~Lesson 93: Scale Pattern
In this lesson we’ll play a simple scale pattern ascending chromatically through all 12 keys. This is a variation on what is often called “diatonic 3rds” although it’s a little bit harder in that it leaps up or down by
~Lesson 92: the 3rd and 5th
In this lesson we’ll look at using only the 3rd and 5th of each chord in a melodically specific way. We’ll either play from the 5th of the chord up to the 3rd of the chord (ascending diatonic 6th) or
~Lesson 91: Yusef Lateef Scale
Yusef Lateef was one of the great innovative melodic improvisers and composers and in the 80’s, I purchased Yusef Lateef’s book, Repository of Scales and Melodic Patterns. This book holds a wealth of creative material which is valuable to both
~Lesson 90: Blues Tina Brooks
Here’s a nice blue’s idea (or “lick”) played by Tina Brooks (tenor sax) over the chord changes to Confirmation on Jimmy Smith’s album House Party (1958). The line works well over the first 4 bars of Confirmation’s chord changes but
Modern Jazz Vocab. Vol. 3
Improvising over the minor ii-7, V7, i chord progression can be challenging for both the beginning and advanced jazz musician. Modern Jazz Vocabulary Vol.3 contains over 1600 Bars of minor ii-7, V7, i- melodies, licks and patterns in all 12
Joeless Shoe “Midsole” CD
This is the third album from the jazz trio, JoE-LeSs shOe. The title Midsole makes reference to the fact that the album was recorded during a tour of the Midwest (Kansas City, MO) in the summer of 2013. It features original
~Lesson 89: Altered Melody
This is a simple Altered Melody that works on a dominant 7th chord with a #5, #11, #9 and b9 and comes from the 7th mode of melodic minor (i.e. B7 alt = the 7th mode of C melodic minor).
~Lesson 88: Bach Theme
In this lesson we’ll look at and play a theme from Bach’s Well Tempered Clavier Book 1; Fugue 10 in E minor. What I find so great about this melody is that it uses a guide- tone cliché or line
~Lesson 87: ii-7 V7 Melody
Lesson 87 is a simple ii-7 V7 melody that you’ll probably recognize. This line will work over both a ii-7 or a V7 so it’s good to practice it in both harmonic contexts. Learn to sing the melody first so
~Lesson 86: Bird Line (2)
Playing bebop melodies through all 12 keys can be a great practice that will help develop your ear, your analytical mind and your technique. Sometimes a whole melody can be a bit daunting so it can be nice to take
~Lesson 85: Intervallic Ideas
Studying with George Garzone was always extremely inspiring and challenging. One seemingly simple assignment he gave me when I studied with him at Berklee in the 80’s was to play random intervals or random notes. The challenge was to actually
3-ish “Events”
Events is the follow up album to our first 3-ish’s release, Baobab (2009). Events features new original compositions by all three band members and a few re-inventions of some familiar standards. The group recorded nearly 20 tunes over 2 days in the studio
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