The Must-Know Freddie Freeloader Piano Solo (LOTW #147)
This is one of those solos that all jazz pianists NEED TO KNOW. It comes off of Miles Davis’ iconic album, “Kind of Blue” (1959). Wynton Kelly’s solo sets the tone for this blues. His melodic development and sense of swing are unparalleled, and have been imitated by future generations ever since. Check out this […]
Keith Jarrett Shreds on “The Meaning of the Blues” (LOTW #146)
Keith Jarrett takes it to another level in the second chorus of his solo on “The Meaning of the Blues” from his iconic trio record “Standards Vol. 2.” He adds some chromaticism to harmonic minor to disguise the scale, and uses it to burn his way through the chords. His melodies are not to be […]
The Oliver Nelson Lick (LOTW #145)
This week’s lick comes to you from an Oliver Nelson record called “More Blues and the Abstract Truth.” It is an iconic pattern from Oliver Nelson’s tune called “Hoe-Down.” Oliver was known for his affinity for using patterns, and this one is no exception. The lick traces a set of major triads descending in major […]
Some Burning Modal Melodic Action by David Kikoski on Charlie Parker’s “Cardboard” (LOTW #144)
This week we’re coming at you with a burning post-bop solo by David Kikoski on his tune “Cardboard,” off of a 2009 album with Jeff “Tain” Watts on drums and James Genus on bass. He repurposes a Charlie Parker Composition to use as a vehicle for some intense modal jazz. Listen as he sequences a […]
How to Prepare for Auditions
With performance examinations coming up in many music schools across the country, I thought I’d address a question I’ve often heard, which is: How do I prepare for my performance jury? Whether you have an audition or a jury coming up for school, we’ll be discussing some best kept secrets for how to prepare! Know […]
Bill Evans Rips Through Solo Breaks on “Night and Day” (LOTW #143)
On his record with Stan Getz in 1973, Bill Evans rips through some solo breaks over the tune “Night and Day.” Check out the way he navigates these chord changes with bebop vocab and throws in a triplety sequence in the middle! https://youtu.be/DXjNLVu0GNk CLICK HERE TO GET A TRANSCRIPTION OF THE LICK If you have […]
Insane Brad Mehldau Line from Art of the Trio (LOTW #142)
Have you ever wondered what’s going on when Brad Mehldau goes off into one of his virtuosic solos? Take a closer look at this line from Art of the Trio Vol. 2 Live at the Village Vanguard (1998). https://youtu.be/AQrfq0jM7gs CLICK HERE TO GET A TRANSCRIPTION OF THE LICK If you have questions or suggestions for […]
Greasy Benny Green Triplet Line (LOTW #141)
Listen to Benny Green swing his butt off with the Ray Brown Trio on the album Live at Scullers in 1996. He digs into the triplet feel with drummer Greg Hutchinson. Check this out to get more grease in your playing! https://youtu.be/Ajx0j0wHVJ0 CLICK HERE TO GET A TRANSCRIPTION OF THE LICK If you have questions […]
Killing Post-Bop Jazz Piano Lick (LOTW #140)
This week’s lick is a piece of post-bop vocabulary you can pull out when you want to take this to the next level. It is a quartal (4th based) line that moves in 4ths ascending by major second intervals, resulting in a cycle that repeats. Give this lick a try and see where it leads! […]
Beyond the Real Book: Checking out the “Folio”
Being able to show up to a jam and read tunes out of a real book can be very handy, but.. Have you ever wondered where some of those songs come from? As jazz musicians, we are fortunate to be able to draw from an endless fountain of repertoire from the 20th century. Today, this […]
