I’ve been in awe of Chris Potter’s music since I was 17. I could share endlessly about how he’s influenced me as a saxophonist, improviser, and composer. While preparing for the GroundUP Festival in Miami this coming weekend, I rediscovered footage from the year Chris was our artist-in-residence. One clip stood out so much I […]
composing
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 […]
16 Tips on Composing Music
Writing your own music is a bitch. Unlike just playing your instrument (which is hard enough), composing music demands you put your emotions, state of mind and perspective on record and present it to the world saying, “Here world. This is me. This is who I am.” And unlike an improvised solo, which is over […]