JPS Ep:158 – Check out the “Joe Henderson Chord!”
In this podcast lesson we take a closer look at the chord which characterized Joe Henderson during the most impactful time of his career. This chord appears again and again in Joe’s well known compositions from the 1960’s, such as “Inner Urge,” “Punjab,” “Gazelle,” and more! Follow along as we explore the chord within the context of the infamous jazz standard “Inner Urge” and investigate how to use it to our advantage when improvising.
Insanely Beautiful Intro by Shai Maestro (LOTW #152)
If you haven’t already listened to Shai Maestro, this track will blow your mind! Shai came up in Avishai Cohen’s trio and is known for his complex rhythms and beautiful classical stylings. The intro to “Sleeping Giant” from his first record, Shai Maestro Trio (2012), is a rhapsodic, Brahms-like passage which leads into a fearsome […]
5 Tips to Learn Tunes Like a Pro
Expanding one’s repertoire is an essential part of becoming a better musician. By learning new tunes of varying styles and difficulty, you can expand your palette of musical skills and deepen your musicianship. Here is a list of 5 tips to keep in mind while learning new tunes Check out the Records Save the sheet […]
JPS Ep:157 – 3 Ways To Overcome Your Improvisation Fears
Let’s face it…it’s SCARY to improvise. It’s a very vulnerable thing because you’re opening up yourself to the world. You’re expressing your true self and true emotions. Now besides all that inner stuff…there is also the fear of simply making mistakes. BUT…enough about the negative…let’s get in the positive and I’ll show you 3 amazing ways to get stomp on your fears today!
Bud Powell’s Scorching Intro to “All God’s Chillun Got Rhythm” (LOTW #151)
Bud Powell lays down a scorching intro to his burning original tune, “All God’s Chillun Got Rhythm.” He ends the intro with an altered line made from a tritone substitution. This is some classic Bud playing through some two-five-one’s at a breakneck pace. See if you can keep up! https://youtu.be/HcNrywHyplI CLICK HERE TO GET A […]
JPS Ep:156 – Find Out the Secrets to Playing a One-Chord Vamp!
As jazz pianists, we often get caught up in complex chord progressions and substitutions. The question is: What happens when the chips are down, and you have to improvise over only ONE chord? Here are some secret strategies to work on what to play over one-chord vamps.
Eric Reed’s Nasty Triplet Solo on Monk’s “Evidence” (LOTW #150)
Eric Reed comes out swinging on his album “The Baddest Monk.” Listen how he interprets Thelonious Monk’s classic tune “Evidence” with a relentless triplet feel. This excerpt comes from the last A section of the melody, then all bets are off as he heads into the solo. Watch out! https://youtu.be/DsFSWC20tqM CLICK HERE TO GET A […]
3 Jazz Books to Break Through Plateaus
Do you ever feel stuck in your musical development? These 3 books offer some amazing insights that will help you break through these walls. The Music Lesson by Victor Wooten This book will challenge you to think about music in a different way. It walks through 9 elements of music, as taught by Victor’s possibly […]
JPS Ep:155 – The Most Supportive & Effective Comping Voicing & Setup You Need To Know
Comping can be difficult. It’s hard to know what to play to create a solid, lush, supportive sound for your accompaniment comping. If you only learn one comping setup this is IT! Hands down this will deliver the MOST supportive and effective jazz comping sound you need while playing in any group. Duo, Trio, Quartet…anything! Have fun!
Bill Evans’ Opening Line from “Peri’s Scope” (LOTW #149)
Hear how Bill Evans opens up his solo from this classic track off of “Portrait in Jazz” (1960). Once he drops into the solo, he instantly starts creating melodies which stem from the line at the beginning. See for yourself why this solo is one of the greats! https://youtu.be/7GaIillNoLM CLICK HERE TO GET A TRANSCRIPTION […]
