PlayJazzNow.com Releases JazzPlayer, an Innovative Backing Track App

The jazz education website PlayJazzNow.com has just released JazzPlayer, a desktop application that revolutionizes play-along track technology.

JazzPlayer is a 4-track music player designed to give jazz musicians of all levels complete control of the “mix” of their backing tracks. Each instrument – keyboard, bass, guitar and drums – is on a separate track. Users dial in whatever instruments they want to hear, at whatever ever volume levels they prefer. The app looks like a simple recording studio console, and includes standard features like muting, soloing and left/right panning.

To go along with the new app, PlayJazzNow has created AppTracks, a proprietary music file that keeps the audio quality high and the file size low. As always, the tracks are recorded by a top-notch live Chicago rhythm section. JazzPlayer continues the tradition of eschewing midi and other unpleasant mechanical sounds. AppTracks, like all of PlayJazzNow’s previous backing tracks, combine the best of the old and the new: great players playing real instruments, offered in affordable 21st Century digital formats.

PlayJazzNow is known for its high quality play-along tracks. In operation since 2006, the website has served thousands of musicians worldwide. PlayJazzNow publishes an ever-expanding variety of materials covering all of the basic chord progressions in all 12 keys, plus a large selection of backing tracks based on the forms of classic jazz compositions.

The JazzPlayer app is being offered to all Mac and Windows desktop and laptop users free of charge. Mobile versions of the app are in development and will be released shortly. The initial release of AppTracks includes some fun contemporary groove tracks and a few tracks based on music from the Duke Ellington songbook. Each track includes a chord chart that can be accessed directly inside the app.

For more details about JazzPlayer and AppTracks, please visit www.jazzplayerapp.com