Every time that I play I learn something that I didn’t know before. —Chris Potter There’s no shortage of Chris Potter recordings to listen to, and there are hundreds of bootleg clips of him on YouTube. But it’s not often we hear him speak candidly about himself, his early experiences, and his thoughts on making […]
blog
“He Kicked My Behind from Genesis to Revelations.” – Russell Malone’s Lessons Learned on the Bandstand
In today’s world of social media, and everybody telling each other “You sound great, man!”, when is it appropriate to offer criticism to a younger player? Check out what guitarist extraordinaire Russell Malone has to say about getting his butt handed to him by [organist] Jimmy Smith in Atlanta in the eighties. “He kicked my […]
Where Do Songs Come From?
The following is in no way an indictment of Kenny Garrett. And full disclaimer: I don’t know Mr. Garrett and have no way of verifying any connection between what follows. It’s merely an observation. But if you’ve ever feared you have nothing original to say—as an improviser, composer, artist, author, etc.—this might embolden you. Good artists copy; great artists […]
Why Active Listening Is Important (& How You Can Do It Better)
There is a big difference between hearing and listening. An even bigger difference between listening and listening actively. In the 2 videos below I’m going to show you several ways you can deepen your relationship to the music you’re exploring. Part 1 – Focus & Content Part 2 – Context What else was going on in 1971? […]
29 Things Michael Brecker Wants You to Know (Including the Importance of Guitars, Playing Drums, Transcribing and Dancing in Bathing Suits)
This 1984 clinic at The University of North Texas wraps up our Michael Brecker series on #InTheShed. Everyone who knew Brecker would tell you how genuinely humble and down-to-earth he was, and you really get to see that in these remarkable clips. I’ll point out a few of my favorite things from each. Part 1: […]
Michael Brecker’s EWI Solo on “In A Sentimental Mood” – Live in Tokyo
Michael Brecker month continues this week on #InTheShed and no series on Brecker would be complete without a does of EWI. http://youtu.be/MkyTk5OmVaU Holy crap and thank you YouTubes! I flipped my s*#& when I heard this back in high school. I only had the audio all these years…until just now when I looked it up […]