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Using Tunes to Practice Improvisation

Each tune features a series of lessons covering a variety of topics.

Bob Describing Stan Getz Lesson

Pennies From Heaven

In this series, we’ll dissect one of the all-time greatest jazz saxophone solos by Stan Getz, including elegant ways he navigates the chord changes, and a classic jazz ending you’ll want in your repertoire.

Blue 7

Melodic motifs, rhythmic displacement, and the Lydian dominant scale are covered in this series on the classic blues tune by Sonny Rollins.

Autumn Leaves

We’ll use this “must know” standard to examine the power of guide tones—plus a KILLER exercise for getting chord changes under your fingers.

Now’s the Time

This lesson series on the iconic Charlie Parker blues dissects the VI phrase, tri-tone substitutions, and an iconic Bird turnaround lick.

What Is This Thing Called Love?

Tips for internalizing chord changes, one scale that works over half-diminished, altered dominant, and Lydian chords, and using a diminished major 7th chord in a ii-V-I.

Anthropology

In this series, we’ll use the rhythm changes classic, “Anthropology,” to practice rhythm and time-feel, melodic development, and chord substitutions.

I’ll Remember April

This series focuses on taking a melody from Realbook to performance, using guide tones, and creating your own etudes to build confidence on a tune.

A Night In Tunisia

Tips for learning melody—and harmony—by ear, transcribing Stan Getz, weaving together chord changes and playing along with Bob.

Groovin’ High

Get your eighth notes to swing harder and work on some “in” and “out” vocabulary over ii-V-I’s.

Woody ‘N You

Minor ii-V’s got ya down? Dive deep into a brilliant Chris Potter solo over this (kinda tricky) tune and discover some new ways to simplify them.

Just Friends

How to memorize (and transpose) chord changes faster, motivic development, rhythmic displacement, and a 4-part introduction to triad pairs.

Without A Song

Constructing guide-tone-based lines, examples from Chris Potter, going beyond 1357, and using the keyboard to visualize and apply voice-leading to the saxophone.

Miyako (Wayne Shorter)

Learn a powerful technique to simplify complex chord changes. This will help you see “inside” changes and craft more cohesive solos.

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