3 Harmonization Strategies Every Jazz Pianist Needs (Ep: 192)
If you’ve been looking for a way to spice up your chord progressions, try this fun harmonization exercise! This podcast will show you how to take the simplest melodies and give them a more interesting underlying chord structure. Your harmonizations won’t be the same after this!
A Sexy Solo Break by Edward Simon on “My Cherie Amour” (LOTW #181)
For those of you who don’t know pianist Edward Simon, you’ll want to get to know him after this week’s lick! During his tenure in the SFJazz Collective, his arrangements and solos brought an extra layer of sophistication to the group. Listen to this sultry solo break over their reimagining of the classic Stevie Wonder […]
Creating Tension with Pedal Points (Ep: 191)
A pedal point is when you keep the same note in the bass while changing the chords on top. Doing this for a series of measures creates a sense of both connection and tension. Using pedal points builds energy so that when the bass note finally changes, the harmonies of the tune seem to burst forth like a waterfall breaking through a dam. This lesson explores how to incorporate pedal points into your own playing.
Mastering the Left Hand (pt. 2) – Fourths and Clusters (Ep: 190)
This jazz piano podcast tutorial series will show you how to mix things up and keep your left hand voicings sounding fresh. In this episode, we discuss chords you can use with structures made from fourths and clusters. After this video, you will have the sounds of McCoy Tyner and Bill Evans in the palm of your (left) hand!
Stevie Wonder’s Famous Line from “Sir Duke” Pt. 1 (LOTW #179)
“Sir Duke” is a tune off of Stevie Wonders iconic album, “Songs in the Key of Life” (1976). He wrote it in homage to one of his great jazz influences, Duke Ellington. This soli line one minute into the song is infamous among horn players, and uses some hip pentatonic language. Check it out! https://youtu.be/_QltxXyKvS8 […]
Mastering the Left Hand (pt. 1) – Chord Inversions (Ep:189)
This jazz piano podcast tutorial series will show you how to work your left hand so your left hand can work for YOU! In this episode, we discuss which chords you can use in your LH voicings, first through exploring chord inversions. We will have your left hand sounding like the best of them all (Red Garland, Brad Mehldau, Keith Jarrett… ever heard of them??) by the end of this video!
Herbie’s Minor Third Lick from “Dolphin Dance” (LOTW #178)
Herbie Hancock is known as one of the great innovators of jazz piano. In honor of his 80th birthday last week, we’ve got a lick this week from his iconic record “Maiden Voyage” (1965). He introduces his solo with this ascending minor third idea on what would become a jazz standard tune of his, “Dolphin […]
“Walking the Blues” – How to Walk Basslines and Improvise Jazz Piano (Ep:188)
Have you ever wanted to play bass lines on piano and improvise at the same time? Well, with this podcast that idea could become a reality! Follow along as we explore steps to build your own bass lines and work your way toward implementing right hand improvisation over your favorite jazz tunes.
Brad Mehldau’s Ballad Artistry on “Blame it on My Youth” (LOTW #177)
On this cut from his iconic record, “Art of the Trio Vol. 1,” Brad Mehldau shows us that he is not afraid to go deep when it comes to playing ballads. He starts of the track with a sensitive intro, and brings in the band at a daringly SLOW tempo. When it comes time for […]
Solo Piano Architecture (Ep:187)
When playing solo piano, it’s helpful to design the flow of an arrangement. With no constraints, playing solo can quickly become boring to both the player and the listener. By developing concepts to shape your arrangements, you will achieve a greater sense of freedom in your playing and have confidence in performance.
