Blue Bossa – Lines that feel good to play #2 – Let’s practice laying back
The second of some fun lines to play over this jam-session staple.
Blue Bossa – Lines that feel good to play #1
The first of some fun lines to play over this jam-session staple.
The 1753 Exercise For Memorizing Chord Changes (Ex. Donna Lee)
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“Donna Lee” Melody Workout
A detailed approach on how to practice this important bebop melody so you get the most out of it.
The Girl From Ipanema – Etude & Song Analysis
In this lesson I’ll walk you through my solo etude and breakdown my approach to this classic jazz/Bossa Nova standard.
Train Your Mind and Fingers to Think Ahead: A Chord-Scale Proficiency Exercise on “Miyako”
Before moving to derivations that potentially make navigating complex harmonic progressions “easier,” we must first be able to execute this.
Autumn Leaves: Play Along With Bob
Spend more time improvising this month by shedding this must-know jazz standard.
A Simple Way to Make Melodies More Expressive
This quick trick will instantly improve your playing of melodies, without having to learn or process any new information.
Bird Blues Workout (“Blues for Alice”) – Part 2
In part 2 of our “Bird” Blues Workout, we’ll be focusing on chord scales, guide tones, and improvising over the form.
Listening Lab: Adapting a Bebop Classic into a Groove Context
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Members Play Sonny Stitt’s Solo on “Soul Shack”
My review of our December transcription challenge. Great job, everyone!
Bird Blues Workout (“Blues for Alice”)
Learn to hear and feel the form and chord changes to a “Bird” Blues. This complex blues form is still commonly called on jam sessions and the chord changes are often inserted into other types of blues to add variety while improvising.
“Christmas Time Is Here” – Discover Cool Harmonic Devices By Playing This Holiday Classic On Piano
A few of my favorite harmonic “tricks” are easily viewable when playing this holiday classic.
Members Play Sonny Stitt’s Solo on “Night Letter”
My review of our November transcription challenge. Fantastic work, everyone!
Jazz Blues Workout – Progressive Exercises To Hear And Feel The Blues Form
Learn to hear and feel the form and chord changes of a “jazz” blues. This is the most common blues form called on a jazz jam session. You’ll learn how to outline chords, apply vocabulary, and learn what differentiates this from a basic blues.
Basic Blues (I IV V) Workout – Progressive Exercises To Hear And Feel The Blues Form
Learn to hear and feel the form and chord changes to a basic 12-bar blues. This is the foundation all other types of blues are built upon. You need to feel comfortable and confident outlining this form.
Members Play Arnett Cobb or Antonio Hart’s Solo on “September in the Rain”
My review of our September transcription challenge. Great work, everyone!
Listening Lab: Branford Marsalis’ Exquisite Duet with Sting on “Roxanne”
This is one of my all-time favorite saxophone performances. Here’s why.
“There Will Never Be Another You” Etude – A Real-Time Example of How I Shed
By practicing this same 16 bar etude over “There Will Never Be Another You” repeatedly, I’m able to iron out technical glitches and focus on time-feel and delivery.
Members Improvise On “Recorda Me” (Jazz Standard / Bossa)
My review of our August transcription challenge. Good work, everyone!
Listening Lab: “September in the Rain” – Beautiful, Swing-Era Vocabulary and a Masterclass in Phrasing a Melody
We’ll get into Antonio Hart’s usage of Swing-era vocabulary (think Johnny Hodges) as well as Arnett Cobb’s focus on bluesy, melodic phrasing.
Members Play Joe Henderson’s Solo On “Recorda Me” (Jazz Standard / Bossa)
My review of our July challenge. So many people were nailing Joe’s tone. Nice work!
Trade with Bob: Recorda Me
Let’s trade choruses! 10 minutes of trading plus a full practice session of me shedding the chords and scales.
Members Incorporate a Specific II V Lick Into a Solo
My review of our June challenge. Loved hearing some improvising from everyone. Nice work!