Rating: 
Summary: Genius
Review: A great Book on a Great Musician that put the Bottom on many of Motowns biggest songs.without his trademark signature sound the songs would have been empty.he is one of the forefathers of Bass.the Man had a style&touch all of his own.
Rating:
Summary: Funny and edifying
Review: Allen Slutsky's book provides a compelling, entertaining and moving introduction to the life and work of this extraordinary talent. It also serves as a good introduction to some of the gems in the motown back catalogue. I recommend it without reservation to any bass player at all struck by the playing on Marvin Gaye's 'What's going on'. Slutsky's is owed much thanks by aspiring bass players for providing a great read and a wonderful resource. Brilliant.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't Believe The Hype!
Review: As a biography of James Jamerson, this book succeeds. However, as an educational guide to James Jamerson's playing style, it is lacking. While the CDs are excellent learning tools, there are a few errors in the transcriptions. Also, there is no tablature, so be prepared to read music. Only a few of the examples are suitable for beginning bassists, and there is no fingering information, so you'll have to figure it out for yourself. As far as analysis of Jamerson's playing style goes, there are fewer than 10 pages devoted to picking apart what made his bass-lines special. On the other hand, the book includes a wonderful chromatic exercise penned by Jamerson for a fellow studio bassist. In summary - this is a good book if you are really interested in learning about this Motown legend, or if you are an intermediate or advanced bass player willing to spend some serious time to learn some incredible bass-lines. Just thought I'd add a level-headed assessment to all the adulation here.
Rating: 
Summary: Get this book and dig in!!.
Review: Bass Player Magazine did a review on this book and I decided to go for it. It exceeded all my expectations but it also humbled me. What is nice is that even the beginning student can extrapolate some of the easier pieces of work then focus on chipping away bits and pieces of the more difficult scores. I was working through three books when this arrived but this became my favorite. I listen to the CD's as much as possible, during my commute, while working around the house, in an attempt to master the rhythmic and melodic feel of Jameson's playing style. As far as "fingering charts" if one does not have a grasp of fingering then they should go back to an introductory book. It is really self explanatory on a bass anyway. A great addition to any bass players library. Essential supplementary material would be the first Motown Box Set, Chuck Rainey's: the method book, and 50 well sharpened pencils!
Rating:
Summary: This is Hottttttt
Review: I bought this because i heard that jamerson was the guy who played the amazing bass line on "i was made to love her", so i bought this just hoping that song with the included transcription and audio track would be in there - needless to say, it was, and ever since it came in the mail, i have been riding a james jamerson wave, so this has been several months, and i appreciate his bass lines more each day. definately a must have for any bassist, as it will greatly improve your reading skills, and you will no doubt be a better bassist for whatever type of music is it you play. also great for anyone who can appreciate great music, as it is rare to find a virtuoso such as jamerson who also holds down the groove as well as anyone. there are so many great songs in this book, and jamerson also played many other great basslines which were not featured in this book. if i had to pick a few favorites from this book/cd's, i would say, in no particular order: how long has that evening train been gone (just real laid back and sweet), home cookin' (wow jamerson just let go and floored it the whole way through, and it sounds great) grapevine (amazing driving bass in this one), for once in my life (this has to be one of his top 3 basslines ever played), i was made to love her of course, and reach out i'll be there (great groove, and i love how he builds and then drops down to the low e right before the chorus). other incredible songs include aint no mountain high enough, bernadette, and whats going on, amongst many others. i guarantee if you buy this, you will not be disapointed.
Rating:
Summary: The book that started it all
Review: I bought this book for a graduate project that I was working on and it changed me. I had heard of Jamerson, but like so many I didn't know who he really was. While growing up listening to oldies stations that overplayed certain Motown acts, I got pretty fed up with the Supremes, Tops etc. This book renewed my interest. I still can't stand the Supremes, but at least now I realize that it is because of their voices. There is a track on the "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" CD that is a Supremes tune minus the Supremes and it is brilliant. I recently heard it on the radio in the original form and couldn't bear it. The band was so brilliant and it is a shame that their genius is buried under the vocal tracks. This book helps expose this genius by getting right down to the foundation of it all. Jamerson WAS and IS the Motown sound. As great as this book is, the CD and the documentary of the same name are even better. These guys still have it, after all of these years.
Rating:
Summary: The book that started it all
Review: I bought this book for a graduate project that I was working on and it changed me. I had heard of Jamerson, but like so many I didn't know who he really was. While growing up listening to oldies stations that overplayed certain Motown acts, I got pretty fed up with the Supremes, Tops etc. This book renewed my interest. I still can't stand the Supremes, but at least now I realize that it is because of their voices. There is a track on the "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" CD that is a Supremes tune minus the Supremes and it is brilliant. I recently heard it on the radio in the original form and couldn't bear it. The band was so brilliant and it is a shame that their genius is buried under the vocal tracks. This book helps expose this genius by getting right down to the foundation of it all. Jamerson WAS and IS the Motown sound. As great as this book is, the CD and the documentary of the same name are even better. These guys still have it, after all of these years.
Rating:
Summary: An absoute must!
Review: I owned this book once before some years ago, and, unfortunately, after my fellow bassist got "hip" to it being on my shelf, it disappeared. While I was happy to pass on the knowledge of James Jamerson's work to others, several days ago, I realized this is a "must have" for anyone serious about learning the art of developing fluid, yet inventive and distinctive bass lines. Hence, I have purchased another copy. Even a cursory analysis of the material presented in this book reveals that Jamerson was a master of the unexpected and the beautiful with regard to not only rhythm, but also harmony (check out his use of "passing" tones!). It also was enlightening to learn the depth of his musical background, including his work on the double bass - some of which occurs on his Motown work. Although my own tastes tend to lean toward "free jazz," James Jamerson's work, as presnted here, reminded me that the music - no matter what genre - always must be infused with the pulse of life to truly move people and transform the world.
Rating:
Summary: An absoute must!
Review: I owned this book once before some years ago, and, unfortunately, after my fellow bassist got "hip" to it being on my shelf, it disappeared. While I was happy to pass on the knowledge of James Jamerson's work to others, several days ago, I realized this is a "must have" for anyone serious about learning the art of developing fluid, yet inventive and distinctive bass lines. Hence, I have purchased another copy. Even a cursory analysis of the material presented in this book reveals that Jamerson was a master of the unexpected and the beautiful with regard to not only rhythm, but also harmony (check out his use of "passing" tones!). It also was enlightening to learn the depth of his musical background, including his work on the double bass - some of which occurs on his Motown work. Although my own tastes tend to lean toward "free jazz," James Jamerson's work, as presnted here, reminded me that the music - no matter what genre - always must be infused with the pulse of life to truly move people and transform the world.
Rating:
Summary: BUY THIS BOOK & CD COMBO YESTERDAY!
Review: IF YOU HAVE AN INTEREST IN THE ORIGINS OF NOT ONLY STUDIO AND LIVE BASS PERFOMANCE, BUT ADDTIONALLY MUSIC HISTORY. THIS BOOK/CD COMBO IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST! IT IS VERY READABLE, AND THE CD'S WILL SEND YOU BACK TO THE WOOD SHED TO PRACTICE. SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HEARD MOTOWN'S HIT SONGS, BUT HAVE NO IDEA WHO WAS PLAYING THOSE GREAT BASS LINES. JAMES JAMERSON WAS A TERRIFIC TALENT, MORE PEOPLE SHOULD BE AWARE OF HIS CONTIRBUTION, TO NOT ONLY EXPLORING THE BOUNDRIES OF THE FENDER ELECTRIC BASS, BUT ALSO THE DOUBLE BASS.
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