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 […]
Charlie Parker
Charlie Parker with Strings turns 65
Recorded 65 years ago today (Nov 30, 1949), Charlie Parker with Strings is one of those classic jazz recordings you must get intimately familiar with. Don’t just take my word for it. 6 prominent alto saxophonists recently named this in their top favorites. There’s a reason why: It holds up. As I re-read the liner […]
10 Takeaways from Miles Davis’ 1985 Interview (including Coltrane’s Greed, Hating Flatted Fifths, & How to Play the Right Thing)
The following selections are from this republished 1985 interview with Miles Davis. 1. Avoid flatted fifths; finish what’s already started Miles to Bob Berg: “[I told Bob] when you start playing just try and finish what somebody’s left. Don’t just play till it dies. If [Bob] tries to find a tone center, he’ll just fuck […]
Paul Desmond Interviews Charlie Parker (1954)
Charlie Parker on what music should sound like, who it’s for and how he got his incredible chops. Listen to the full interview (13 mins): http://d34l0idax7p8xb.cloudfront.net/audio/Paul_Desmond_Charlie_Parker.mp3 Download the mp3 C.P.= Charlie Parker / P.D.= Paul Desmond / J.M.= John McLellan (Fitch) P.D.- that music because there’s many good people playing in that record but the […]