by Richie Zellon | Jazz Improvisation
Most Played Bebop Lick In this lesson I trace the most played bebop lick using findings from Dig That Lick. The project, led from Queen Mary University of London beginning around 2017, combined automated melody extraction with curated sources (including the Weimar...
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...
