A Lovely Intro by Red Garland on “It Could Happen to You” (LOTW #242)
Red Garland was a master of playing intros. You’ll fall in love with this intro, just like the lyric says: “It Could Happen to You!” This LOTW comes from the classic Miles Davis Quintet album “Relaxin” (1956). Enjoy! https://youtu.be/C_Po-sLiufM CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL LICK BOOK If you have questions or suggestions for a Lick […]
A Shifty Turnaround by Bill Evans Pt. 2 (LOTW #241)
Back by popular demand, we are taking a closer look at this turnaround used in Bill Evans’ tasteful arrangement of “A Sleepin’ Bee” from Live at the Montreaux Jazz Festival (1968). In this particular passage, Bill comes up with a clever ending cycle using arpeggios over subsitute chord changes. Notice how he harmonizes the melody […]
Bud Powell’s “Parisian Thoroughfare” Pt. 2 (LOTW #240)
This tune by Bud Powell went on to become a jazz standard, and is often quoted by bebop jazz musicians. ‘= The melody features a fast-moving triplet line which ascends and descends the F major scale. It will make you feel like you’re wandering the streets of Paris! Enjoy! https://youtu.be/OdSBS7l6bpA CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL […]
Bud Powell’s “Parisian Thoroughfare” Pt. 1 (LOTW #239)
This tune by Bud Powell went on to become a jazz standard, and is often quoted by bebop jazz musicians. A defining characteristic is this unique intro by Bud, which includes diatonic 7th chords playing up the F major scale. Enjoy! https://youtu.be/itCBESvEla8 CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL LICK BOOK If you have questions or suggestions […]
A Shifty Substitution By Bill Evans (LOTW #238)
Bill Evans was a master of using substitute chord changes to achieve advance color and expression in his improvising. Here is a solo break from “A Sleepin’ Bee” during a live recording at the Montreaux Jazz Festival in 1968. Enjoy! https://youtu.be/YuaWcv4e3kI CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL LICK BOOK If you have questions or suggestions for […]
Tete Montoliu’s Triplet Lines on “Manha de Carnival” (LOTW #237)
Tete Monotliu is an often undercelebrated jazz pianist from Catalonia, Spain. When notable jazz musicians such as Kenny Dorham, Ben Webster, and Dexter Gordon emigrated to Europe during their careers, Tete recorded with all of them. Here he is playing with KD on “Manha de Carnival,” more commonly known as “Black Orpheus.” https://youtu.be/CQiKDb02-8E CLICK HERE […]
Charlie Parker’s Opening Lick from “White Christmas” (LOTW #236)
Recorded live on Christmas Day at the Royal Roost in 1948, this version of the classic Christmas tune “White Christmas” has Charlie Parker’s trademark written all over it. Rather than the playing the tune in its usual ballad style, they decided to swing it. Boy, does this version swing! Check out his opening lick during […]
Vince Guaraldi’s “Skating” from a Charlie Brown Christmas (LOTW #235)
A Charlie Brown Christmas is a staple of American culture during the holiday season. Inspired by pianists like Bill Evans, Vince Guaraldi composed the soundtrack for this Christmas special and many tunes have become widely celebrated during the holiday season. This one, “Skating,” features a complex passage using parallel thirds in the right hand of […]
Bud Powell Blazes Through the Changes of “All God’s Chillun” (LOTW #234)
On one of his trademark recorded tunes, Bud Powell shows his true prowess as one of the originators of the bebop language. “ All God’s Chillun Got Rhythm” incorporates a sequence of several 2-5-1 progressions, and Bud executes them seamlessly on this rendition off of his album Jazz Giant (1950). https://youtu.be/LKlIKQpv0G8 CLICK HERE FOR THE […]
Oscar Peterson’s Ornamental Solo Break (LOTW #233)
Oscar Peterson is not only a master of playing changes, but also adept in his use of ornaments. He expresses his own unique style by utilizing chromatic neighbor tones, repeated notes, and enclosures which add an extra flair to his improvised lines. Check out this opening solo break from an early version of “I’ve Got […]
