When we think of jazz bass playing, the first thing that comes to mind will often be the walking bass style which is so often associated with the genre. However, jazz is a large and varied type of music which takes influence from many areas of the musical spectrum. In coming lessons, we will look at some of these styles – funk, soul, blues and this month Bossa Nova.
Bossa Nova rose to popularity in the 1950’s and 60’s due to the release of classic albums by artists such as Antonio Carlos Jobim and Stan Getz.
Bossa Nova is a combination of samba rhythms and jazz harmony and it literally means ‘new trend’. Lyrically, the style is often romantic in nature. The role of the bass in Bossa Nova is a supporting one with the bass playing the root and fifth of each chord in a 2-feel style. Passing notes can be included to create movement. The bass also plays in this way in samba music but at faster tempos.
I have included 2 musical examples over common Bossa Nova chord sequences. These should provide you with a good foundation in the style which you can use on other pieces.
Download the full example sheet here: bossa-nova-1
Download the full example sheet here: study-piece-bossa-nova
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