Improvising means creating music that is spontaneous, of the moment, and uniquely your own. So think of it as the instrument becomes a process of self-discovery, finding out what your music really sounds like. You develop a period of looking within, stripping away the excess and listening for the simple voice that really is our own. It’s there, listen for it.
Being able to improvise on I GOT RHYTHM changes appears much more as a puzzle or study that must be negotiated than as an opportunity look within and reach for new sounds you hear. Improvising means creating music that is spontaneous, of the now, and your own. It will not get played if you yourself don’t play it, and try.
You have to focus your practicing for maximum progress towards creating a powerful forward motion as a player. Add personal guidance of a master teacher and artist, and you’re poised to grow as a musician and as a performer. This is the way I learned with master players-educators like Charlie Mariano, Charlie Banacos ( I was lucky to study with Banacos since 1994 till 2010 ) Sal Nistico, Joe Viola, Andy McGhee and John LaPorta.These men were a beautiful category of a jazz pro who both knows what he is doing, and is willing to share. Thank god for them!
Todays student needs substance ! Plus how to focus practicing of improvising on the essential elements,the actual substance of what to play and how to develop it in your personal style, and dealing with practicing of specific vocabulary. It's what I call, what to shed! Then you got to understand jazz is part of culture. Bird, Prez,Basie,Pee Wee Russell, Roland Kirk, Duke, Hawk and all those giants who gave something to culture. What did they have? They had the the building blocks of jazz improvisation. MELODY ! Then guide-tone lines, and melodic Rhythm. Real world building blocks of jazz improvisation. In a word- BASICS that last for your career.
Just some thinking on subjects we all love and are close to our agenda.
Here's some lunch for your ears, and I'll see you next week!
COUNT BASIE & LESTER YOUNG - 'Taxi War Dance'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUZUIDhNnjY&playnext=1&list=PL3240B02C6ABAA1FB
Charlie Parker Early Recordings 1943
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_w6kJ9jyl7Y
Below...is some things to practice and study- have fun.
Till then......BIRD LIVES! Tim Price
This is the _VERSE_To " Body & Soul" given to me by jazz legend Big Nick Nicholas. If your familiar with the Coltrane tune " Big Nick"....Well that's who this is.
I usually play this verse rubato then segue into the tune. I'm posting this as a respect to my friend BIG NICK..because he's not known as well as he should be, and by getting this out into everyone's hands...we all can keep the VERSE to this tune alive...and also one of the real tenor players in jazz BIG NICK.
Big Nick was also the man Bird went to, to get songs and ideas for them for his " Bird With Strings" recording.I consider myself very lucky to have known Nick in this life...and this is a great way to keep his name alive...and legacy. If you play this...and pass it on...remember where it came from please.
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