I recorded a new CD over the summer in Portugal with my friend and fellow saxophonist Xose Miquelez and Abe Rabade (piano). We each contributed…
Read Full Blog PostLesson 159: Lee Konitz – Sing a phrase – play it back.
When I lived in New York City, I had the transformative experience of taking lessons with Lee Konitz. In his remarkable Central Park apartment, which…
Read Full Blog PostLesson 158: Cycle 5 – Harmonic Major
This lesson covers one possible pattern using the Cycle motion concept through the modes of Harmonic Major. This is a short excerpt from a new…
Read Full Blog PostLesson 157: 96 Melodies from any 4 Notes.
In this lesson I explain how to find and practice the 96 melodies for any 4 note structure or 7th chord. In this example I…
Read Full Blog PostLesson 156: Staying Relaxed While Playing Saxophone
This video outlines one of the main practices I’ve used over the years to help me develop a conditioned relaxation response triggered by holding the…
Read Full Blog PostLesson 155: Blues Etude using Diminished and Triad Pairs
Etudes are a great way to learn new ideas, phrases, concepts and vocabulary. This is a short 12 bar etude I wrote and have been…
Read Full Blog PostLesson 146 Part 4: Countdown, Giant Steps, Tri-Tonic
This is the last lesson outlining various ways to work on improvising over progressions like Countdown, Giant Steps, 26-2, Satellite etc. Start by playing the…
Read Full Blog PostLesson 146 Part 3: Countdown, Giant Steps, Tri-tonic
This is part 3 in my video series on Countdown. In this lesson on Countdown we’ll continue looking at ways of thinking about, conceptualizing and…
Read Full Blog PostLesson 154: Major 7 b9 Melody
The b9 is not commonly over a Major 7 chord. This melody is one a wrote to help me incorporate it’s use into my melodic…
Read Full Blog PostLesson 153: Minor Pentatonic Warm Up
Pentatonic scales are amazing 5 note sets that are comprised of stacked perfect 5th or stacked perfect 4ths. They can be used in a variety…
Read Full Blog PostLesson 152: Maj Triad add #11 Tetrad
The 4 note cell or Tetrad using 1, 3, #11, 5 has many harmonic contexts and can be used for creating voicings, improvising melodically and…
Read Full Blog PostLesson 148: I Hear A Rhapsody – Etude
Etudes are a great way to work on new material, vocabulary, phrasing and a whole host of positive musical skills. Here’s a one chorus etude…
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