Many jazz musicians believe that playing a great solo is a matter of playing melodies that fit over the chords. They learn chordal scales, standard “licks” that fit over them, pentatonics, arpeggios, patterns, etc–and believe that doing this as virtuosically as possible will lead to a … [Read more...] about How to Play a Great Jazz Solo
bass playing
Get With The Bass
Attention: Drummers and Bandleaders - Get With The Bass! “Where the bass puts it is where it is.” These are not my words - they’re Milt Hinton’s. If you want your music to feel right, you need a good bass player. He/she has more influence on how your band feels than anyone else on the bandstand. … [Read more...] about Get With The Bass
Playlist of recent videos featuring Jon Burr
I found this playlist of recent videos on YouTube - a lot of footage, most I didn't know about! … [Read more...] about Playlist of recent videos featuring Jon Burr
Play on the pads or tips of the fingers in the left hand?
Play on the pads or tips of the fingers in the left hand? Should string players - or any instrumentalist, for that matter - play on the pads or the tips of the fingers in the left hand? Should trumpeters use the tips on the valves, and reed players use tips on the keys? Teachers teach all kinds of … [Read more...] about Play on the pads or tips of the fingers in the left hand?