A Sexy Solo Break by Edward Simon on “My Cherie Amour” (LOTW #181)
For those of you who don’t know pianist Edward Simon, you’ll want to get to know him after this week’s lick! During his tenure in the SFJazz Collective, his arrangements and solos brought an extra layer of sophistication to the group. Listen to this sultry solo break over their reimagining of the classic Stevie Wonder […]
A Swinging Solo Break by Red Garland on “A Foggy Day” (LOTW #171)
Here is Red Garland’s solo break from a classic album of his, “A Garland of Red” (1957). There is some quintessential playing from Red on this record that is definitely worth checking out! https://youtu.be/9O5UwrR2Nt4 CLICK HERE TO GET A TRANSCRIPTION OF THE LICK If you have questions or suggestions for a Lick Of The Week […]
Gerald Clayton Plays it Cool on Strasbourg St. Denis (LOTW #170)
Gerald Clayton lays down possibly one of the most grooving solos of all time over Roy Hargrove’s jam tune “Strasbourg St. Denis.” At the end of several choruses of pure groove, he plays it cool with a line which sidesteps its way outside of the changes. Follow along with the notation to see how he […]
Bud Powell’s Whirlwind Signature Lick (LOTW #161)
Here is one of Bud Powell’s trade secrets for burning over fast tempos. This lick follows a pattern of major thirds going down in whole steps. The chromatic notes in between make it sound like a whirlwind all the way down! https://youtu.be/YiPCXIbQC6o CLICK HERE TO GET A TRANSCRIPTION OF THE LICK If you have questions […]
Bill Evans is a Master of Motivic Development (LOTW #160)
During his iconic recording “Sunday at the Village Vanguard,” Bill Evans develops some amazing motives over the tune “Solar.” He begins with a trademark triadic lick, then continues the idea of ascending chord motion. Follow this one until the very end! https://youtu.be/SLppKfFFR24 CLICK HERE TO GET A TRANSCRIPTION OF THE LICK If you have questions […]
3 Easy Ways to Start Composing Jazz Now!
As aspiring jazz musicians, we find ourselves mostly focused on the art of Improvisation, a paramount skill for playing jazz. Another less discussed but equally important skill is Composition. Composition is essentially the same as Improvisation, except instead of creating music spontaneously in the moment, one is creating music in a slower, more controlled process. […]
A Slippery Solo Break by Keith Jarrett (LOTW #159)
Here is a solo break Keith takes on the blues tune “Butch and Butch.” His line winds masterfully through a set of chord changes moving chromatically between sets of notes. The rest of this solo is certainly worth checking out, see what happens next! https://youtu.be/pr2HgzWIDwg CLICK HERE TO GET A TRANSCRIPTION OF THE LICK If […]
5 Insider Tips for a Successful Recording
Whether you’re making an audition recording or laying down some tracks for an album, recording can be quite an involved process. Being in the studio often comes with its own set of stressors when compared to a live performance. Here are some insider tips to help make the process go as smoothly as possible! 1) […]
Jacob Collier’s Insane Melodica Solo on “Georgia on My Mind” Pt. 2 (LOTW #158)
You asked for it, and here it is! The second part of Jacob Collier’s famed solo on his arrangement of “Georgia on My Mind.” Watch out for the twists and turns he takes through the reharmonized chord changes, leading up to a sweet set of licks into the end of the phrase. https://youtu.be/jKqOSo3Kktg CLICK HERE […]
Jacob Collier’s Insane Melodica Solo on “Georgia on My Mind” Pt. 1 (LOTW #157)
Ever heard of Jacob Collier? This British phenom has become known for his a capella video arrangements of famous pop songs. He has also been known to take some virtuosic melodica solos, here is his solo over “Georgia on my Mind!” If you like this solo, comment below and we’ll include more in next week’s […]
