to Eddie Parker's playing in Loose Tubes (1980's Uk) if you can still find the recordings.

Also, I think the Nelson Riddle swing arrangements for Frank Sinatra use flute, IIRC, and flute/flugelhorn is a standard of Burt Bacharach's arrangements. Lots to listen out for.

And if you want to have a go yourself, and your technique is up to it, get one of the Aebersold play-along CDs - there will be lots in swing styles.

And BTW - there are a lot of rock violinists also! There was a thread about a year back ...

Cool, thanks Nick! I would like to hear a rock violinist! I think the difficulty is finding the repertoire really - but I've been transposing some of my clarinet music from the tune day series which includes some more swing and big band stuff at a fairly basic level so that's been fun!

There are actually quite a lot of books for Flute in Jazz styles some that help with learning improvisation. the Abersold books are fun they are for any instrument so might come in handy if you ever get that Sop.

I will check those books out, thanks.

In the meantime, I'm still working on learning music theory - it's obviously not yet second nature to me, and I was writing out all the scales last week, working out which ones have sharps, flats etc, plus their relative minors. I notice on the Jazz syllabuses there are different types of scale requested, eg. mixolydian, dorian - can anyone recommend a website or resource where I can see these written out to make it clearer?

Ta!

Best way to think of the modes in in terms of scales starting on successive steps of the major scale. So, in C major the scale starting on:

C (I) is the Ionian
D (II) is the Dorian
E (III) is the Phrygian
F (IV) is the Lydian
G (V) is the Mixolydian
A (VI) is the Aeolian
B (VII) is the Locrian

If you think in terms of the steps of the scale (in brackets) rather than notes names, you can easily transpose to other keys.

I would think all this would be in the AB theory book. For websites, Google is your friend. See Pete Thomas' website for an easy guide to modes in jazz: http://www.petethomas.co.uk/jazz-modes.html

Roland Kirk, Herbie Mann and Bill McBirnie are probably the most famous Jazz flautists at the moment (though I think Eric Dolphy and John Coltrane have some pretty decent flute recordings too). You might also check out Andy Panayi, Rowland Sutherland, Damjan Krajacic and Burdette Becks - maybe even Ian Anderson if you're that way inclined. For generally more contemporary flute music you could try Ian Clarke, Robert #### and Dave Heath.

and my personal favourite is Harold McNair

Thanks everyone, that gives me something to be going on with!

Ok, so let me see if I've understood this properly.......

If I were to play a C Major scale in the Aeolian, that would be the same as palying an A minor scale...?? I.e. A to A in C Major so no sharps or flats....???

Correct - it's essentially a natural minor scale (IE a minor scale using only the provided key signature, with no raised 6th or 7th).

I understand - hurrah!!