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...
by Richie Zellon | Jazz Improvisation, Jim Hall
Deconstructing Jim Hall In this lesson I explore the style of one of the most influential jazz guitarists of the latter half of the 20th century. And I’m referring to Jim Hall who has often been called “the father of modern jazz guitar”. I started out...
