by Richie Zellon | Jazz Improvisation
Charlie Parker-Bebop Reverse Engineered Bebop Reverse Engineered presents a step-by-step method for reducing classic bebop lines to their essential harmonic and melodic framework, then rebuilding them into new, stylistically faithful variations. Using excerpts drawn...
by Richie Zellon | Jazz Improvisation, Jazz Standards
Master “Minor” Rhythm Changes As you most likely know, back in 1930 George Gershwin wrote “I Got Rhythm” based on the major I-VI-II-V progression which is the basis for hundreds of standards, as well as the initial portion of what jazz musicians refer to...
by Richie Zellon | Jazz Improvisation
Bach Jazz Lines I recently posted a series of videos demonstrating how jazz musicians are using the different concepts employed by the impressionist composers, namely Debussy and Ravel. In this lesson I step further back in time to the baroque period, in order to...
by Richie Zellon | Comping, Jazz Improvisation
The Locrian-Lydian Exchange Please take a brief moment to consider this scenario… After a substantial amount of time practicing your major II-V chords and scales, you finally decide it’s time to do the same with the minor II-Vs. Next thing you know, you’re confronted...
by Richie Zellon | Jazz Improvisation, Miles Davis
Oleo-Miles Davis Solo from Relaxin’ If you’re serious about jazz, I’m sure you know the importance of being able to improvise over the I-VI-II-V progression. There are hundreds of standards featuring these changes, so its mastery is crucial. But note that...
by Richie Zellon | Jazz Improvisation
Joe Henderson Vocabulary I have found that when talking about influential saxophonists, especially among guitarists, Joe Henderson is not necessarily a household jazz name, as is the case with Charlie Parker and John Coltrane. Nonetheless, if you talk to any...
