You got the call. The music is deep, the deadline is short - you've got maybe a day, maybe a car ride, before you're expected to play it like you've known it for years.

In Episode 2 of Upright Citizens, Bob and Reuben break down how professional musicians actually learn new music fast: not through some trick, but through a specific way of listening. They react to Ulysses Owens Jr.'s "Better Days," Bob tells the story of learning an entire live set on a six-hour drive to Fayetteville with zero charts, Reuben tells his own story of jumping into Gerald Clayton's trio on a day's notice, and they break down the exact order of what to listen for - form, feel, key, and the lines that actually matter - plus why it's okay to mess it up along the way.

Click here to watch a video of this episode.

(00:00) Cold open
(00:22) Welcome to Upright Citizens
(00:38) Today's topic: learning fast
(01:02) Listen to This: Ulysses Owens
(02:46) A word from Open Studio
(03:09) Bob's story: the Fayetteville gig
(06:24) How to listen: intent and repetition
(07:27) Order of importance: form, feel, key
(08:27) Know just enough to let go
(09:07) Reuben's story: the Gerald Clayton gig
(12:33) Deep listening in the moment
(16:09) The non-negotiable takeaway
(16:41) Learning from a person vs. the page
(18:10) The 3 keys to learning fast
(19:18) Close

ABOUT OPEN STUDIO
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Bob and Reuben both have their own in-depth bass courses on OpenStudioJazz.com, alongside Masters like Christian McBride and Ron Carter - dig deeper into everything you hear on this show.

As the premier online jazz education platform, with an ever-expanding course library and 20,000+ members, Open Studio (OS) has everything you need to excel and thrive on your jazz journey.

Featuring everything from beginner to advanced lessons, engaging courses from A-list instructors, step-by-step curriculum, real-time classes and a thriving and incredibly supportive community, OS is the perfect platform to level up your jazz playing, whether you're a total beginner, or an advanced pro-level improvisor.

Try OS Membership today! → https://osjazz.link/about

Click here to view the episode transcript.

You're playing all the right notes - the changes, the time, everything. So why does your bass line still feel like it's just not dancing?

Bob and Reuben break down the 'one thing' that separates a bass line that swings from one that just sits there: note length. They react to an unreleased Ron Carter duo track, Reuben tells the story of the studio session that changed how he thinks about note length forever, and they connect it all back to the physical mechanics of your right and left hand - on both upright and electric.

Click here to watch a video of this episode.

ABOUT OPEN STUDIO
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bob and Reuben both have their own in-depth bass courses on OpenStudioJazz.com, alongside Masters like Christian McBride and Ron Carter - dig deeper into everything you hear on this show.

As the premier online jazz education platform, with an ever-expanding course library and 20,000+ members, Open Studio (OS) has everything you need to excel and thrive on your jazz journey.

Featuring everything from beginner to advanced lessons, engaging courses from A-list instructors, step-by-step curriculum, real-time classes and a thriving and incredibly supportive community, OS is the perfect platform to level up your jazz playing, whether you're a total beginner, or an advanced pro-level improvisor.

Try OS Membership today! → https://osjazz.link/about

‘Practice in all 12 keys’…It’s advice we often hear, but do we really need to???

"Any musician always dreams of getting to play with their heroes, and we also have our own unsung personal heroes in our lives as well. Join Reuben and Bob for a candid discussion about what it's like playing with their heroes, and how their personal mentors have changed their lives forever for the better."

We hope you enjoy this conversation and we'd love to hear your thoughts. Reach out to the Upright Citizens anytime at uprightcitizenspodcast@gmail.com and let us know what's up. Peace!

"What does it mean to lead a band from the bass? What's different, what's the same, and what do two professional bassists think about what it takes? Listen in to this discussion about what we really think about being a bass leader..."

We hope you enjoy this conversation and we'd love to hear your thoughts. Reach out to the Upright Citizens anytime at uprightcitizenspodcast@gmail.com and let us know what's up. Peace!

"Your life is your greatest musical asset - so go live it. In this episode of Upright Citizens, we're talking about why the best thing you can do for your playing might have nothing to do with practicing."

We hope you enjoy this conversation and we'd love to hear your thoughts. Reach out to the Upright Citizens anytime at uprightcitizenspodcast@gmail.com and let us know what's up. Peace!

"In this episode, Bob and Reuben explore the hidden beauty inside musical “mistakes” - and why the notes we didn’t mean to play might be the ones that move us forward. Through stories and reflection, they invite us to loosen our grip on perfection and discover how missteps can open the door to something honest, creative, and unexpectedly beautiful."

We'd love to hear your thoughts as well! Reach out to the Upright Citizens anytime at uprightcitizenspodcast@gmail.com and let us know

"We do need to have good technique to play and say what we hear on the bass - but how much is enough? Can technique go too far, and what is essential? In this episode Reuben and Bob share their thoughts on just how much technique we really need"

We'd love to hear your thoughts as well! Reach out to the Upright Citizens anytime at uprightcitizenspodcast@gmail.com and let us know