Couple uncomfortable silences in this one when Lester is asked what he thinks of “modern” saxophonists…and Coleman Hawkins. Love his response: “Well, that’s incomplete.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6W_I1mpDfJA And as a bonus, here’s a blindfold test & interview he did with Leonard Feather in 1951:
#InTheShed
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The notes you don’t play
How often do you structure your playing/soloing/improvising in such a way that the audience can not only follow you but fill in the blanks? This week I had the honor of giving a master class at the University of North Texas and one of the subjects discussed was building solos. I played this track (one […]
Saxophonist Chris Potter on Practicing, Finding Your Voice, Playing Piano, Charlie Parker, Michael Brecker and Pat Metheny
Chris Potter is one of my biggest influences. I first discovered him on a Red Rodney album, circa 1994. My friend Juan found the disc in the sale bin at a Coconuts Records in Florida. In the 50-minute master class below he shares at least a dozen gems of wisdom on playing the saxophone—and jazz. If you can’t make […]
Sonny Rollins Answers 5 Common Questions about Playing Jazz
Jazz is a topic so deep that even a lifetime of study, practice, and dedication won’t lead you to all the answers. (I suppose that’s also a large part of its appeal.) Regardless of where you are in your journey as an improviser you’ve probably wondered about a these things: How do I find my musical voice? […]
Branford Marsalis Gets Creative with Major 7ths on Sting’s “Mad about You”
Every month we do a group transcription challenge inside the Stablemates forum. This month it’s one of my all-time favorite saxophone solos in a pop song: (The break from 2:27-31 and the deliciously crafted solo from 2:50-3:14.) Notice his skillful and effective placement of major 7th intervals. This whole album had a tremendous influence on me. (Find it on […]
Get on the Same Page: How to Improve Your Lead Sheets
Creating charts for small jazz ensembles is an art form. Balancing information on a page can mean the difference between a smooth performance and a train wreck. This is a detailed case study of why—and how—I spent two days reworking a chart. Maybe it will come in handy the next time you’re arranging a song. Problem: I never perform “Belief” because […]