Keith Nichols: Vintage Jazz Play Along CD Collection (all 10 CDs)

What are Vintage Jazz Play-Alongs?
They're a series of ten CDs, each containing 15 tunes. The featured tunes were chosen as they're amongst the most frequently played in the repertoire of 1920's and 30's jazz.

How do they differ from other jazz recordings?
The melody is stated the first time through (this melody can then be removed by turning down the left channel) and then the band on the recording just provides backing for several choruses. The musician listening to the CD is able to play along, trying out new ideas and improve his or her improvisation skills.

What line-ups are on the recordings?
About half the tracks are played on piano, guitar, double-bass and drums and the others are played on piano, banjo, sousaphone and drums. The musicians are Keith Nichols (piano), Nils Solberg (guitar/banjo), and Richard Pite (sousaphone, double-bass and drums).

Who are they aimed at?
They are aimed at all jazz musicians of all standards who play or wish to play in a Dixie, Trad. or Vintage style. Each CD includes a foldout chart of chord progressions, transposed for Concert, Bb and Eb instruments:

At present there are no other recordings like this on the market. All play along recordings and almost all jazz educational material is aimed at the modern and mainstream jazz-player.

How do you use the recordings?
Each CD comes with an insert showing the chord sequences of the tunes. Written melodies are not included. You can play along with or without this guide. All tunes are counted in and you can tune up to the recording at the beginning of each side.

Can I listen to samples of some of the tracks on each CD?
Yes - just click on the 'Volume' below that you're interested in and click play on the     on each page.

Which tunes are included on the CDs?

VOLUME 1: Sweet Georgia Brown, Sugar, My Monday Date, Blues in Bb, Shine, Sweet Lorraine, Please Don't Talk About Me, Some of These Days, Dinah, Ain't Misbehavin', I've Found a New Baby, Shuffle Blues in C, Black and Blue, Doctor Jazz, You're Nobody's Sweetheart Now.

VOLUME 2: Rosetta, 'Swonderful, St Louis Blues, Exactly Like You, Bye Bye Blues, I've Got a Feeling I'm Falling, Sweet Sue, Indiana, New Orleans, When You're Smiling, Isle of Capri, Farewell Blues, My Blue Heaven, Running Wild, Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams.

VOLUME 3: Way Down Yonder In New Orleans, Chinatown, Tishomingo Blues, 'Deed I Do, Honeysuckle Rose, If I Had You, It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing, After You're Gone, Georgia On My Mind, Darktown Strutters Ball, China Boy, Someday You'll Be Sorry, Up A Lazy River, Hindustan, I'm Confessing.

VOLUME 4: Margie, All Of Me, St James Infirmary, On the Sunny Side Of The Street, Struttin' With Some Barbeque, You Took Advantage Of Me, Baby Won't You Please Come Home, Who's Sorry Now?, Rose Room, Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me, Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me, Ja Da, I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself A Letter, Do you Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans, Limehouse Blues.

VOLUME 5: Chicago, Keepin' Out Of Mischief Now, Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen, I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Sheik Of Araby, When It's Sleepytime Down South, Should I?, Alexander's Ragtime Band, I Got Rhythm, Careless Love, Blues in G, Lady Be Good, Big Butter & Egg Man, There'll Be Some Changes Made, Avalon.

VOLUME 6: Charleston, Making Whoopee, Ain't She Sweet, It Had To Be You, You're Driving Me Crazy, Someday Sweetheart, Louisiana, Give Me a Kiss To Build a Dream On, Button Up Your Overcoat, Wabash Blues, Pennies From Heaven, As Long As I Live, Poor Butterfly, Down By the Riverside, Hello Dolly.

VOLUME 7: Jazz Me Blues, Memphis Blues, That's a-Plenty, South, Wolverine Blues, Georgia Camp Meeting, Basin St Blues, High Society, Jazz Band Ball, Muskrat Ramble, Buddy's Habits, Mood Indigo, Riverboat Shuffle, Royal Garden Blues, Tiger Rag.

VOLUME 8: Paper Moon, Ice Cream, At Sundown, Save It Pretty Mama, Nagasaki, Bucket's Got a Hole, Sunday, I Cover the Waterfront, Somebody Stole My Gal, Blue Skies, Out of Nowhere, Varsity Drag, Stomping at the Savoy, Tea For Two, Bye Bye Blackbird.

VOLUME 9: Crazy Rhythm; Love Me or Leave Me; Blue Moon; Get Happy; Slow Boat to China; I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate; Somebody Loves Me; Dream a Little Dream of Me; Three Little Words; If I Could Be With You One Hour Tonight; Sentimental Journey; Happy Feet; Jeepers Creepers; The Roses of Picardy; Puttin on the Ritz.

VOLUME 10: Everybody Loves My Baby; Sometimes I'm Happy; Memories of You; Lulu's Back in Town; Strike Up the Band; Am I Blue?; Whispering; I Want a Little Girl; Them There Eyes; Coquette; Mean To Me; Bill Bailey; It's a Sin to Tell a Lie; I Want to Be Happy; Undecided.

10 CDs/chord charts, 150 tunes