A Nasty Chord Melody from “Inner Urge” – TTT #25
Joe Henderson created a language of his own by running arpeggios of unique chord shapes up and down his horn. This lick from the last 4 measures of his tune “Inner Urge” is a classic example of one of Joe’s chord melodies. https://youtu.be/yhn5LpprzWY CLICK HERE FOR THE NOTATION If you have questions or suggestions for […]
A 2-5-1 with a Major 7th Walkdown – TTT #24
We are always looking to come up with creative improv ideas over the 2-5-1 progression. Try this line which uses a walkdown from the major 7th of the 2 chord to create a compound melody. https://youtu.be/AdOTt13IB_c CLICK HERE FOR THE NOTATION If you have questions or suggestions for a Lick Of The Week you would […]
A Funky 13th Chord Voicing – TTT #23
Whether you’re playing music by Miles Davis, James Brown, or even Jimmy Hendrix, this chord voicing will work well over any funky comping sections. https://youtu.be/zs3stSR_jd4 CLICK HERE FOR THE NOTATION If you have questions or suggestions for a Lick Of The Week you would like us to do, please leave them in the comments down […]
This Advanced Diminished Lick is CRAZY! – TTT #22
Do you ever need to pull out a crazy lick to get someone’s attention during your solo? This one will surely get the job done! This is a lick which uses ascending first inversion major triads with an approach note. Give it a try! https://youtu.be/OIR2EnE7C3Y CLICK HERE FOR THE NOTATION If you have questions or […]
Try This Minor 2-5-1 Lick – TTT #21
Minor 2-5-1’s can be tricky… Try this lick which uses chromatic approach notes and accurately expresses the harmony of each chord in this progression. https://youtu.be/huSp1osx9Jc CLICK HERE FOR THE NOTATION If you have questions or suggestions for a Lick Of The Week you would like us to do, please leave them in the comments down […]
This is the Smoothest Minor Chord Voicing! – TTT #20
Great pianists from Bill Evans to Robert Glasper have used this minor chord voicing. It is very versatile, and can be transposed and sound good in all 12 keys! Try it out for yourself and see what you can create. https://youtu.be/Ztkw2KVXC7I CLICK HERE FOR THE NOTATION If you have questions or suggestions for a Lick […]
Check Out Ornette Coleman’s “Turnaround” – TTT #19
Ornette Coleman was known for inventing “free jazz,” a completely spontaneous approach to improvising in a jazz style. He also wrote some unique compositions, including this 12-bar blues titled “Turnaround.” These chord changes come from the last 4 measures of the blues, and move chromatically in half and whole steps. CLICK HERE FOR THE NOTATION […]
Duke Jordan Blows Through the Circle of Fifths (LOTW #213)
In this weeks lick, we showcase one of our jazz piano heroes, Duke Jordan. He was a legendary sideman with greats such as Charlie Parker and Cannonball Adderly, and made several influential recordings as a leader. His classic jazz composition, “Jordu,” features a chord progression known as the circle of fifths. Listen to how he […]
Oscar Peterson’s Iconic Solo on “Sometimes I’m Happy” (LOTW #207)
Few jazz piano trio albums are as beloved as The Trio, live in Chicago in 1961. Oscar’s signature trio with Ed Thigpen on drums and Ray Brown on bass is unrivaled in terms of their ability to swing. This track is no exception, and Oscar holds nothing back during his solo. Enjoy this excerpt from […]
Red Garland’s Signature Blues Lick (LOTW #169)
Red Garland sure knows how to play the blues! Listen to his blues-playing on “Blues by Five” from the classic recording session by the Miles Davis Quintet in 1957. At the top of his second solo chorus, he begins a triplet line with his signature blues lick. This is a good one to add to […]
