Books
The John Benitez Bass Method Volume 1
In the world of Latin Jazz/Latin American music, John Benítez is considered to be one of the greatest bassists alive today. With five GRAMMY awards to his name and performance credits ranging from Tito Puente to Chick Corea, his impact on the music world is unquestionable. “The John Benítez Bass Method Volume 1” is the first in a comprehensive book series forged from unique teaching methods developed over years of private instruction. “Volume 1 • Freedom In The Clave: A Rhythmic Approach To Bass Playing” is a vast collection of rhythmic independence exercises designed to strengthen a student’s overall rhythmic confidence and awareness in regards to the clave, thus facilitating higher degrees of creativity and expression during performance. The book also contains five note-for-note transcriptions from various albums in Benítez’s discography to demonstrate how this master musician puts his own concepts to work in real time. Volume 1 is a highly useful, one-of-a-kind method for bassists and other inquisitive instrumentalists alike.
The John Benitez Bass Method Volume 2
“The John Benítez Bass Method Volume 2 • El Sonero del Barrio: A Creative Approach To Salsa” is the second in a comprehensive book series documenting the unique playing and teaching methods of five-time GRAMMY Award winning bassist John Benítez. While its predecessor “Volume 1 • Freedom In The Clave: A Rhythmic Approach To Bass Playing” is a vast collection of rhythmic independence exercises designed to strengthen a student’s overall rhythmic confidence and awareness in regards to the clave, Volume 2 is the first installment that deals with Benitez’s playing in specific contexts throughout his extensive recording career. Vol. 2 concentrates on Benítez’s incredibly innovative approach to salsa playing via eleven note-for-note transcriptions from the Frankie Vazquez 1999 classic “Los Soneros del Barrio” along with in-depth analyses to demonstrate how this master musician puts his own concepts to work in real time. For inquisitive bassists and musicians looking to explore the seemingly limitless possibilities of the Afro-Cuban tumbao, this book is a must-have.