JPS Ep:154 – How to Reharmonize Like a Pro
Have you been looking for some new ways to harmonize with jazz chords? This one trick will help you reharmonize melodies like a pro! In this lesson, we will explore some new ways to move chromatically through the keyboard just like some of the greatest piano stylists!
Classic Sonny Clark Lick (LOTW #148)
Sonny Clark opens up the track “Softly as in a Morning Sunrise” from his album Sonny Clark Trio (1957) with this short but sweet lick. Sonny is known for his swinging time feel and classic content. The rest of this album is a gold mine of jazz language! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vx6pi9fNzgo CLICK HERE TO GET A TRANSCRIPTION […]
JPS Ep:153 – What Are Shell Voicings, Why You Need Them, How To Use Them!
Everyone tells us to learn shell voicings but back when I was younger I never knew why…I also never knew how to USE them! This was very frustrating to me since everyone was saying how important they are. In this episode, I’ll break shell voicings down for you so you know exactly why they’re important AND how to use them. Here we go!
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 […]
JPS Ep:152 – How To Spice Up Your Improv With Ornaments
Most of the time improv will sound bland not because of the notes…but because of the RHYTHMS! I had this little epiphany back in my earlier days, and it completely transformed my soloing. In this episode, you will learn how you can add ornaments to your improv lines so they sound 100x times better. Here we go!
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 […]
How to Practice Simplicity
Sometimes the best melodies are the simplest ones. The less you say, the more each individual note stands out. Miles Davis lived out this musical philosophy every night on the bandstand, and we can all learn a lot from how he makes the most out of the fewest notes. Check out this track “Jean Pierre” […]
JPS Ep:151 – Unlock Your Creativity by Shedding the “In-Between Tempos!”
Do you ever feel like you’re playing the same stuff over and over again? I know I’ve certainly been in that position before. It could be a simple problem of playing songs at similar tempos! In this podcast lesson, we examine the benefits of trying tunes at different tempos than we might be used to playing in our regular circles. Watch as we unlock new creative possibilities through playing the “In-Between Tempos!”
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 […]
