A history of Aebersold's Play-a-Long and their importance for beginning jazz students

What is it about?

Jazz education often involves students learning by practicing with a play-a-long backing track. This article is an in-depth examination and oral history of the play-a-long, focused on Jamey Aebersold's influential work.

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Why is it important?

The Play-a-Long is ubiquitous in jazz learning, but under-examined. In this piece, I theorize the Play-a-Long as a conceptual technology that helps beginners acquire a mature technique. I also examine the slow emergence and expansion of the Play-A-Long over several decades, mapping the emergence of new pedagogic ideas, including new approaches to using chord-scales and pattern playing. Finally, I map how the Play-A-Long builds on Black music theory of chord-scale unity, through the work of George Russell and one of his most influential students David Baker.

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