Category: a) Soloing Scales & Modes
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Modus Operandi
There’s a certain type of semi-modal tune that comprises slabs – 4, 2 or even 1 bar long – of different modes chosen seemingly at random (seemingly). These tunes stubbornly resist traditional harmonic analysis. (I say semi-modal. I’ll leave the strict categorisation to the academics – they love a good row.) I’m thinking of tunes…
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Drop 2 More
I wrote about Drop 2 last year here and I’ve had some feedback (a few people really loved the picture of the Golden Retriever with four tennis balls in her mouth – so here she is for a well-deserved encore). In particular, I’ve been asked variations on the following question: “All very well, mate, and…
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A Rose by Any Other Name…
…would smell as sweet. (That’s yer actual Shakespeare, folks.) But sometimes the rose isn’t what it seems. So when is a rose not a rose? When is a fifth a fourth (or eleventh) and a third not a third? Having possibly thoroughly confused you already, I’ll get to the point. This post is a response to someone…
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Marian Reforms
Marius “Butch” Nordal probably needs no introduction from me, but if you haven’t heard of him I strongly advise you to check him out. He’s got a lot of stuff on YouTube – his nom de toob is radiokid2, but the main website is here: http://mariusnordal.com. He’s my kind of musician and writer – tells…
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The Rhythm Changes of Doom
Someone who has been following my bebop stuff has asked for help in overcoming his fear of Rhythm changes. So I’ll give it a go. Getting a grip on Rhythm changes is a bit like crossing a high bridge (it is known as a bit of a “rite of passage”). When you’re on this side,…
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Anita Wardell and Vocalese
We had the pleasure of singer Anita Wardell performing with our house trio last week. I’ve always had bags of time for this lady and it was a really enjoyable gig – thanks Neets, it was a blast. Any time you’re free, our arms are open wide. There’s a jazz vocal practice that Anita is…
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Super Locrian Meets the Dastardly Half Diminishedo
What do you play on a minor II in, say, C minor? D half-diminished, some kind of Ab7 or some kind of D7? Do you know the difference? Or, perhaps more importantly, do you know the similarity? This week I’ll look at some ideas from Bill Evans (jazz’s very own Clark Kent, and okay I’ll…
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Playing Giant Steps with One Scale
This tune gives most learning players an attack of the vapours. The chordal motion is weird, the tempo is whip fast and it involves playing over progressions in the key of B, which most players haven’t spent very much time with. Before we begin, I’ll admit that the approach we’re going to look at here…
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Rooting for You
Piano students experience a great leap forward in the authenticity of their sound when they discover the classic rootless voicings. For a breakdown of what they are (and why they are what they are) see Rootless Voicings from Scratch. They happily get on with the business of: Using them in the RH over a LH…
Jason Lyon Music 