Gonzalo Rubalcaba Goes Totally Wild on “Donna Lee” (LOTW #272)
Gonzala Rubalcaba can play incredible freely improvised solos, and also shred on jazz standards! Here is a lick he pulls out after 1 chorus of improvised melody accompanied by Ron Carter on Bass from his 1994 album “Diz….” Enjoy! https://youtu.be/_KaUUmM2Nt0 CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL LICK BOOK (UPDATED MONTHLY) If you have questions or suggestions […]
Brad Mehldau Warps Time and Space on “Bewitched” (LOTW #271)
Brad Mehldau is often known for playing lines that rise above the normal grid of subdivisions. Check out this line from “Bewitched” on Art of the Trio Vol. 3, where he bends time and space and plays outside of the grid! https://youtu.be/fY7bNfvHcGo CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL LICK BOOK (UPDATED MONTHLY) If you have questions […]
Oscar Peterson Burns Through the Changes to “If I Were a Bell” (LOTW #270)
Oscar shows us how it’s done on this version of the classic standard tune “If I Were a Bell.” He plays it in the key of Ab instead of the usual key of F major, and pulls out all of his favorite vocabulary in this new key. Check out this lick from a great solo! […]
A Rare Chromatic Parallel Lick by Bill Evans (LOTW #269)
Bill Evans was a master of improvising and creating melodies through difficult chord changes. It is one thing to play a phrase that navigates the chord changes in an accurate and direct manner, but it is a completely different thing to make a phrase that goes right through them! Here is a chromatic idea which […]
A.C. Jobim’s Intro to “No More Blues” (LOTW #268)
Sonny Clark is widely known for his work as a sideman, but is often underappreciated as a composer. Here is a beatiful theme from a tune called “Melody for C” from the classic album “Leapin’ and Lopin’” (1961). https://youtu.be/5ogWfJoTqH0 CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL LICK BOOK (UPDATED MONTHLY) If you have questions or suggestions for […]
Red Garland’s Playful Bebop Lines on “Billy Boy” Pt. 2 (LOTW #267)
Red Garland was a longtime member of Miles Davis band, known as the “First Great Quintet.” He often featured Red and the trio with Jimmy Cobb on drums and Paul Chambers on bass. Here is a continuation of Red’s solo from “Billy Boy” from Milestones (1958). https://youtu.be/gqRhKSfLzRI CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL LICK BOOK (UPDATED […]
Red Garland’s Playful Bebop Lines on “Billy Boy” (LOTW #266)
Red Garland was a longtime member of Miles Davis band, known as the “First Great Quintet.” He often featured Red and the trio with Jimmy Cobb on drums and Paul Chambers on bass. Here are some lines from Red Garland’s solo on the famous trio version of “Billy Boy” from Milestones (1958). https://youtu.be/PRZV8Pc1aR8 CLICK HERE […]
A Sneaky Modulation by Bill Evans (LOTW #265)
Bill Evans often combined multiple keys in his arrangements of jazz standards. In his version of “Make Someone Happy,” he plays 1 chorus out front in A major in a slower, rubato style. At the end of the chorus, he brings in the band with this clever phrase in tempo. Check it out! https://youtu.be/dlONnwQEcQk CLICK […]
Count Basie’s Iconic Intro to “Corner Pocket” (LOTW #264)
Count Basie was a master jazz composer and arranger. He was known for his iconic intros, often in the high sparkly register of the piano. Here is a famous intro by the Count to his tune, “Corner Pocket.” https://youtu.be/IXLD9-zPZtY CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL LICK BOOK (UPDATED MONTHLY) If you have questions or suggestions for […]
A Perfectly Executed 2-5-1 Lick by Cedar Walton (LOTW #263)
Cedar Walton got his start playing with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. He went on to compose many tunes which became jazz standards, including “Martha’s Prize” which is where this week’s lick comes from. On his 2011 album, “The Bouncer,” he showcases some original tunes and expert lines! https://youtu.be/n4uLV-xJBN8 CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL […]
