This is one of a set of blogs about practicing jazz. Below I present some ideas about what I’ve been practicing and in a companion blog What Are You Practicing? I invite you to share your thoughts. Hopefully we can all learn from each other and grow in more interesting and beneficial ways.
When I was doing doctoral study at Indiana University in 1988 I took a class with David Baker. It was a history of Bebop class and half the time in class we played the elements of bebop; tunes, scale fragments, cadences, etc. There’s a specific set of language that identifies bebop as a specific improvisational dialect and David was trying to teach it to us.
One of his most frequently stressed maxims was that if you really wanted to play bebop, the best way to get the language was to play the bebop tunes. His point was that the language of bebop was codified and condensed into the compositions by the master musicians of the period, especially Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Bud Powell. So, to learn the language you should practice those compositions as etudes in all keys. I knew he was right, but among the other things going on in my life and study I couldn’t commit the time.
However, in the fall of 2008 I decided to devote myself to this endeavor. I wanted to try walking that disciplined path to not only engrain bebop language into my ears, mind, and body, but to develop a larger ability – to most accurately play what I was imagining. I started by memorizing some bebop heads I didn’t have yet. Pretty soon I discovered that I could memorize them quite rapidly and so I started to extend by initially memorizing them in all keys. Later, I started going back through the list and playing in all keys some tunes I previously had in just one key.
Initially the tunes were all bebop heads because I was concentrating on that aspect of language acquisition. But I have expanded the list to include some standards, and some tunes that extend from the bebop tradition but are more contemporary. This gives me some flexibility in how I practice and what I concentrate on when I practice. For example, when I play Cherokee in all keys, I’m don’t have to concern myself with the pitches very much so I focus on air stream and keeping my embouchure focused in all registers. When I play standards like There Will Never Be Another You or contrafacts like Prince Albert (written on the changes to All The Things You Are) I sometimes follow a chorus of the melody with a chorus of improvisation on the changes.
So, here is the list. It grows, some days by adding keys, some by adding tunes and I’ll update it as that happens. I’ll also make comment on practicing, observing what effects it might have, challenges it might present (for instance I really have to work on playing Dexterity at all – the tune just doesn’t “ring” with me!). Tunes that are followed by “(12)” are one I play in all keys. I invite you to make suggestions, especially of bebop heads, in the comments.
The List
26-2
A Night In Tunisia
Afternoon In Paris
All The Things You Are
Altoitis (12)
Anthropology (12)
Airegin
Au Privave (12)
Autumn Serenade (12)
Barbados (12)
Bebop (12)
Billie’s Bounce (12)
Bloomdido (12)
Blue Seven (12)
Blues for Alice (12)
Bluesette (12)
Body and Soul (12)
Bouncin’ With Bud (12)
Boplicity (12)
Broad Way Blues
Brownie Speaks (12)
Bud Powell (12)
But Not for Me
Butch and Butch (12)
Bye Bye Blackbird (12)
Celia (12)
C.T.A. (12)
Cantaloupe Island
Ceora
Cherokee (12)
Cheryl (12)
Chi-Chi (12)
Confirmation (12)
Corcovado
Cottontail
Countdown
Crazeology (12)
Daahoud (12)
Desafinado
Dewey Square (12)
Dexterity
Dig
Donna Lee (12)
E.S.P.
Eternal Triangle (12)
Farmer’s Market (12)
Fifth House
Fingers (12)
Four (12)
Freedom Jazz Dance (12)
Freight Train (12)
Fried Bananas (12)
Giant Steps
Girl From Ipanema
Good Bait (12)
Got A Match? (12)
Green Dolphin Street
Groovin’ High (12)
Half Nelson (12)
Hallucinations (12)
Have You Met Miss Jones
Hocus-Pocus (12)
Honeysuckle Rose (12)
Hot House (12)
I Got Rhythm (12)
I Hear A Rhapsody
I Love You
I Should Care (12)
I’ll Remember April (12)
In Your Own Sweet Way
In A Sentimental Mood (12)
Invitation
It Could Happen To You (12)
It’s You Or No One (12)
Joy Spring (12)
Jordu (12)
Just Friends
Little Willie Leaps (12)
Lush Life (12)
Mahjong
Maiden Voyage
Mayreh (12)
Milestones (old) (12)
Minority
Mohawk (12)
Moments Notice (12)
Moose The Mooche
My One And Only Love (12)
My Romance (12)
Nica’s Dream
Oleo
Omicron (12)
Opus De Funk
Ornithology
Parisian Thoroughfare
Perhaps (12)
Prince Albert (12)
Quicksilver
Ray’s Idea (12)
Recordame
Relaxin’ at Camarillo (12)
Room 608 (12)
Sandu (12)
Satellite
Scrapple from the Apple (12)
Segment
Serpent’s Tooth (12)
Shaw ‘Nuff
Speak No Evil
Split Kick (12)
Solar
Some Other Blues
Sub-Conscious Lee
Stablemates
Steeplechase (12)
Stella By Starlight
Swedish Schnaps (12)
Tempus Fugue-It (12)
The Days of Wine and Roses
The Night Has A Thousand Eyes (12)
There Is No Greater Love (12)
There Will Never Be Another You (12)
Things To Come
Visa (12)
Walkin’
Wave
Webb City (12)
Wee (12)
Wee-Dot (12)
Witch Hunt
Without A Song
What Is This Thing Called Love?
Woody’n You
Yardbird Suite (12)
You Are Too Beautiful (12)
You Stepped Out Of A Dream (12)
September 11th, 2010 - 1:12 pm
I’ve enjoyed seeing your facebook updates, referring to your work on these tunes. Over the last few years the importance of this idea has become more and more clear to me. Of the tunes on your list, some that really jump out are Donna Lee, Eternal Triangle and Chi-Chi. Chi-Chi is such a great example of voice-leading over the bop blues progression, often “hidden” in the florid, sometimes angular lines.
Very inspiring!
September 12th, 2010 - 4:08 pm
Today was a continuation of playing songs in all keys – Prince Albert, Omicron (a cool Donald Byrd contrafact on Woody ‘N You changes), Milestones (old), Mayreh, Jordu, Joy Spring, and It Could Happen To You.
It was helpful playing Omicron early in the practice session because it is a fairly squirrely tune. I practiced soprano today because of the trouble my tenor reeds were giving me yesterday and it had been about three days since I had played soprano. Most of the tunes are now at performances tempos in all keys, though they certainly didn’t start out there.
September 13th, 2010 - 10:05 am
Monday report – stayed on soprano because of the tenor reed deal and that I had an arm-full of stuff to bring back to work at Lamont today so I took the sop instead of the ten. Anyway, got started a little after 8 am and played until 10 am with a 20 min break. Not quite a bloody mess, but close!
I started with “Hot House” in all keys, but hadn’t done that tune for a while and it completely kicked my tail after concert Bb! I’ll need to spend at least one hour-long session just getting that tune under my fingers in all 12 again.
The rest went swell and “Hallucinations” was particularly rippin’. Todays tunes (not countaing HH) were: Honeysuckle Roser, Hocus-Pocus, Hallucinations, Half Nelson, Groovin’ Hight, Got A Match?, and Good Bait. (I cheated a little on GB because my lip was sore and it’s just the same phrase in I & IV, so I just played all the A sections in all keys).
Serious, I’ve got to buy some more tenor reeds!
September 14th, 2010 - 12:05 pm
Tuesday Report –
The trip to the music store was very beneficial and I was able to play tenor today. Though I’m still not satisfied with the reed situation – who ever is? The Vandoren Jazz 3’s just don’t have enough wood near the tip though they respond pretty well in the mid and low registers. I guess a reed clipper may be in my future unless the 3.5’s have more wood and will still respond (I’ve been having trouble with 3.5 java’s being stuffy). Enough gearhead talk!
Today’s tunes were; Fried Bananas, Freight Train, Freedom Jazz Dance, Four, Farmer’s Market, Eternal Triangle, and Donna Lee. I can really feel when reeds or other basic sound issues are not working well because my concentration is diverted to those issues as I play these tunes through all the keys. Today there were less sound problems so I was able to blast through these seven tunes at tempo in less time than yesterday. It was a good thing too because I had to take a few extra minutes to get ready to teach the first Jazz Improv. and Comp. class of the quarter. Good group of musicians in that class and it should be a fun year!
Plan to finish the list tomorrow, then Thursday I’ll concentrate of getting Hot House in all keys and maybe start learning a new tune or a bebop tune that isn’t in all keys yet – haven’t decided.
September 15th, 2010 - 10:30 am
Wednesday Report –
After spending an hour on the first 16 measure of “Hot House” in all keys I’m even more convinced that Bird was a genius beyond description! What a b*@@buster that is in all keys! I’ll work more on it tomorrow – probably the second A and the Bridge. That which doesn’t kill us…
I had a few minutes yesterday between auditions so I snuck up to the studio and practiced “Chi Chi,” “Bebop.” and “Butch and Butch” in all keys. If you don’t know “B&B” it’s an Oliver Nelson Major blues in G that has an ascending chromatic phrase at the beginning – the type that is sometimes substituted for the first two bars of Rhythm changes. Pretty interesting tune.
Back to today – I spent the second hour practicing the following tunes from the list; “Dewey Square,” “Daahoud,” “Crazeology,” and “Confirmation.” I dont’ have a class to teach today at 10 so I may get a few more, but no guarantees. Today’s reed didn’t have much wood at the tip at all and started fuzzing out during the second hour – disappointing.
September 16th, 2010 - 9:50 am
Thursday Report –
I began as promised, working on the bridge to “Hot House.” There were about 45 minutes of intense brain WTH’s, and then I stopped for the day. It allowed me to realize two things; my practice routine has enabled me to play what I hear to much greater extent, and I’m really not hearing the bridge to “Hot House” as clearly as I need to. So, I’ll take that as having some new information and work on schemes to address that.
The rest of the morning was spent on the following tunes; C.T.A., Bud Powell, Boplicity and Bouncin’ With Bud. Since I worked on Butch and Butch, Body and Soul, and Bebop already this session I just have Anthropology and Altoitis to play to complete this pass at the list. I’m going to try to get to those after lunch and before auditions so I can finish and add another tune this week.
To be continued…
September 17th, 2010 - 1:45 pm
Friday Report –
Didn’t get in the full practice time today due to the resumption of the VLSQ Saxophone Quartet and other administrative obligations and rehearsals. However, I did learn Au Privave in eleven other keys. The “List” will now reflect that added obligation and hopefully extended bebop language.
September 18th, 2010 - 3:43 pm
Saturday Report –
Today was a day to review all the tunes on “The List.” I just started at the top and went through them alphabetically in as rapid succession as I could. There are 106 tunes and it took me the usual 80 minutes to play them – what’s the math? About 45 seconds each, sounds right for two choruses of blues or a song-form tune.
I’m taking suggestions for a great bebop head to add to the list. Something that has great language is what I’m searching for. In the meanwhile I’ll get back to work on getting “Hot House” in all keys – that will certainly not bore me.
September 19th, 2010 - 5:17 pm
Sunday Report –
Didn’t get much time today, so I basically just warmed-up for my rehearsal by reviewing “Au Privave” in all keys. Then I went to rehearsal with my quartet for our Wednesday CD Release Party at Dazzle. It was really interesting because I hadn’t played or practiced any of the tunes since we recorded them in March and I was hearing LOTS of new stuff to play on them. I think this thing is working!
September 20th, 2010 - 12:28 pm
Monday Report –
Started going through the tunes on “The List” that I have in all keys. This time I’m playing them in alphabetical order and with new key relationships – I’m playing them in ascending minor thirds. After I play four I’m back where I started, so I play the next set up a half-step, then do that again to finish all keys. This is helpful to encourage me to think freshly about each key and not fall into mental patterns.
Tunes today have been: Altoitis, Anthropology, Au Privave, Bebop, Body and Soul, Bouncin’ With Bud and Boplicity. I’ve play the first five on soprano and the others on tenor. Making sure I have my soprano embouchure focus and flexibility between tenor and soprano for the CD Release Party gig on Wednesday.
September 21st, 2010 - 8:08 pm
Tuesday Report –
I didn’t get my full time in today due to meetings, classes, rehearsals, and a radio interview. But I did spend some time and worked on; Bud Powell (a Chick Corea tune), Butch and Butch, C.T.A., and Chi-Chi.
But today was a big day, the street date for Azure Intention and tomorrow is the CD Release Party at Dazzle, 7 pm. I’ll still practice tomorrow though.
September 22nd, 2010 - 11:30 am
Wednesday Report –
Tunes in all keys today were: Confirmation, Crazeology, Daahoud, Dewey Square, Donna Lee, Eternal Triangle, Farmer’s Market, and Freedom Jazz Dance. Tunes for tonight at the 7 pm CD Release Party at Dazzle will be: Color Line, Lament, Into The Blues, David’s Tune, Happy New Year, Azure Intention, Appalachian Shuffle, and Spinning – but these will only be played in the original key! Hope to see you there.
September 25th, 2010 - 5:02 pm
Saturday Report –
An hour-and-a-half straight soprano practicing got me through; It Could Happen To You, Milestones (old), Prince Albert, Ray’s Idea, Room 608, Scrapple From The Apple, The Night Has A Thousand Eyes, and There Is No Greater Love in all keys. ENOUGH!
The concentration level was pretty high today, I only had trouble on the bridge to Milestones in some keys. Room 608 is usually challenging in the bridge, but today was pretty good.
Tomorrow I’ll finish the List (just a few to go) and concentrate on getting Hot House back under my fingers – and more importantly in my ears!
September 26th, 2010 - 5:31 pm
Sunday Report –
Today I finished the List by playing There Will Never Be Another You, Wee, and Yardbird suite in all keys. Then I devoted the next hour to a rigorous session on the three phrases of the second A section of Hot House. I played each phrase at least 20 times in each key, concentrating only on that phrase. My goal was to not only develop muscle memory for the phrase, but to ingrain the detail of the sound of the phrase in my memory. Each new key was progressively easier so I think the sound of the phrase was becoming more familiar.
Monday I’ll work the Bridge the same way and then start combining the sections in all keys.
September 28th, 2010 - 9:56 pm
Tuesday Report –
Today I had several practice sessions. The first, in the morning, concentrated on practicing improvising on “Prince Albert” and “Half Nelson” in all keys – that lasted about an hour. First, I’d play the melody to get the sound of the key in my head, then blowing on the changes for a couple or more choruses. The challenge is to play freely and within the harmonic structure without relying on constantly hitting a particular chord tone, like the third or the root.
I then played “Eternal Triangle” in all keys – mostly just for fun!
In the evening I returned to play “Hot House” in all keys. I was able to get through all the non-standard keys at a steady, relaxed tempo and could really burn the original key. This indicates to me that the sound of the tune is much more ingrained. After that, I just blew on “Hot House” changes in the original key for a while to have some fun!
About 2.5 hours of practicing and had fun and accomplished some things.
October 2nd, 2010 - 11:26 am
Late Friday Report –
Thursday was wasted after the extremely long Wednesday. I didn’t get ill, in large part because I rested when I had an opportunity. So, being not sick and able to play the next day is a lot better than being ill.
On Friday I rehearsed with the VLSQ saxophone quartet and had former student James Barela present a lecture to the jazz students at Lamont. I had time to play “Ray’s Idea” in all keys before the jazz faculty rehearsed until 1 pm. I returned to Lamont at 4:30 for the Flo’s Underground Jam Session and played on “Bluesette.” Had fun rehearsing and playing, but didn’t get much rigorous practice time. However, I can feel more and more freedom in my playing and I will continue to regimen as much as I’m able.
October 2nd, 2010 - 5:12 pm
Saturday Report (real time) –
I dug into “Bluesette” in all keys today. Played the melody in each key about six times, then started improvising on the changes in that key.
As I improvised I would set goals to substitute new ideas for the usual things I would play in those keys. For instance, if I found myself starting on the third too frequently on the ii-V7’s, I would set a goal of starting on another chord tone – for instance the sixth. This was an interesting way to analyze what I was playing and develop new approaches.
Tomorrow my goal is to find a new bebop head I dig that I can learn in all keys. Wish me luck.
October 6th, 2010 - 5:22 am
Tuesday Report (late) –
I played through the list in reverse alphabetical order. It was the first time in quite a while I had reviewed all the songs, and though I was tired, the time flew by and it was quite fun! I think this is a testament to the increased accuracy I’m hearing the music.
I came back in the evening and started reviewing memorized tunes in all keys. I got through “Altoitis” and strated on “Anthropology” before I had to go. I’ll pick up “Anthro…” in concert Db and play as many others as time allows this morning.
October 6th, 2010 - 9:08 am
Hi Lynn, I really enjoy reading about your practice sessions. I am wondering if you or any other readers have suggestions about how guitar players can put these ideas to use. On guitar, changing the key of a tune can simply mean moving the same pattern up and down the neck, and while this can be a nice crutch in some ways, it ultimately becomes an impediment because one can fall into the trap of relying on patterns over ears and knowledge.
I will practice a tune making a deliberate effort to find several different fingerings for it, playing it in different octaves, etc. But even this method can result in patternistic thinking, as you eventually run into a finite number of workable ways to play a melody. So any other ideas/suggestions would be appreciated!
October 6th, 2010 - 5:59 pm
Wednesday Report –
Picked up where I left off last night with Anthropology in all keys, then; Au Privave, Bebop, Body and Soul, Bouncin’ With Bud, Boplicity and Bud Powell.
Not much to actually report except that it was a fun a productive practice session.
October 7th, 2010 - 7:43 am
Paul,
My suggestion would be to sing the patterns either while you play the patterns or sing the pattern first and then play the pattern on guitar in each new key. I think a guitarist would hear the patterns a lot better that way without totally doing the patterns mechanically.
October 7th, 2010 - 9:18 am
Thanks for the suggestion Brad, I completely agree. I think it is important to move our music off our instruments and into our minds and especially our ears as frequently as we can and singing is a great tool to help accomplish this. One might also combine singing different things, for instance, singing guidetones while playing a pattern or song.
October 7th, 2010 - 11:36 pm
Thursday Report –
I had fun today resuming with the all keys review session. The tunes were; Butch and Butch, C.T.A., Cherokee, Chi-Chi, Confirmation, Crazeology, Daahoud, Dewey Square, Donna Lee, and Eternal Triangle. Must have been the extra cup of coffee!
October 9th, 2010 - 10:50 am
Friday Report (late) –
I was functioning on only four hours of sleep Friday so I didn’t get much practicing in. Going to rehearsals, conducting and listening to master classes, transcribing/arranging “Hey Joe,” and producing the regular jazz combo performance at our series, Flo’s Underground, kept me busy. I was able to play “Half Nelson” in several keys though.
October 11th, 2010 - 5:45 pm
Monday Report –
I took off Saturday and Sunday.
Today I was able to practice for only about an hour and fifteen minutes and the tunes were; Freight Train, Fried Bananas, Good Bait, Got A Match?, Groovin’ High, Half Nelson, Hallucinations, and Hocus-Pocus. It felt good!
If you’re near a computer on Tuesday, Oct. 12 at 7 pm Mountain Time I invite you to stream a live performance of the Lamont Jazz Orchestra on KUVO Jazz89. Their website is: http://www.kuvo.org
The concert will feature two premieres; one is a new composition in 7/5 and 5/4 by me, the other a great new arrangement of “Blue in Green” by Dave Hanson. “Blue in Green” is written to feature trumpeter Al Hood and will be part of a big band project on which I’m the musical director. On this broadcast I’ll play the trumpet part on Soprano. THEN we will feature the great saxophonist Greg Abate playing arrangements of his original compositions. Greg is sounding GREAT so this will be a very cool concert – I hope you can hear us.
October 12th, 2010 - 10:31 pm
Tuesday Report –
Had a brief amount of time to practice this morning so I only got through; Honeysuckle Rose, Hot House, and It Could Happen To You. Doing Hot House in all twelve was worth it by itself!
I spent a lot of time today with our guest artist, Greg Abate, getting him to and from classes, rehearsals and radio broadcasts. He’s doing a great job, inspiring our students and being a lot of fun to hang with. I hope you had a chance to hear our air check on KUVO and if you’re in Denver can come to our Wednesday concert at Gates Concert Hall.
October 14th, 2010 - 9:08 am
Thursday Report –
Wednesday was a light day practice-wise – I just had an opportunity to play Joy Spring, Jordu, and Mayreh in all keys spliced into a day of clinics and concerts (see above).
Today I hit it early (and tired) and got through; Milestones (old), Omicron, Prince Albert, Ray’s Idea, Room 608, Scrapple from the Apple and The Night Has A Thousand Eyes. Hopefully I’ll find some time later in the day to get back to it, but if not I’ll have felt I got something accomplished.
October 15th, 2010 - 6:51 am
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Walker L., Lynn Baker. Lynn Baker said: new blog comment @ http://lynnbakerjazz.com/blog/?p=58#comment-112 […]
October 15th, 2010 - 9:42 am
Friday Report –
The first Charlie Parker record I owned was “The Essential Charlie Parker” and on it is the great blues “Bloomdido.” So I’ve been listening to this song for decades and know the sound of it very well. However, when I memorized it in the home key of Bb I still had troubles with the shapes, especially in the first four bars. So today I decided to skip over playing the rest of the List in all keys (mostly just a few standards were left anyway) and to dedicate my morning session to learning Bloomdido in all keys.
It was a challenging experience, but after 90 minutes of exclusively working on it I think I have a pretty good handle and can really hear it and play it in Bb!
One thing accomplished a day is a good thing.
October 16th, 2010 - 12:39 pm
Satrurday Report –
Today I played through “Bloomdido” in all keys three times to kind of cement it into place. The phrase in the fourth bar was more sure today, probably a combination of muscle memory, increased accuracy of hearing the intervals, and a different approach to thinking about the line. For me, good playing is always a combination of these three elements (plus about 20 others!).
I finished the list today playing There Will Never Be Another You, There Is No Greater Love, Wee, and Yardbird Suite in all keys. Sunday I’ll review all the tunes in their “home” key.
October 17th, 2010 - 6:59 pm
Sunday Report –
Today it was reviewing the total list in their “home” key. It took 70 minutes to get through this list – this may be a new record. 😉
After practicing I hosted the first annual DU/Lamont Alumni Jazz Jam session. It was a lot of fun hearing musicians from a wide time-span play together and everyone sounded great. If you’ve played in the DU or Lamont jazz program please look out for this event when it happens about this time next year – it will be a lot of fun for you!
October 18th, 2010 - 11:52 am
Monday Report –
Today it was back to playing those songs from the List that I have in all keys. I started at the beginning of the alphabetical order and got through; Altoitis, Anthropology, Au Privave, Bebop, Bloomdido, Body and Soul, Bouncin’ With Bud, Boplicity, and Bud Powell.
I was also able to take a little longer on Body and Soul and, after playing it in the new key, improvised on the changes in that key. It was fun and a good workout that provided a bit of a change – I encourage you to do that at least every once in a while.
October 19th, 2010 - 6:22 pm
Tuesday Report –
Today was another trip down the List addressing the tunes I have in all keys. Today’s tunes were; Butch and Butch, C.T.A., Cherokee, Chi-Chi, Confirmation, Crazeology, Daahoud, and Dewey Square. I spent about 80 minutes today. I took Butch and Butch at a slower tempo to be able to nail the fourth bar transition into the IV chord, something I’ve been encouraging my students to pay more attention to.
Tomorrow continues the assault!
October 20th, 2010 - 6:57 pm
Wednesday Report –
Today was a two-parter and kind of weird, I’m still trying to process if it has any meaning.
I started this morning thinking I had an 8 am presentation so I started preparing a little early to make sure the AV equipment was working. Of course, it was not, but by the time I started to get it fixed I remembered the presentation was at 10. So I relaxed a little and worked on the AV problem, which I got figured out. Then I went to my studio and looked at my List to see what I needed to practice and low-and-behold it was “Donna Lee” in all keys! I don’t know if it was the change of mind, the initial distraction, or the frustration of the AV equipment, but I was just not able to play as well as usual. I had to work through the tune slowly and played it several times before I felt things were working. Then I played Eternal Triangle and Farmer’s Market in all keys.
The rest of the day, from 10 am to 4 pm was straight through lectures, rehearsals, and transportation so I was pretty tired by the time I had an opportunity to finish practicing. I resumed the List and in just about an hour got through; Four, Freedom Jazz Dance, Freight Train, Fried Bananas, Good Bait, and Got A Match? almost flawlessly. How did that work? Tired and hungery after a long day of work and the concentration was at near-peak. I need to digest what happened here and why.
Tomorrow – more of the List in all keys.
October 21st, 2010 - 9:37 am
Thursday Report –
I had a good practice session this morning with only one minor interruption. EXCEPT I had to go through five different reeds to finish it – sheeesh! Time for another trip to the music store.
Anyway, today’s tunes in all keys were; Groovin’ High, Half Nelson, Hocus-Pocus, Honeysuckle Rose, Hallucinations, Hot House (yes, that Hot House!), It Could Happen To You, and Joy Spring.
Not much to report other than the reeds and the tunes. I still haven’t figured out yesterday’s practice weirdness, but I still think there was a lesson there somewhere.
Friday – on with the List.
October 22nd, 2010 - 5:48 pm
Friday Report –
Today the practice sessions were broken up into three chunks by other rehearsals and meetings. Here were today’s tunes; Jordu, Mayreh, Milestones (old), Omicron, Prince Albert, Ray’s Idea, Room 608, and Scrapple From The Apple. Then I took a little time to blow on the changes to It’s You Or No One. After all the frantic-ness of the day it was good to just cut loose a little!
Saturday I’ll finish the List and try to find another to add, either new or learn in all keys.
October 23rd, 2010 - 3:24 pm
Saturday Report –
I got distracted from finishing the List because I learned a new tune. This one was inspired by the Bebop combo at the Lamont School of Music. They played “Brownie Speaks” in performance class on Friday and I had studied that harmonic variation of “rhythm changes” but had never worked on the tune. Anyway, they did a great job of playing it and I was inspired to learn it in all keys. Quite a nice workout! I’ll finish the list and review Brownie Speaks tomorrow.
If you’re interested in hearing the Bebop combo play “Brownie Speak” and other great bop tunes, please come to the Flo’s Underground concert next Friday, Oct. 29, 5 pm in Williams Recital Salon at the Newman Center for the Performing Arts on the Univ. of Denver campus. And IT IS FREE!
October 24th, 2010 - 1:23 pm
Sunday Report –
As you can see, “Brownie Speaks” in all keys has been added to the List. Today I reviewed it after I practiced these tunes in all keys; The Night Has A Thousand Eyes, There Is No Greater Love, There Will Never Be Another You, Wee, and Yardbird Suite.
Monday will be an all-review day in home keys. Then back to practicing all of the 12 key tunes, this time beginning with Yardbird Suite… and the beat goes on.
October 25th, 2010 - 10:15 am
Monday Report –
Today was the total review day and that went very well. After I spent just over an hour getting through every song on the List in its “home” key I spent some time relearning “Dexterity.” I don’t know why the bridge of this tune is so hard to remember, but I spent quite a while on it and will probably move the entire tune to the “all keys” category because it is so unnatural to me.
Anyway, after that I blew through the changes to “Joy Spring” for about 10 minutes using a technique I have been talking to my students about to increase lyricism on rapidly moving ii-V progressions. The idea is time-tested but good to remember and re-apply sometimes: every note of the ii7 chord, except the 7 is a chord tone of the V7. So if you concentrate on just the iis you have an opportunity to play more lyrically through these types of tunes. Try it and see if it works for you.
October 26th, 2010 - 8:00 pm
Tuesday Report –
Today the practice session was broken into two parts; one in the morning and another at 6 pm, divided by a noon gig and transportation time. The morning tunes were; Altoitis, Anthropology, and Au Privave in about eight keys. The evening session was; finishing Au Privave, Bloomdido, Body and Soul, Bouncin’ With Bud, and eight keys of Brownie Speaks.
Wednesday I’ll finish Brownie and go back to pick up Boplicity before I resume the List.
October 27th, 2010 - 4:49 pm
Wednesday Report –
Like I said I would, I finished “Brownie Speaks” and went back to Boplicity before I got back on the List and played; Bud Powell, Butch and Butch, C.T.A., Cherokee, Chi-Chi, Confirmation, Crazology, Daahoud, and Dewey Square. This was an intense morning of practice and fun to do. It was obvious to me that the extra hour of sleep I had last night (all the way up to 6.5!!) was helpful in my level of concentration. I highly recommend that musicians get as much rest as we need so that our intense practice sessions will be the most beneficial.
Tomorrow, Donna Lee first thing (didn’t that just happen?) then on to the rest of these gems.
October 28th, 2010 - 8:43 pm
Thursday Report –
I started with Donna Lee as advertised, and it was a lot different than the last time I started with Donna Lee (see http://lynnbakerjazz.com/blog/?p=58#comment-127). This time, I was focused and not frustrated by external events and it was almost easy to get through in all key! Just a great example of how emotional stimulae can impact concentration and your musical mind. Practice detachment, grasshopper.
I continued the morning practice session with; Eternal Triangle, Farmer’s Market, Four, Freedoom Jazz Dance, and Freight Train in all keys. I also practiced everything today at a slightly slower tempo so I could try to concentrate on the phrases and not just rely on muscle memory – it was an interesting and positive experience. However, I started late and only had about an hour before I had to stop to go teach.
In the evening I had a chance to get back and decided to practice improvising in all keys on a tune I hadn’t applied that in the past. “Fried Bananas” was next on the List and that’s what I worked through each key – first playing the head to get the sound in my ear and then blowing several choruses in a key. It was interesting that Ab was the key I made the most mistakes in when blowing. I think it was a combination of being early in the transposition (2nd) and that concert Ab just ties up my chops a little. I’ll improvise on more tunes and that key so it becomes more natural.
Tomorrow “the work goes on…”
October 29th, 2010 - 10:11 pm
Friday Report –
Today was full of various rehearsals (starting at 8:30 am) and ending with a concert at 7 pm, but I had several opportunities to get some practicing in. Today’s tunes were; Good Bait, Got A Match?, Groovin’ High, Half Nelson, Hallucinations, and Hocus-Pocus. I also worked again on playing It Could Happen To You in several keys, concentrating on Ab.
Tomorrow is full of stuff in the morning, but I hope to be able to get some practice time in the afternoon. On with the List…
October 30th, 2010 - 6:37 pm
Saturday Report –
I didn’t have a lot of time today because I had a Music School Admission Workshop to present this morning and attend my son’s band concert this afternoon (of course, World Series this evening!). But between the workshop and the concert I was able to practice in all keys; Honeysuckle Rose, Hot House, It Could Happen To You, and Joy Spring. The other beneficial aspect of today’s practice (other than actually finding some time to do it) is that I spent some time on Soprano.
Tomorrow – attack the List again!
October 31st, 2010 - 3:27 pm
Sunday Report –
More work on the Soprano today. Actually, I got back to it a little last night and worked on blowing on “It Could Happen…” in all keys.
Today the tunes in all keys from the List were; Jordu, Mayreh, Milestones (old), Omicron, Prince Albert, Ray’s Idea, and Room 608. I’ll finish the list Monday and find a new tune to add in all keys – any suggestions?
November 1st, 2010 - 10:49 am
Monday Report –
This was a very productive practice day. I started by finishing the List and playing; Scrapple From The Apple, The Night Has A Thousand Eyes, There Is No Greater Love, There Will Never Be Another You, Wee, and Yardbird Suite in all keys. Then I decided to learn “Billie’s Bounce” in all keys. Its one of those tunes that everyone knows (or at least knows “of”) but may not understand all of the cool language that it contains. The whole re-metering aspect of the A section is cool and in some keys presents some pretty interesting technical issues. The end of the A1 section has that great iii-VI turn to get to the 9th bar, and then the C.A.S.H. phrase in the ii-V is a very good piece of language.
Anyway, it was fun to pound it out in all keys and “Billie’s Bounce” is now officially added to The List. Tomorrow is review all songs day.
November 3rd, 2010 - 6:27 am
Tuesday Report –
After a break from practicing in the morning to complete some other important business I was able to return in the evening and finish reviewing the List.
Wednesday I’ll refocus on the newly acquired tunes in all keys; Brownie Speaks, Billie’s Bounce, and Bloomdido. The DU Jazz Faculty Combo plays a concert tonight at 7:30, a celebration of our retiring Lamont Director, Joe Docksey. Every tune has his name in the title! Details later.
November 3rd, 2010 - 10:19 am
Wednesday Report –
A good and intense session of working over Brownie Speaks, Billie’s Bounce, and Bloomdido in all keys. I played each tune twice in a key before moving around the cycle and played three times through the cycle for each tune so what was that – 72 times for each tune, right?
Should have fun tonight playing the “Joe” concert (see above) at 7:30 pm in Hamilton Recital Hall, Newman Center for the Performing Arts, Univ. of Denver campus.
November 5th, 2010 - 1:44 pm
Friday Report –
I practiced some on Thursday but didn’t make an entry. I’m back to playing through all of the tunes from the List that I have in all keys, so the past couple of days were; Altoitis, Anthropology, Auprivave, Bebop, Billie’s Bounce, Bloomdido, Body and Soui (also improvising on the changes for a chorus in all keys), Bouncin’ With Bud, and Boplicity.
The DU Jazz Faculty played the “Joe” concert on Wednesday and it was fun to notice the increased freedom of rhythm and phrasing that I had on; Killer Joe, Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe, and Breakfast With Joe (an Ab Blues). I didn’t notice it so much on Mo’ Joe, but that was mostly an issue about how time was being stated in the rhythm section – not that it was bad, it was just very precise without the types of syncopations and anticipations that I felt for that tune. So, even though I wanted to play in a more rhythmically nuanced way, it wasn’t appropriate, so I didn’t.
On to the weekend and the rest of the list, starting with Brownie Speaks in all twelve!
November 6th, 2010 - 6:19 pm
Saturday Report –
Today I continued with playing tunes that I have in all twelve keys; Brownie Speaks, Bud Powell, Butch and Butch, C.T.A., Cherokee, Chi-Chi, and Confirmation. I worked on Soprano today and left quite an impression on my lower lip!
Brownie Speaks has become quite natural after a short time, further making the case that the more accurately I can hear the melody, the better I can play it. This is the most important goal of this practicing method because I don’t want to just play the language of these jazz tunes, I want to be able to play anything I hear.
Tomorrow, on with the List!
November 7th, 2010 - 3:49 pm
Sunday report –
Further along with the list, still playing Soprano, today’s tunes were; Crazeology, Daahoud, Dewey Square, Donna Lee, Eternal Triangle, Farmer’s Market and Four. I improvised a chorus or two in each key on Four for the first time. It is a straight-ahead set of changes so there was little difficulty except I was trying to be very accurate about the turn around into the last iii chord and that created a little challenge of both the first and second endings.
Monday I’ll start with Freedom Jazz Dance and march on…
November 8th, 2010 - 11:33 am
Monday Report –
Today I picked up the list with Freedom Jazz Dance and proceeded through; Freight Train, Fried Bananas, Good Bait, Got A Match?, Groovin’ High, Half Nelson, Hallucinations, Hocus-Pocus, and Honeysuckle Rose. It went very well except for the problems trying to get a reed that works! I then played through the changes of my ballad “Lament” several different ways to get prepared to perform it tonight.
If you’re in Denver, please come out to at free big band concert this evening at 7 pm at Gates Concert Hall featuring three big bands from Lamont, trumpet soloists Tito Carrillo and Al Hood, myself on tenor and premieres by Dave Hanson.
Tomorrow starts with “Hot House,” oh boy!
November 9th, 2010 - 5:30 pm
Tuesday Report –
Today I spent the first hour practicing Hot House. The kinetic memory is really strong on all the scalar phrases, and fairly consistent on the weird arpeggios, but the interval placement at the beginning of the bridge tore me up today. This is a great tune, and fantastic for focusing the mind!
After that I spent a few more minutes playing these tunes in all keys; It Could Happen To You, Joy Spring, and Jordu.
Tomorrow, its Mayreh and on and on…
November 10th, 2010 - 10:03 am
Wednesday Report –
Picked up the List in all keys today with Mayreh and also played; Milestones (old), Omicron, Prince Albert, Ray’s Idea, Room 608, and Scrapple From The Apple. Milestone and Omicron were both a little more comfortable today – just a matter of hearing them really clearly I think.
I’ll finish the List tomorrow and learn another standard in all keys, I think it will be “It’s You Or No One.”
November 11th, 2010 - 12:15 pm
Thursday Report –
As promised, I finished the List playing; The Night Has A Thousand Eyes, There Is No Greater Love, There Will Never Be Another You, Wee, and Yardbird Suite. Then I learned the other eleven keys of It’s You Or No One – that was pretty interesting because, with a few minor errors, I was able to play it at first pass – the ear continues to improve and connect to the horn more quickly. YEA!!
November 11th, 2010 - 2:46 pm
Lynn, so the process is get a list of 100 tunes or so and play the melodies in all keys? Metronome? Do you work on scales, licks etc?
November 11th, 2010 - 8:16 pm
Pete – yes, basically. I’ve been adding tunes to the list for the past two years and continue to add. I don’t play all of them in all keys at the moment, but added the other eleven keys to tunes I already have. For instance, today I added It’s You Or No One in the other keys, and later blew on the changes in all keys.
In regard to tempo – I try to play each piece at its commonly played upper tempo and all tempi under that. However, I will play tunes under tempo as needed, I’d rather get the melody right than the tempo.
I still play scales and patterns, but don’t concentrate on them for long periods of time – this is mostly about developing language from the tunes and more importantly, increasing the connection between what I imagine/remember and my horn.
November 12th, 2010 - 2:57 pm
Friday Report –
Today is was review all tunes on the List day. Then I spent about forty minutes committing Webb City to memory in the other eleven keys.
This is really a lot better than just learning patterns from a book, taking ALL of the language directly from the tunes is like a Bebop transfusion. Patterns can give you the basic facility, but the other crucial parts of the language; rhythm, articulation, all manner of expressive nuance (dynamics, falls, scoops, etc.) comes right in when you play these tunes. David Baker was right again!
November 13th, 2010 - 4:26 pm
Saturday Report –
After reviewing all the tunes and adding Webb City in all keys on Friday, Saturday was the day to start reviewing all the tunes I have in all keys. Today’s tunes were (playing through the List in reverse alphabetical order); Yardbird Suite, Wee, Webb City, There Will Never Be Another You, There Is No Greater Love, The Night Has A Thousand Eyes, Scrapple From The Apple, Room 608, Ray’s Idea, and Prince Albert. Good thing I had a Soprano reed that was vibrating or I would have caused some serious lip damage.
Sunday will continue with all the multiple-key tunes.
November 14th, 2010 - 3:57 pm
Sunday Report –
Today I resumed played tunes I have in all keys with the following; Omicron, Milestones (old), Mayreh, Jordu, Joy Spring, It’s You Or No One, It Could Happen To You, and Hot House.
Not much else to say except more Soprano time with a reed that actually vibrates is leading to a rounder, more consistent tone and pitch.
November 15th, 2010 - 10:06 am
Monday Report –
It started snowing in Denver a little today and the humidity and pressure change must have made havoc with my reeds because today was another five-reed-day to get through my morning practice.
I’m reviewing all the songs on the List that I have in all keys and I cheated a little yesterday when I said I had finished “Hot House,” I had not played it in concert B, E, A, D, or G, so I began today by finishing that tune. Then I played; Honeysuckle Rose, Hocus-Pocus, Hallucinations, Half Nelson, Groovin’ High, Got A Match?, Good Bait, and Fried Bananas. It was a good session, but by the time I played these eight tunes I was frustrated enough by changing reeds that my concentration was a little tattered.
I may return later today if I can find reeds that will let me play!
November 16th, 2010 - 9:48 am
Tuesday Report –
My reeds were so bad today that I had to dig out an old fibercell and work with that – kind of yucky!
Because I messed around so long with reeds I only got to these tunes; (I actually played Freight Train and Freedom Jazz Dance yesterday), Four, Farmer’s Market, Eternal Triangle, Donna Lee, Dewey Square and Daahoud. Once I found a reed that worked it was a pretty good session.
I’ll finish the list tomorrow then find another tune to learn in all keys or learn one I already have in the other eleven – haven’t made up my mind yet…
November 17th, 2010 - 10:49 am
Wednesday Report –
I worked on Soprano today for a couple of reasons, both practical; I have Soprano reeds that work, and I need to play a soloist’s part in jazz orchestra rehearsal today and had to learn it.
In addition to practicing “Race To The Bottom,” a Chris Tedesco tune that the Lamont Jazz Orchestra will be playing with Sean Holt on Dec. 2 & 3 at the Legend Jazz Festival, I played; Crazeology, Confirmation, Chi-Chi, Cherokee, C.T.A., Butch and Butch, Bud Powell, and Brownie Speaks in all keys. That took me about two hours with a few short breaks and I think I should probably rest my face for a few minutes for the jazz orchestra rehearsal.
I didn’t finish the List like I thought I would, but that just means that tomorrow’s practice session is just partially up in the air – any suggestions on a good bop head to memorize in all keys?
November 18th, 2010 - 5:59 pm
Thursday Report –
Arrgh!, Reeds!!! Today, I just put every tenor reed I could find into a cup of water and let them soak for a few minutes. Then I’d randomly pull one out and see if it played, if it did, I played it until it stopped then took it off and put it back in the water upside down. I went at this for about three tunes until I found one that would work for a while. At that point I finished playing; Boplicity, Bouncin’ With Bud, Body and Soul, Bloomdido, Billie’s Bounce, Bebop, Au Privave, Anthropology, and Altoitis in all keys.
The fourth bar of Bloomdido is still giving me some issues, so while I was riding the exercise bike tonight I practiced fingering through that passage in all keys. We’ll see if that makes any difference when I get back to it.
Friday I have Jazz Juries and Lamont from 9 am to 5:30 pm, then grab a bite and head down to the Deikou Collection to Soundpaint from 6:30 to 9 pm (drop by if you’re in Denver – it’s free and open to all). I’ll have a few minutes in the morning to practice, so I’ll probably focus on Bloomdido.
November 19th, 2010 - 9:28 pm
Friday Report –
I put in about 75 minutes this morning concentrating exclusively on Bloomdido. I worked the fourth bar in each key at least 30 times, then played that measure in relationships of 4ths, M2nds and m2nds. After I felt that bar was solid I played the first five measures in all keys three times. Then I played the entire tune in all keys, playing it twice in each key before proceeding to the next key. I’m going to have to spend a little more time drilling down on Bloomdido, but pretty soon it will be solidly in the “hopper” with the other tunes.
Anyway, that’s all I had time to practice today because right after that I heard 8 hrs. and 10 mins. of jazz juries, then went downtown for a Soundpainting event.
The day is done, tomorrow awaits…
November 21st, 2010 - 5:57 pm
Sunday Report –
I didn’t even put a reed on an axe on Saturday – too full of other stuff that was very important to get to.
Today I worked on drilling Bloomdido further into the ear and fingers to good effect. Then I spend time playing Billies Bounce in all keys and improvising on the changes in all the keys. I usually don’t do this with a blues, but had fun with it today – it was a nice balance of discipline and fun.
Tomorrow – a new bop head, TBA…
November 22nd, 2010 - 12:06 pm
Monday Report –
I looked around for a new bop head to learn that had language that I would like to incorporate in my playing but didn’t find one. So I decided to dive into some heavy language of a tune I already knew in the original key and learn it in the other eleven. Three-and-a-half hours later I’m able to play, though under tempo and a little haltingly, “Blues for Alice” in all keys.
Other than learning a great tune in all keys I learned something else. When comparing this tune to other Parker blues that I’ve learned in all keys I noticed that he almost always makes a reference to a minor pentatonic in the key of I when he gets to the IV chord, unless the IV is Major, like Bloomdido, and in those cases he changes to minor in the sixth bar and makes a minor pentatonic reference there.
Tuesday will be review all tunes in their original/most common key.
November 23rd, 2010 - 12:47 pm
Tuesday Report –
I actually worked for about an hour on Blues for Alice “off the horn” last night while I watched the first half of the Bronco’s game. That was a good use of time because not only did the Broncos play pathetically, but today when I reviewed the tune in all keys I was able to play it better than I left it on Monday.
After the review of Blues of Alice in all keys I played a general review of all tunes in their home/most common key. Nothing special to report here, just maintenance accomplished.
I’ve decided I’ll add Bud Powell’s Celia to the List tomorrow.
November 24th, 2010 - 5:08 pm
Wednesday Report –
Today I began by reviewing Blues for Alice in all keys – just one more time to pound it into the fingers, ears, and mind.
Then I spent about an hour working on the A section to Celia. I wasn’t very familiar with this rhythm changes head so I devoted my usual routine to it: 1) learn section in the original key, 2) learn the first phrase in each key, 3) learn the next phrase in each key, 4) play through all phrases I’ve learned, 5) repeat steps 3 & 4 until the section is learned.
As I worked on this tune I was struck again by the sense of “balance” that great compositions have. Sometime it is not easy to ascertain the balance because in a tune like Hot House the phrases are all so chromatic and colorful that they can mask foundational elements that create balance within the piece (in Hot House, this balance is achieved by balancing direction (up/down) and scalar/arpeggio materials). In Celia the balance is very obvious; the A sections have short, mostly diatonic phrases, while the B section contains long, highly chromatic phrases. I’ll work on the bridge tomorrow!
November 25th, 2010 - 11:54 am
Thursday Report –
Today was devoted exclusively to Celia. Starting with the bridge, then playing the entire tune. There’s sure some great bebop language on the Bridge – plenty of “wrong” notes that can be explained but more importantly, sound GREAT.
The List will now reflect the addition of a new member.
Tomorrow will start the review of all songs that are in all keys – that usually takes the number of tunes in all keys divided by seven days to accomplish (its getting longer!).
November 26th, 2010 - 1:46 pm
Friday Report –
Today was the beginning of the all-key review cycle and today’s tunes were; Altoitis, Anthropology, Au Privave, Bebop, Billie’s Bounce, and Blues for Alice. I also reviewed the head of Celia in Bb, just to be safe.
Today was also another crap reed day on the tenor – not even the fibercell was vibrating, so this was a pretty frustrating practice session.
Oh well, things will be different tomorrow as the assault on the List continues, mwahahah!!
November 27th, 2010 - 1:09 pm
Saturday Report –
Back at home and on Soprano today, where at least the reeds work. I did a little repair work today and the low register is working better.
So, today’s tunes were; Body and Soul (one time through the head, and one chorus of blowing on the changes in that key for each key), Bouncin’ With Bud, Boplicity, Brownie Speaks, Butch and Butch, & Celia. It was about two hours for only those six tunes because Body and Soul took about 30 minutes.
Tomorrow, continuing the all key review picking up with C.T.A.
November 27th, 2010 - 3:40 pm
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by JuanCarlos HERNANDEZ and Maria Lucia Martin, Lynn Baker. Lynn Baker said: new blog comment about practicing jazz @ http://lynnbakerjazz.com/blog/?p=58#comment-318 […]
November 28th, 2010 - 6:48 pm
Sunday Report –
Return to practicing tunes in all keys, today’s were; C.T.A., Cherokee, Confirmation, Crazeology, Daahoud, Dewey Square, Donna Lee, Eternal Triangle, Farmer’s Market, Four, Freedom Jazz Dance, Freight Train, & Fried Bananas. Thirteen tunes are a lot to get through in one day, but I had two sessions separated by putting up Christmas decorations and cooking/eating dinner, so my chops don’t feel busted like they would if I had spent two-and-a-half hours in one setting.
Back to the List in all keys on Monday, maybe I can get a tenor reed to work then…
November 29th, 2010 - 12:30 pm
Monday Report –
Today’s tunes were; Good Bait, Got A Match?, Groovin’ High, Half Nelson, Hallucinations, Hocus-Pocus, Honeysuckle Rose and Hot House. Hot House was surprisingly together with the exception of the second half of the second A section – still a little sketchy on those large arpeggios, but mostly about the placement of the second one.
Going to a rehearsal for a fun gig of holiday music this Saturday so I’m finished for the day.
Tomorrow – more of the List.
November 30th, 2010 - 7:58 pm
Tuesday Report –
I frequently tell students they should find the time of day when they are at their intellectual peak and practice at that time. They should structure the rest of the day around those two or three hours when they think the best because practicing, especially practicing jazz, is the highest level of intellectual activity you will engage the entire day. I proved this to myself again today by NOT doing that.
I have known for years that my brain works the best from about 7 to 10 am and I’ve structured my day around those practice hours. However, some days other things take precedent and today was one of those days. So I didn’t get to start practicing until 4 pm.
My goal today was to dig into It Could Happen To You/Fried Bananas – I played the standard, then the contrafact, then the roots of the chord progression then improvised in that key until I felt like I was really declaring the changes, then moved on to the next key. This is kind of a lengthy procedure and with the brain not working at optimum efficiency I only made it through eight keys in an hour-and-a-half. At that point I had to stop because I was just not able to focus. After dinner, a little break, and later in the day (when my brain picks up speed again) I went back to finish the other four keys and the difference was remarkable. I played with more confidence and the lines were more varied and more accurate.
A reminder to practice when the brain works best. Tomorrow, back to the List.
December 1st, 2010 - 10:14 am
Wednesday Report –
Back to my more common practicing schedule today and man, was the brain working! Today’s tunes were; It’s You Or No One, Joy Spring, Jordu, Mayreh, Milestones (old), Omicron, Prince Albert, Ray’s Idea, and Room 608.
Another confirmation of selecting the best time to practice to gain the greatest results.
Tomorrow through Sunday will be off because of four straight days of multiple-hour gigs; Thursday and Friday Clinicing at the Legend Jazz Festival, Saturday and Sunday serving as MD on the latest Al Hood/Dave Hanson CD project recording sessions, and Saturday also playing a concert of holiday music with Reggie Berg, Alan Joseph, Ken Walker, and Mike Marlier. I’ll resurface sometime Monday and blog again.
December 6th, 2010 - 8:17 pm
Monday Report –
I got back towards my routine today with regular exercise and about an hour of practicing from the List. The past four days were filled with the activities cited in the previous comment, and the CD project was one of the most fun events in recent times. The music, written by Dave Hanson, was brilliant, and Al Hood was spectacular and soulful on his improvisations. In addition, Al and Dave assembled a very heavy trumpet section of Bobby Shew, Brad Goode, Jason Carder, and Mike Rodriguez, plus Al of course. And the rest of the band was at the same caliber – a joy to direct and work with!
Anyway, today’s tunes were; Scrapple From The Apple, The Night Has A Thousand Eyes, There is No Greater Love, There Will Never Be Another You, Webb City, Wee, and Yardbird Suite. I played them in chromatic key relationships, alternating ascending and descending from tune to tune. It was a good mental “freshening.”
Tomorrow I will review all tunes on the List in their original key and am currently considering which new bop head I will add. Any suggestions?
December 7th, 2010 - 4:01 pm
Tuesday Report –
I decided this morning that I would learn “Perhaps,” a Parker blues head, in all keys today. So I skipped over the total tune review and worked on that instead. That’s about all to report – one more tune on the List that I will add to my review tomorrow.
December 8th, 2010 - 1:29 pm
Wednesday Report –
A good day of exercise and practice – mostly back to my schedule except I don’t have to hurry it quite as much as when I’m teaching. I reviewed all the tunes on the List with very few problems and tomorrow I’ll concentrate on addressing those. On the list to review are; the bridge of Dexterity (again!) and the last A to Sub-Conscious Lee in their original keys and pound in the newly acquired “Celia” and “Perhaps.”
It’s very helpful to give myself permission to analyze what’s going on and address the weakness. However, the problem I’m now having is trying to convince myself that the tenor doesn’t need some major adjusting. Oh well, I’ll probably need to have it looked at and concentrate on Soprano for a few days.
December 8th, 2010 - 1:40 pm
Re: your tenor needing adjustment. I’m usually pretty slow to recognize when my horns are going out of adjustment. My natural self-loathing usually chalks it up to bad air support or bad technique. The upside is, when I finally get my horn worked on, it’s a pleasant surprise to find how much “better” I’ve gotten!
Keep Swingin’!
December 9th, 2010 - 2:27 pm
Thursday Report –
I’m now convinced my Tenor needs work, but I didn’t take it in today and practiced on it instead – oh well…
Anyway, today’s tunes were what I prescribed for myself yesterday; review the new ones (“Celia” and “Perhaps”) in all keys, and practice the bridge of Dexterity and the bridge and last A of Sub-Conscious Lee. It was a good, concentrated practice and tomorrow I’ll start the review of songs I have in all keys (I think the count is 54 at this point), and that will take about six days.
‘Til then…
December 10th, 2010 - 5:14 pm
Friday Report –
Today started the all key review process with; Altoits, Anthropology, Au Privave, Bebop, Billie’s Bounce, Bloomdido, Blues for Alice, Bluesette, Body and Soul, Bouncin’ With Bud, and Boplicity. I worked these eleven tunes on Soprano today and enjoyed playing through them. I had forgotten I had added Bluesette to the all keys list so that was interesting to play after not working it in a while.
Tomorrow, the process continues with Brownie Speaks.
December 11th, 2010 - 5:07 pm
Saturday Report –
I was lucky enough to get a walk-in repair on my tenor at the local music store – it really helped a lot! Still, I don’t have quite the right reed response I want, but I think it’s now a combination of a little of the horn and some tweeking of the reeds.
Anyway, today’s tunes in all keys were; Brownie Speaks, Bud Powell, Butch and Butch, Celia, C.T.A., Cherokee, Chi-Chi, and Confirmation. I finished the session with Confirmation in F and then blowing on the changes, trying to really channel the language I had been playing earlier – it felt good!
Tomorrow the review continues with Crazeology.
December 12th, 2010 - 8:26 pm
Sunday Report –
I got started late today because of Holiday preparations with the family and it was worth the delay.
Today’s tunes were; Crazeology, Daahoud, Dewey Square, Donna Lee, Eternal Triangle, Farmer’s Market, Four, Freedom Jazz Dance, Freight Train, and Fried Bananas.
Not much notable about tonight but I was noticing my articulation after watching a cool Jerry Bergonzi video on youtube about his concepts of articulation.
Tomorrow, on with the List.
December 12th, 2010 - 8:50 pm
Lynn,
Thanks for sharing all of your practice routines. I’m sure your work in the shed is paying off!
Willie Thomas
December 13th, 2010 - 1:13 pm
Monday Report –
It was good to get back to practicing in the morning when my brain works better, and I was additionally inspired by having heard some videos of Bergonzi, Potter, and Brecker. So today was a lot of fun and the tunes were; Good Bait, Got A Match?, Groovin’ High, Half Nelson, Hallucinations, Hocus-Pocus, Honeysuckle Rose, Hot House, It Could Happen To You, It’s You Or No One, Joy Spring, Jordu and Mayreh. As you can see, I had a little more time today and you can imply that I didn’t have to “futz” with reeds too much.
I also practiced in some different key relationships today, mixing moving by half-steps (either ascending or descending) and the cycle from tune to tune. This was good mental flossing, especially for tunes like Joy Spring on which I’m very solid in all keys but since it modulates up by half steps it was really interesting to play the tune modulating down by half steps!
Tomorrow, on with the List in all keys.
If you have a suggestion for a bebop head please comment it to me – it’s about time to start learning a new one.
December 15th, 2010 - 11:01 am
Wednesday Report –
I finished up this List playing Wee and Yardbird Suite in all keys. Then I learned “Serpent’s Tooth” in all keys and the List now reflects that addition. Short and sweet, with good accomplishments.
The next time I’ll get to practice will be Sunday when I’ll review all of the tunes in their original keys.
December 19th, 2010 - 4:38 pm
Sunday Report –
I returned from the Midwest Clinic Saturday evening and got back to practicing today. While I was on flights I tried to remember the tunes I have in all keys in alphabetical order and finger them. It was a good discipline to play without the reinforcement of sound! I always tell students that pitch imagination is crucial to good musicianship and this was a great exercise for mine!
I was supposed to do a general review today but I was excited to check to see if there was any effect from the airline practice so I played the same tunes, plus Bluesette, that I had played on the flights. I was very secure playing; Altoitis, Anthropology, Au Privave, Bebop, Bloomdido, and Blues for Alice (for some reason I skipped Billie’s Bounce and will have to pick that up tomorrow.
I then blew on Bluesette for a while trying different strategies including; blowing on the ii chords of the sequence, then the V7alts, then playing lyrically in the keys, then concentrating on Maj7 arpeggios available on the changes (e.g., on the b7 on ii7, on the root or 5th on the I, on the b7 of the V7). It was a fun exercise and good reward for getting back to work!
December 20th, 2010 - 4:36 pm
Monday Report –
Today I continued playing tunes I have in all keys. I went back and played Billie’s Bounce, (for some reason) skipped Body and Soul which I went back to a little later, then played; Bouncin’ With Bud, Boplicity, Brownie Speaks, Bud Powell, Butch and Butch, Celia, C.T.A., Cherokee and Chi-Chi in all keys.
I good day and looking forward to tomorrow’s work.
December 21st, 2010 - 7:51 pm
Tuesday Report –
This morning I had a two hour rehearsal on Tenor with the Lamont Saxophone Quartet – worked on a piece by alum Tom Erickson that has a very challenging fourth movement and the Frank Ticheli “Out of the Blue.” We are preparing for a performance at a saxophone ensemble event held by our Alto player, Mark Harris at UC-Denver on Jan. 11. We’ll have another rehearsal on Thursday, then just individual shed time before a talk-through before we play. The rehearsal was fun and productive, Thursday’s will be even better.
When I came home I practiced jazz, picking up with the List, playing tunes I have in all keys. Today’s tunes were; Confirmation, Crazeology, Daahoud, Dewey Square, Donna Lee, and Eternal Triangle.
After a little dinner break I went back and blew on the changes to “All God’s Chillin’ Got Rhythm,” the original tune on which the contrafacts “Mayreh” and “Little Willie Leaps” are written. I applied the same disciplines as I did for “Bluesette” above and added triad-pairs applications and it was helpful to feel flexible with different approaches. This is a strategy that improvisers can use to build some structure into their solos, basing parts of the song on more “inside” progressing to more “outside” schemes of addressing harmonic materials.
Tomorrow I’ll pick up the list with Farmer’s Market, but I feel I should review all the tunes in the near future. We’ll see how I feel tomorrow…
December 22nd, 2010 - 1:58 pm
Wednesday Report –
I started today by continuing to practice using triad pairs in improvisation, applying the concept to Farmer’s Market. Then I attacked the List of tunes I have in all keys with; Farmer’s Market, Four, Freedom Jazz Dance, Freight Train, Fried Bananas, Good Bait, Got A Match?, Groovin’ High, Half Nelson, and Hallucinations.
I’ll probably get some more time in today after I do a little venue surveillance for NYE, but if not, I’ll pick things back up tomorrow with Hocus-Pocus.
December 24th, 2010 - 3:43 pm
Friday Report –
I hadn’t practiced jazz since Wednesday. On Thursday I worked for about an hour on a classical saxophone quartet piece, then rehearsed that for about an hour-and-a-half. There was much holiday-ing the rest of the day so playing bebop tunes didn’t get the usual attention.
Today, I got back to the List and worked on the following tunes in all keys; Hocus-Pocus, Honeysuckle Rose, Hot House, It Could Happen To You, It’s You Or No One, Joy Spring, and Jordu. I didn’t get through as many tunes today as I sometimes do, but that was because of a couple of reasons: I played some at deliberately slow tempos to shift focus from muscle memory to intellectual focus, and Hot House still needs a little slower attention!
It was interesting to observe that when I slowed tempos down and started being more intellectual about the phrases I noticed a shift away from hearing the phrase and I noticed I missed more notes. I really had to concentrate at slower tempos to focus on the sound of the phrases. It was difficult to think in both intellectual and sound realms at the same time – and I have to admit that I didn’t like it, I’d rather live in the land of sound.
Tomorrow – on with the List, Merry Christmas to you all!
December 24th, 2010 - 4:11 pm
Merry Christmas, bro! I think it interesting to compare your notes from today and those from the 19th where you practiced without sound. What was the speed (without sound)? Did you hear more phrasing, intellectual stuff? And what key to you hear (without sound)?
December 24th, 2010 - 5:21 pm
Sis,
Good questions.
Without sound: I slowed things down so I could evaluate if what I was fingering corresponded to the sounds I was imagining, the relationship between “hearing” (which is imagining during the exercise) and intellectual activity is weighted toward the intellectual because everything except the finger motions is functioning within the realm of the imagination (no physiological feedback), I listen for the intervalic relationships.
December 25th, 2010 - 8:46 pm
Saturday Report –
Merry Christmas!
Today I played the following tunes on the List in all keys; Mayreh, Milestones (old), Omicron, Perhaps, Prince Albert, and Ray’s Idea. A brief hour-long workout on a holiday, that was enough.
Back to the List tomorrow…
December 26th, 2010 - 3:50 pm
Sunday Report –
Today I finished the List with; Room 608, Scrapple From The Apple, Serpent’s tooth, The Night Has A Thousand Eyes, There Is No Greater Love, There Will Never Be Another You, Webb City, Wee, and Yardbird Suite in all keys.
Monday will be a review all tunes in their home/common key and then saxophone quartet rehearsal. On Tuesday I’ll add another tune or two in all keys.
January 1st, 2011 - 10:20 pm
Saturday Report –
Having not practiced, but done a lot of music, over the past four days it was time to get back to practicing. Since I last posted I’ve worked with Al Hood and Dave Hanson on mixing their new CD and played an eight-our duo gig on NYE. So, I’ve been extremely engaged with music, but didn’t have much time to practice. Today I did have some time.
My feeling about practicing today was very interesting; somewhere between excited to get back to it, looking forward to a final day off before diving into six solid months of teaching, and curious about what I should work on. As usual, my curiosity won out. I did some online research about improvising using triad pairs and decided to improvise using some disciplined Maj or Min triads over the changes to the A section of “Wave.” This wasn’t earth-shattering work, or anything new, but it was a gentle and productive way to practice today.
Tomorrow…?
January 6th, 2011 - 8:10 pm
Thursday Report –
Wow – I finally got back to practicing the List!! Today I reviewed all the tunes in their original/most common keys. The list now represents two new standards I’ve added in all keys; Bye Bye Blackbird and My Romance. Don’t have the changes in all keys yet, that’s tomorrow’s task – that and starting to review the tunes I have in all keys.
Forward…
January 7th, 2011 - 6:42 pm
Friday Report –
Back into the groove – yeah, yeah, yeah!
Today I worked on the List, dealing with the tunes I have in all keys playing; Yardbird Suite, Wee, Webb City, There Will Never Be Another You, There Is No Greater Love, and The Night Has A thousand Eyes. I also worked on blowing on the changes to newly added “My Romance” in all keys. I got around the cycle from D to F# (tenor keys) before my mind fried! Oh well, there’s more time tomorrow!
Forward…
January 8th, 2011 - 11:24 pm
Saturday Report –
Today I picked up with blowing on “My Romance,” starting at F# and going around the cycle back to F#. Pretty convincing and comfortable today. I also played on “Bye Bye Blackbird” in all keys, trying to be very lyrical and specific in each one. After a brief break I came back to practice the bridge to “Celia” and then practiced different articulation patterns on whole-half diminished scales.
Good day of playing and tomorrow I’ll get back to playing tunes from the List in all keys.
January 9th, 2011 - 9:35 pm
Sunday Report –
I’m coming down with a head cold so I only got one practice session in before it hit, so I didn’t get to as many tunes as I wanted. Todays’ tunes were; Serpent’s Tooth (pretty shaky the first time through, it had been a while since I learned it and hadn’t practiced it much since), Scrapple From The Apple, Room 608, Ray’s Idea, Prince Albert (played in ascending chromatic key relationships – that was a new one), and Perhaps.
I hope I’ll be able to get some time in tomorrow.
January 12th, 2011 - 10:38 pm
Wednesday Report –
I was able to get in about a half of a practice session today and played the following tunes in all keys; Omicron, My Romance, Milestones (old), Mayrah, Jordu, and Joy Spring. I also blew on the changes to My Romance in D, G, C, and F.
Tomorrow, on with the List.
January 13th, 2011 - 9:43 pm
Thursday Report –
I had two good sessions today, the first 1.5 hours, the next just over 1 hr. and got through a lot of tunes in all keys; It’s You Or No One, It Could Happen To You, Hot House, Honeysuckle Rose, Hocus-Pocus, Hallucinations, Half Nelson, Groovin’ High, Got A Match?, Good Bait, Fried Bananas, Freight Train, Freedom Jazz Dance, Four, Farmer’s Market, and Eternal Triangle.
Tomorrow, more work on the List.
January 14th, 2011 - 9:09 pm
Friday Report –
Had one good session today and the concentration was very high. I had started on Donna Lee last night and gotten through the key of B so today I finished from F# around to Eb. Then I played the following tunes in all keys; Dewey Square, Daahoud, Crazeology, Confirmation, Chi-Chi, Cherokee, C.T.A., and Celia. I was pretty happy that Celia was quite consistent in all keys, I had spent some time earlier in the week reviewing the bridge and it showed today.
Tomorrow I’ll finish playing songs from the List that I have in all keys.
January 18th, 2011 - 1:58 pm
Tuesday Report –
Well, I haven’t been back to the blog since Friday but I have been practicing. In the intervening days I have finished playing tunes from the List that I have in all keys, playing; Bye Bye Blackbird, Butch and Butch, Bud Powell, Brownie Speaks, Boplicity, Bouncin’ with Bud, Body and Soul, Bluesette, Blues for Alice, Bloomdido, Billie’s Bounce, Bebop, Au Privave, Anthropology and Altoitis. Today I also reviewed all the tunes from the List in their original/most common keys and thought about what tune(s) I should add to all keys. I think about Airegin but that would actually be easier than I want so I’ve decided to go for a really heavy bop head and learn “Little Willie Leaps” in all keys – that should take me more than and hour-and-a-half!
Onward…
January 19th, 2011 - 9:55 pm
Wednesday Report –
I was right, I wasn’t able to learn Little Willie Leaps in 1.5 hrs!, LOL! However, I did get the first eight bars in all keys and most of the next four, though not thoroughly, and the final four measures. The brain shut off right about the time I was starting to understand and play the descending harmonic minor phrase on the third. The next time I get some practice I’ll concentrate on just bars nine-sixteen.
Onward (again)…
January 21st, 2011 - 11:07 pm
Friday Report –
Well, it took three days, but I finished learning “Little Willie Leaps” in all keys today. Nice lines! It was fun to work on and I felt a real since of accomplishment. The Lynn Baker Quartet is playing a concert Saturday at the Art Salon in Denver at 2199 22nd Ave. at 6:30. We will be playing some tunes from the recent CD, a few standards and a new tune. There is an art show of my wife Kalin’s paintings and mixed media work, some of which is inspired by tunes from the CD. If you’re in Denver bring $10 for the musicians and some food to share and hang out with us.
Back to practicing on Sunday.
January 23rd, 2011 - 8:14 pm
Sunday Report –
I took off Saturday and played a very fun gig with my quartet at the Art Salon. Hopefully, we’ll be able to make a scene there – it was a good start and the band sounded great. Ron Bland subbed for Bijoux and did a fantastic job.
Today I got back to practicing and it was a review day for all the tunes in their original/common key. Tomorrow I’ll start reviewing the tunes I have in all keys, this time in alphabetical order and in some interesting key relationships I haven’t decided yet.
Onward…
January 24th, 2011 - 9:38 pm
Monday Report –
Today it was start playing tunes I have in all keys. I decided to play them in whole step pitch relationships, so two sets of six keys each. The tunes today were; Altoitis, Anthropology, Au Privave, Bebop, Billie’s Bounce, and Bloomdido. I had some paperwork issues and student counseling work to do so I didn’t get very many in, but there’s always tomorrow.
Onward…
January 25th, 2011 - 9:39 pm
Tuesday Report –
Today I continued to play tunes from the List I have in all keys; Blues for Alice, Bluesette, Body and Soul, Bouncin’ With Bud, Boplicity, Brownie Speaks, Bud Powell, Butch and Butch, Bye Bye Blackbird and around the cycle to Ab on Cecilia. Man, the brain just ran out of juice about that time and I’ll have to pick up there tomorrow. A good practice session playing most of the tunes in whole step key relationships which I noticed made new connections. I’ll get to practice again on Wednesday and Thursday, but after that I’ll be pretty slammed with about ten days of many cool performances.
Onward and upward…
January 26th, 2011 - 10:08 pm
Wednesday Report –
Started today by finishing Celia (not “Cecelia” like above!) and it was a lot easier with a fresh mind than at the end of the practice day where I left it. After that I continued with the List, continuing to play tunes in whole step key relationships with; C.T.A., Cherokee, Chi-Chi, Confirmation, Crazeology, and Ddahoud. A good day of practicing and I’ll get another one tomorrow before all the activities hit.
January 27th, 2011 - 8:27 pm
Thursday Report –
Today I got in a couple of practice sessions before and after teaching jazz improv. and comp. class, driving to CO Springs, playing a new music reading session (a few lame tunes, but mostly OK – the Benny Carter tune was probably the best!), and driving back to Denver. Today the tunes were played in whole step key relationships again. I had forgotten that I played Donna Lee yesterday when I made my blog comment so today the tunes were; Dewey Square, Eternal Triangle, Farmer’s Market, Four, Freedom Jazz Dance, Freight Train, Fried Bananas, Good Bait, Got A Match”, Groovin’ High, Half Nelson, Hallucinations, and Hocus-Pocus.
It was a good practice day and that was a good thing because I probably won’t get to practice the next three days. If you’re in CO Springs at the CMEA conference on Saturday please come here the Lamont Jazz Orchestra play music by Lamont Jazz Faculty composers at 10:15 in the Main Ballroom. On Sunday the Lynn Baker Quartet will play at a benefit for the Four Mile Fire victims at the Oriental Theater in Denver. That’s a big day of green chili, jazz, and latin jazz for $25 that will help our friends from the hills above Boulder.
Next week Lamont will host Senegalese Sabor drummer Lamine Tourre AND the Caswell Sisters in a whole series of master classes, performances, Q&A sessions and lectures. I hope to see you at some of those events too.
Onward…
February 8th, 2011 - 7:55 pm
Tuesday Report –
Wow!, it’s been a very busy time the past nine days or so. I haven’t had good opportunities for regular practice so I have haven’t been blogging. However, I’ve been doing a lot (check the calendar at http://www.lynnbakerjazz.com to see) and getting some irregular practice sessions in. So these are the tunes form the List that I have played in all keys since last reporting; Honeysuckle Rose, Hot House, It Could Happen To You, It’s You Or No One, Joy Spring, Jordu, Little Willie Leaps, Mayreh, Milestones (old), My Romance, Omicron, Perhaps, Prince Albert, Ray’s Idea, Room 608, Scrapple from the Apple, Serpent’s Tooth, The Night Has A Thousand Eyes, There Is no Greater Love, There Will Never Be Another You, Web City, Wee, and Yardbird Suite. I practiced these tunes in whole step relationships.
On Wednesday the Lynn Baker Quartet will play a concert at Dazzle in Denver from 7 – 9 pm. I hope to see some of my Colorado friends there.
March 7th, 2011 - 7:40 pm
WOW – it’s been a very busy month but I finally got back to practicing from the List today. Not that I haven’t been practicing the past four weeks, just practicing outside the rigor of the List. Actually, it still guided me but I was getting a little burned out with not improvising more so when I practiced from the List the past month I mostly concentrated on improvising on the tunes in multiple keys. I also practiced for a Lynn Baker Quartet gig, the premiere of the Playground Jazz Ensemble, the DU Faculty Jazz Combo concert, and a Lamont Saxophone Quartet performance.
But today was back on the list – a complete review in alphabetical order and only Dexterity (as always – I really DON’T like that tune I guess, lol!) and the last A of Sub-Conscious Lee kicked my butt. Tomorrow will be starting on the all twelves or learning a new bop head – haven’t decided yet.
Onward…
March 8th, 2011 - 4:46 pm
OK, back in the pocket. Today I decided to commit some bossa novas to memory that I’ve been playing for years but never memorized – I started with Desafinado. I used the Aebersold changes and there were tons of mistakes that I had to correct, but got the right ones together. Unusual form and key relationships in this piece keep it interesting. Tomorrow I’ll add some more conventional tunes (though the bridge of Ipanema is pretty interesting in terms of harmonic area relationships).
March 10th, 2011 - 7:36 pm
On March 9th I concentrated on reviewing Desafinado and adding Corcovado. I didn’t have a lot of time to practice due to meetings, getting score/parts prepared, teaching, etc. However, it was a good and useful session.
Today I had about 50 minutes and I decided to get back to playing the tunes from the list I have in all keys. Today’s tunes were; Altoitis, Anthropology, Au Privave, and Bebop. Then I blew for a short time on the two bossas before I started listening to eight straight hours of jazz juries at Lamont.
Tomorrow, I’ll resume playing tunes in all keys with Billie’s Bounce.
March 11th, 2011 - 5:35 pm
Friday Report –
I picked up the List, playing the following tunes in all keys; Billie’s Bounce, Bloomdido, Blues for Alice, Bluesette, Body and Sould, Bouncin’ With Bud, Boplicity, Brownie Speaks, and Bud Powell. It was good to get back to a routine. Lamont is all done except the grading and I’m looking forward to working through the List during our Spring Break.
Later…
March 12th, 2011 - 4:16 pm
Saturday Report –
A good practice today. Two hours of Soprano work netted; Butch and Butch, Bye bye Blackbird, Celia, C.T.A., Cherokee, Chi-Chi, Confirmation, Crazeology, Daahoud, and Dewey Square in all keys.
Tomorrow I’ll pick up the List with Donna Lee.
March 13th, 2011 - 6:14 pm
Sunday Report –
Today was another good practice day and I got in two sessions on Soprano. The tunes from the List that I played in all keys today were; Donna Lee, Eternal Triangle, Farmer’s Market, Four, Freedom Jazz Dance, Freight Train, Fried Bananas (then a break), Good Bait, Got A Match?, Groovin’ High, Half Nelson, and Hallucinations.
Kind of lookin’ for a session tonight, but the Outlook is the Blues jam this week. Oh well, maybe I’ll hit the Meadowlark late session on Monday – it’s Spring Break sucka!
‘Til next time…
March 14th, 2011 - 9:41 pm
Monday Report –
Today was another day on the Soprano and after Sunday, my lip felt it. Though I did get through the following tunes in all keys; Hocus-Pocus, Honeysuckle Rose, Hot House, It Could Happen To You, It’s You Or No One, Joy Spring, and Jordu. Hot House took a little time because I hadn’t played it in all keys in a while and… well, it’s difficult. But it came along quite nicely by the time I was about four keys through the cycle.
Tomorrow I’ll resume the playing tunes I have in all keys from the List with Little Willie Leaps (All God’s Chillin’ changes). ‘Til then…
March 15th, 2011 - 8:19 pm
Tuesday Report –
Another day on the Soprano, and the lip was a little recovered today (though I think the instrument is having a pretty serious leak I need to deal with soon!). The songs in all keys today were; Little Willie Leaps (which needs some “individual attention” if you know what I mean), Mayreh, Milestones (old), and My Romance. I also spent time on reviewing the changes on My Romance in all keys. I started to blow in all keys but only made it through about four. I’ll finish that tomorrow and continues the List with Omicron.
‘Til then…
March 16th, 2011 - 6:30 pm
Wednesday Report –
I started today with Omicron which was actually quite easy and proceeded to play the following tunes from the List in all keys; Perhaps (which needed a little more review than usual), Prince Albert, Ray’s Idea, Room 608 (that went quite well), Scrapple from the Apple, Serpent’s Tooth and The Night Has A Thousand Eyes.
I didn’t work on blowing on My Romance in all keys, but I’ll get back to that tomorrow after I finish the List.
‘Til then…
March 20th, 2011 - 4:23 pm
Sunday Report –
I’ve been practicing every day, just not blogging consistently. In the past several days I’ve finished playing all the songs I have from memory from the List. I spent some time reviewing a couple that were a little shaky, “Perhaps” and “Little Willie Leaps.” I also finished blowing on “My Romance” in all keys and spent some time reviewing “Desafinado” and “Corcovado” as well as “Ipanema” and blowing on the changes. I had the changes on Desafinado pretty solid before, but today the melody came more easily. And the bridge on Ipanema is always a fun blow.
Finally, I spent some time blowing on a couple of original compositions that we’ll play on the next Lynn Baker Quartet concert, April 16 at The Art Salon. The first tune, “Country Tune,” is a piece that was just premiered by the DU Jazz Faculty Combo, so this will be the first time we’ll play it in the quartet. The piece uses the Coltrane “Matrix” and variations, but purposefully inserts an extra two beats in the “A”sections, and an extra measure (13 total) in the “B” section. So not only are the changes challenging, the phrase structure leads to some interesting choices!
The other tune is “One For Billy” and has some interesting harmonic relationships in the “A” section that demand some attention: basically descending harmonic structures of D Phrygian to Bb Phrygian, through A Major and then to some hybrid and Altered Dominant chords – nothing functional about this AT ALL, but it sounds pretty cool in a slow rock groove. The bridge is a 3/4 release on Lydian sounds. We’ve played this before, but it has been a while and I’m looking forward to getting back to it with “fresh” ears.
We’ll also premiere a new fusion ballad inspired by Weather Report called “Secrets Untold.” This has some nice grooves and colorful sonorities – as I’m prone to write. I hope you can make the concert or at least purchase the recordings on the next CD.
‘Til next time…
March 21st, 2011 - 8:15 pm
Monday Report –
Just played through all the songs on the List today in their original/most commonly played keys. Had a complete brain-lock on “Relaxin’…” after the I chord – time to review. The only good thing about that is I’m sure the reason I couldn’t play it is because I just couldn’t HEAR it – if that can be a good thing LOL!
Anyway, tomorrow I’ll add a new tune to the list and start reviewing the tunes I have in all keys.
Onward…
March 22nd, 2011 - 3:16 pm
Tuesday Report –
Today was devoted to making “Relaxin’ at Camarillo” my b**ch! Yes, in all keys, for several hours.
‘nuf said.
March 23rd, 2011 - 11:36 am
Wednesday Report –
Today I started playing the tunes from the List that I have in all keys. Today’s tunes were; Yardbird Suite, Wee, Webb City, There Will Never Be Another You, There Is No Greater Love, The Night Has a Thousand Eyes, Serpent’s tooth, and Scrapple From The Apple.
To be continued…
March 24th, 2011 - 6:56 pm
Thursday Report –
Today I worked on the List, and the tunes were; Room 608, Relaxin’ at Camarillo, Ray’s Idea, Prince Albert, Perhaps, and Omicron.
In a second session I worked on playing triad pairs, alternating descending/ascending and ascending/descending in the following relationships; half-steps, whole-steps, minor thirds, and major thirds.
Tomorrow I’ll get back to the list with My Romance.
March 25th, 2011 - 9:24 pm
Friday Report –
Yes, started with My Romance and proceed to play the following songs in all keys; Milestones (old), Mayreh, Little willie Leaps, Jordu, Joy Spring, and It’s You Or Now One.
Then I blew a little on It Could Happen To You in Eb.
Tomorrow I’ll resume playing tunes in all keys with It Could Happen To You.
Later…
March 26th, 2011 - 6:21 pm
Saturday Report –
Today I continued to play tunes from the List in all keys with; Hot House, Honeysuckle Rose, Hocus-Pocus, Hallucinations, Half Nelson, Groovin’ High, Got A Match?, Good Bait, Fried Bananas, Freight Train, Freedom Jazz Dance, Four, Farmer’s Market, and Eternal Triangle. It was a weird day with rest and headache at the beginning and then by the time I felt good, very good concentration and a quick mind – I don’t get it!
I should be able to finish the List in all keys tomorrow, then look for a new tune to add.
Onward…
March 27th, 2011 - 5:41 pm
Sunday Report –
Well, I couldn’t finish the List today, just got through the “D”s and “C”s playing; Donna Lee, Dewey Square, Daahoud, Crazeology, Confirmation, Chi-Chi, Cherokee, C.T.A., and Celia in all keys.
However, I decided I’d learn “Steeplechase” in all keys and got the A section pretty well together in a few minutes of work.
I’ll play the “B”s and (hopefully) the “A”s tomorrow.
‘Til then…
March 28th, 2011 - 9:32 pm
Monday Report –
Success! I finished the List playing; Bye Bye Blackbird, Butch and Butch, Bud Powell, Brownie Speaks, Boplicity, Bouncin’ With Bud, Body and Soul, Bluesette, Blues for Alice, Bloomdido, Billie’s Bounce, Bebop, Au Privave, Anthropology and Altoitis in all keys.
Tomorrow I’ll start putting Steeplechase into the “all keys” List.
‘Til then…
March 29th, 2011 - 8:18 pm
Tuesday Report –
Today I learned “Steeplechase,” a Parker rhythm changes tune. The A sections were learned mostly off the horn because they are mostly diatonic and thematic. The Bridge, on the other hand, is quote chromatic and has an interesting phrase structure. So, most of my time today was spent on the “release,” and I made good progress. I think I’m going to spend another day on it tomorrow before I do a complete review of all the tunes on the List in their original/most common key.
Onward…
March 30th, 2011 - 6:54 pm
Wednesday Report –
I only had about an hour to devote today, so it was good that I had set my goals kind of low. I spent the hour reviewing “Steeplechase” in all keys, especially the bridge. I feel I have a pretty good handle on it now and tomorrow I’ll review all the songs from the List in their original/most common key – 118 tunes should take about two hours!
Onward…
March 31st, 2011 - 8:37 pm
Thursday Report –
So I had a couple of practice sessions today – one in the morning when I played all the tunes from the List, the second I learned a new tune. I have enjoyed playing “You Stepped Out of a Dream” for years and decided I would learn it in all keys. The melody is extremely simple, but the changes are interestingly chromatic, though they don’t move rapidly. Anyway, interesting tune and fun to play!
Tomorrow, I’ll start reviewing the tunes from the List I have in all keys.
April 2nd, 2011 - 5:16 pm
Saturday Report –
Friday didn’t have a lot of available time so I only practiced playing and blowing on “You Stepped Out of a Dream” in several keys.
Today I finished the remaining keys of YSOOAD and played the following tunes in all keys; Yardbird Suite, Wee, Webb City, There Will Never Be Another You, There Is No Greater Love, The Night Has A Thousand Eyes, and Steeplechase. Tomorrow (or maybe later today) I’ll resume playing tunes from the List with Serpent’s Tooth.
Onward…
April 3rd, 2011 - 4:54 pm
Sunday Report –
I had two practice sessions today. The first session was devoted to playing tunes from the List that I have in all keys. Today’s tunes were; Serpent’s Tooth, Scrapple from the Apple, Room 608, Relaxin’ at Camarillo, Ray’s Idea, Prince Albert, Perhaps, and Omicron. Relaxin’ kind of roughed me up for a few keys before the sound of the phrases regained good memory – but eventually the phrases came back!
The second session was exclusively devoted to playing and blowing on My Romance in all keys. That went quite well, strangely A-flat was a little sticky, but I think that was just a concentration thing in the middle of the keys. It is truly amazing how much precision is exclusively a function of concentration – not technique, air support, licks, or anything else, just concentration. The more we can do to extend and deepen our concentration abilities the better we will perform – in music and in life.
Tomorrow, back to playing tunes in all keys from the List.
Onward…
April 4th, 2011 - 9:58 pm
Monday Report –
OK, true to my word I picked up on playing tunes from the List that I have in all keys. Today’s tunes were; Milestones (old), Mayreh, Little Willie Leaps, Jordu, Joy Spring, It’s You Or No One, It Could Happen To You, Hot House, Honeysuckle Rose, Hocus-Pocus, Hallucinations, Half Nelson, Groovin’ High, Got A Match?, Fried Bananas, and Freedom Jazz Dance. Oops, just noticed I skipped Freight Train!
Sixteen tunes in all keys takes more than a couple of hours, fortunately I had two practice sessions in which to do it.
On with the List tomorrow, starting with Freight Train.
April 5th, 2011 - 8:35 pm
Tuesday Report –
I picked up the List with Freight Train and in the course of two practice sessions played; Four, Farmer’s Market, Eternal Triangle, Donna Lee, Dewey Square, Daahoud, Crazeology, Confirmation, Chi-Chi, Cherokee, and C.T.A.
I also practiced on my new tune “Country Tune” that we’ll perform at our April 16 concert at the Art Salon. The tune is based on Coltrane Matrix harmonies. Today in my Jazz Improv. and Comp. class at Lamont we talked about substituting the ii triad for the V7 chord in Coltrane Matrix, so I worked on applying that principle to the tune.
Tomorrow I’ll return to the list with Celia and try to make it at least part-way through the “B”s.
Onward…
April 6th, 2011 - 6:54 pm
Wednesday Report –
I usually don’t have quite as much time to practice on Wednesday, always less than two hours sometimes only about one – today just one. Today’s tunes were; Celia, Bye Bye Blackbird, Butch and Butch, Bud Powell, Brownie Speaks, and Boplicity.
Back at it tomorrow with Bouncin’ With Bud.
Onward…
April 7th, 2011 - 8:43 pm
Thursday Report –
Today I finished playing the tunes from the List that I have in all keys with; Bouncin’ With Bud, Body and Soul, Bluesette, Blues for Alice, Bloomdido, Billies Bounce, Bebop, Au Privave, Anthropology, and Altoitis.
Tomorrow will be an entire list review and the Saturday I’ll find a new bop head to learn in all keys.
Onward…
April 8th, 2011 - 9:56 pm
Friday Report –
Today I reviewed all the tunes from the List in their original/most common keys. I was kind of surprised at how easily and accurately Sub-Conscious Lee came out!
In my second session I worked on the bridge and the final A section of Steeplechase in all keys.
Later in the day I sat in with a couple of the Lamont combos at their jam session and played on It Could Happen To You, Bebop, and It’s You Or No One – that was pretty fun.
I’ll find a new bop tune to learn in all keys tomorrow.
Onward…
April 8th, 2011 - 10:00 pm
hey lynn!!!
just wanted to say hello, and also that reading your practice techniques helped me soooo much! learning tunes in all keys is such a bitch, but so worth it. hope you (and the rest of the faculty) are doing well,
keegan bass
April 9th, 2011 - 3:43 pm
Saturday Report –
Briefly – today I added “Barbados” in all twelve keys to the List. Tomorrow I’ll start reviewing songs I have in all keys from the List.
Onward…
April 10th, 2011 - 7:23 pm
Sunday Report –
I didn’t have a lot of time to practice today so I spend what time I had reviewing “Barbados” in all keys. I found that if I can get the M3 on the & of 3 in the second bar, everything else falls into place. For some reason, I tend toward the ninth, but I’m learning.
After I practiced Barbados I had a great rehearsal with my quartet for our next gig on April 16. We worked on two new tunes and the band sounded great on “Country Tune,” a Trane-matrix composition with 8.5 bar A sections and a 13 bar bridge and “Secrets Untold,” a tune inspired by the feeling with the Weather Report tune, “A Remark You Made.” The new tunes sounded great and the familiar tunes were slammin’! I’m really looking forward to the gig on Saturday.
Tomorrow I’ll return to reviewing all the tunes from the List that I have in all keys. Until then…
Onward…
April 11th, 2011 - 10:01 pm
Monday Report –
I began reviewing of all the tunes from the List that I have in all keys. Today’s tunes were; Altoitis, Anthropology, Au Privave, Barbados, Bebop, Billie’s Bounce, Blomdido, Blues For Alice, Bluesette, and I finished that session with playing the head and then improvising on Body and Soul. I had an opportunity for a second practice session and played; Bouncin’ With Bud, Boplicity, Brownie Speaks, Bud Powell, and Butch and Butch in all keys.
Tomorrow I’ll continue the list with Bye Bye Blackbird.
Onward…
April 12th, 2011 - 3:14 pm
Tuesday Report –
Today’s tunes in all keys were; Bye Bye Blackbird, Celia, C.T.A., Cherokee, Chi-Chi, Confirmation, and Crazeology.
I may yet get in another session today.
Onward…
April 12th, 2011 - 8:53 pm
Tuesday Report Continued –
Yeah, I had another session and played; Daahoud, Dewey Square, Donna Lee, Eternal Triangle, and Farmer’s Market.
I’ll get back to it for about an hour tomorrow with Four.
Onward for more…
April 13th, 2011 - 5:21 pm
Wednesday Report –
Today’s tunes from the List in all keys were; Four, Freedom Jazz Dance, Freight Train, Fried Bananas, Good Bait, Got A Match?, Groovin’ High, Half Nelson, and Hallucinations.
Last night I had a friend and fellow jazz saxophonist ask me if I thought of the changes when I blew on these tunes. I told him I did, and that the point to to try to get to just hearing with perfect accuracy and performing what I heard, but I’m not there yet. I realized after we spoke that I should have probably told him the reason I’m playing these bop tunes was to consistently practice the bebop language in all keys. When I’m playing these tunes I’m not thinking about the chord changes – I’m just really trying to just really dig into the sound of the phrases.
Now, when I occasionally blow on tunes in all keys, that’s when I think about the changes, but less and less. I get his point, the goal is to play on the tune as naturally as one can. But one thing at a time for me! I’ll continue playing the list tomorrow with Hocus-Pocus.
Onward…
April 15th, 2011 - 6:06 am
Thursday Report (delayed) –
On Thursday I picked up playing tunes in all keys from the List with Hocus-Pocus (Lee Morgan), then played Honeysuckle Rose. After a conversation with one of my colleagues I got back to work with Hot House and the rest of the tunes were It Could Happen To You and It’s You Or No One. I started Joy Spring but had to teach class before I finished, so I’ll start Friday with that gem!
Onward…
April 15th, 2011 - 10:35 pm
Friday Report –
Man, this was a long day! A bit of practice at 8 am, then set up for my 9 am class, then a little more practice, then class, performance class, two auditions, a meeting with all-state jazz task force, rehearsal, then some more practice, then hearing recital boards, then starting the weekly jazz combo concert at Lamont, and finally a 2.5 hour soundpainting event that we do (about) once a month ending at 9 pm.
So, here are the tunes from the List that I practiced in all keys today; Joy Spring, Jordu, Little Willie Leaps (actually when through this two times), Mayreh, and Milestones (old).
Tomrrow, I’ll practice some of my tunes in preparation for a Lynn Baker Quartet gig at the Art Salon. If you’re in Denver tomorrow night I’d love to see you at the concert, 7 to 9 pm, at 2199 E 21st (21st and York).
Onward…
April 17th, 2011 - 5:37 pm
Sunday Report –
After a really fun concert last night where we premiered two new tunes as if we had been playing them for weeks (I really dig my band!) I went back to the List today for my practice.
First, I played My Romance – playing the melody in a key, then blowing on the changes in that key. If there was a spot that wasn’t completely comfortable I would review that part of the tune, it was commonly the C section after the VI chord, the VI7, then I would play in the next key until I covered all the keys.
Then, I played the following tunes in all keys; Omicron, Perhaps, Prince Albert, Ray’s Idea, Relaxin’ at Camarillo, and Room 608. Tomorrow I’ll resume playing tunes in all keys from the List with Scrapple From The Apple.
Onward…
April 19th, 2011 - 9:13 pm
Tuesday Report –
I didn’t practice in a very organized way on Monday, I had lots of administrative stuff to do just kind of chipped away at finishing tune in all keys from the List, but today I got back to it so I’ll list what I’ve practiced the past two days.
I finished playing tunes I have in all keys from the List playing; Scrapple From The Apple, Serpent’s Tooth, Steeplechase, The Night Has A Thousand Eyes, There Is No Greater Love, There Will Never Be Another You, Webb City, Wee, Yardbird Suite and You Stepped Out of a Dream.
Then, I played through all of the tunes in their original/most common keys.
Tomorrow I need to learn a new bebop head to add to the List.
Onward…
April 20th, 2011 - 10:22 pm
Wednesday Report –
I had about an hour to work on a new tune so I decided to learn Cheryl, a Parker blues. My colleague, Alan Joseph, was talking about this tune the other day because it was on a date that had Bud Powell on it and he’s a real Bud fan. I didn’t know the tune very well at all so it was/is a good challenge. That being said, I spent time today working on the first seven measures (including the intro measure) in all keys. There are some really stretched-out phrases there utilizing encirclement and altered scale materials.
I’ll continue on this tomorrow as I have opportunities – it’s another big day of extra stuff!
Onward…
April 21st, 2011 - 8:44 pm
Thursday Report –
I worked a lot on Cheryl today, in between other obligations. It was successful practice time and I feel I’m hearing the lines clearly, just not always making the notes. Its the phrase on the IV chord that leaps down to the 3rd then surrounds the 6 (or down to the 6 of the IV and surrounds the 3 of the I chord in the next bar).
Then, I reviewed Barbados in all keys.
Tomorrow I’ll start playing all the tunes on the List that I have in all keys, but it is a very busy day tomorrow and I probably won’t get much time in at all.
Onward…
April 24th, 2011 - 5:44 pm
Sunday Report –
As expected, Friday didn’t provide much time to practice, but I was able to put in two 1/2 hour sessions. On Saturday family took precedence over even music… yes, it happens! Easter Sunday was a little more efficient, but just a little (and family remains important). So, here are the tunes practiced in all keys since Thursday; Altoitis, Anthropology, Au Privave, Barbados, Bebop, Billie’s Bounce, Bloomdido, Blues for Alice, Bluesette, Body and Sould, and Bouncin’ With Bud.
I’ll get back to the List Monday with a couple of solid practice sessions, until then,
Onward…
April 25th, 2011 - 9:44 pm
Monday Report –
As expected, I was able to get a couple of sessions in today, one in the morning between meetings with several students and another in the evening, after teaching. The tunes I practiced in all keys from the List today were; Boplicity, Brownie Speaks, Bud Powell, Butch and Butch (then purchased new reeds!), Bye Bye blackbird, Celia, C.T.A., Cherokee, Cheryl, Chi-Chi, Confirmation, Crazeology, and Daahoud.
I also got to hear the Lamont Symphony Orchestra rehearse the third movement of my symphonic triptych titled “Giving.” They’re going to sound good, so if you like new symphonic music and are in Denver tomorrow, April 26, come out to Gates Concert Hall at 7:30 to hear a bunch of new music.
Tomorrow I’ll continue playing from the List with Dewey Square, until then,
Onward…
April 26th, 2011 - 9:32 pm
Tuesday Report –
I had a productive and uninterrupted practice session this morning playing the following songs from the List in all keys; Dewey Square, Donna Lee, Eternal Triangle, Farmer’s Market, Four, Freedom Jazz Dance, Freight Train, and Fried Bananas.
The Lamont Symphony Orchestra did a good job on my piece tonight, and I’m grateful for the time and energy the players and conductor Travis Jurgens put into the work, as well as Lawrence Golan’s willingness to embrace new music!
Tomorrow I’ll resume the List with Good Bait, until then,
Onward…
April 27th, 2011 - 6:16 pm
Wednesday Report –
Right, started back on the List with Good Bait and also played; Got A Match?, Groovin’ High, Half Nelson, Hallucinations, Hocus-Pocus, and Honeysuckle Rose. I got Hot House from the key of C through B on the cycle until I ran out of time and had to go rehearse ensembles for three hours. I’ll finish the last five keys of Hot House tomorrow and then move on through the List as I have time.
Onward…
April 28th, 2011 - 8:59 pm
Thursday Report –
I finished the final five keys of Hot House first before I proceeded playing from the List with; It could Happen To You, It’s You Or No One,
Joy Spring, Jordu, Little willie Leaps, Mayreh, and Milestones (old).
I am happy to report that of the four reeds I’ve played from the new box all four have worked! What a relief for a woodwind player!
Tomorrow I’m doing clinics at the Greeley Jazz Festival so I won’t be able to practice, but Saturday I’ll start with playing My Romance in all keys and blowing on the changes. Until then,
Onward…
April 30th, 2011 - 4:55 pm
Saturday Report –
I was a clinician at the Greeley Jazz Festival Friday. Since I always bring my soprano to clinics because it is sometimes more effective to demonstrate that to explain, I was able to get some practicing in during the down times. I played Omicron and Perhaps in all keys, and Prince Albert in eight keys on Friday.
Today, I finished playing Prince Albert in all keys and also played these tunes in all keys; Ray’s Idea, Relaxin’ at Camarillo, Room 608, Scrapple from the Apple, Serpent’s Tooth, and Steeplechase. Tomorrow I’ll finish the List and start thinking about which new tune to add in all keys.
Onward…
May 1st, 2011 - 3:54 pm
Sunday Report –
I came down with some sort of illness; mild sore throat, achy legs, tired, runny nose – so I rested most of today in hopes of getting well. But, I did feel like trying to practice so I finished the tunes from the List that I have in all keys by playing; The Night Has A Thousand Eyes, There Is No Greater Love, There Will Never Be Another You, Webb City, Wee, Yardbird Suite, and You Stepped Out Of A Dream. I was glad there weren’t many bop heads in this part of the List because I’m not sure I would have been able to think well enough to play them – but these largely diatonic standards were just about the right challenge for me the way I felt today!
Now to consider what new bebop tune to learn Monday.
Onward…
May 3rd, 2011 - 6:38 pm
Tuesday Report –
The cold really hit hard on Monday so I didn’t get much practicing in. However, I decided which tune to add and started working on it, and after another session Tuesday Charlie Parker’s “Mohawk” is now added to the List in all keys.
Mohawk has a nice first four bars, and a nice blues phrase on the last four but the middle four just kind of wander around making it somewhat harder to memorize. But after playing it many times in all keys the melody has found its way into my mind and I can play it.
Tomorrow I’ll review all the tunes in their original/most common keys.
Onward…
May 6th, 2011 - 6:00 am
Thursday Report (delayed) –
I’m writing on Friday morning because the past two days have been sixteen hour days and haven’t had the time. The days have been so long because of transportation and evening concerts. On Tuesday the Lamont Wind Ensemble premiered my “Mummers Mambo,” based on the “Sussex Mummers Carol” and one of a set of variations dedicated to Joe Docksey. Wednesday was spent hearing my son, on his seventeenth birthday, play trumpet on excerpts from “Swan Lake” in the DSA Orchestra conducted by Adam Flatt. But I digress…
I started playing through all the List tunes on Wednesday and made it just over half-way before I was called away by administrative duties. I returned on Thursday and finished the list in the morning. There are almost too many tunes on the List to play in less than two hours, so this may become a more standard operating procedure.
Today, for about an hour, I’ll begin reviewing the tunes from the List I have in all keys.
Onward…
May 6th, 2011 - 10:35 pm
Friday Report –
Back in the saddle today for about 2.5 hours, had a couple of great sessions. I played the following tunes from the List in all keys; You Stepped Out Of A Dream, Yardbird Suite, Wee, Webb City, There Will Never Be Another You, There Is No Greater Love, The Night Has A Thousand Eyes, Steeplechase, Serpent’s Tooth, Scrapple from the Apple, Room 608, Relaxin’ at Camarillo, Ray’s Idea, and Prince Albert. Then I took some time to blow on Prince Albert (All The Things You Are) changes in all keys.
It was one of those “wow, I don’t feel sick any more and have a lot more energy than I’m used to having” days and I put it to good use. Tomorrow, on with the List in reverse-alphabetical order.
Onward…
May 7th, 2011 - 7:04 pm
Saturday Report –
Another day of practicing well!!!
First I played Perhaps and Omicron in all keys, and that felt very good. Then I applied my “improvising in all keys” routine to My Romance; play the melody in a key, play the root motions of the changes, improvise a chorus, improvise another if there were any problems, apply to the next key until finished.
I finished this day by playing Mohawk, Milestones (old), and Mayreh in all keys. Mohwak is the new tune (a Parker blues) added this week so that one took a little more time and I played each key twice to make sure it’s there. Tomorrow is Mother’s Day – celebrate your mother and the mother of your children, but don’t forget to practice.
Onward…
May 8th, 2011 - 8:30 pm
Sunday Report –
Happy Mother’s Day!!!
I didn’t get to practice today, but I spent some time yesterday and today researching some Steve Coleman ideas on symmetry and “negative” harmony and rhythm. I’m intrigued, but not convinced of the “negative” notions – building sonorities from the top instead of the bottom and basically constructing palindromic rhythmic formulae. However, I’m willing to give some of his melodic notions some experimentation. So today, I wrote some simple etudes using Coleman’s spiral concepts and will begin incorporating them in my practice on Monday. I’ll let you know how this goes!
Onward…
May 9th, 2011 - 7:22 pm
Monday Report –
Started back on the List today playing Little Willie Leaps in all keys. Then I started working on the Coleman spiral exercises. I played them at quarters, then eighths at mm. = 80, forwards and backwards. Then played them in dotted-eighth/sixteenth forwards and backwards, then sixteenth/dotted-eighth forward and backwards. I tried to play the first couple in triplets, but didn’t have the extremely large intervals under my fingers yet. I’ll post these studies some day so you can see what I’m talking about. Then I played Jordu in all keys before I had to get to rehearsals.
This early evening I returned for more practicing and played Joy Spring in all keys, then did the “improvising in all keys” routine (see Saturday report above) on It’s You Or No One.
Tomorrow I’ll resume from the list with It Could Happen To You.
Onward…
May 10th, 2011 - 9:17 pm
Tuesday Report –
I started with the Coleman spiral etudes and played them for about 25 mins. They are good for focusing the cops because of the large intervals.
After the etudes I played It Could Happen To You, improvising in all keys. I then played Hot House, Honeysuckle Rose, and Hocus-Pocus in all keys. I had some additional time to practice so I repeated improvising on It Could Happen To You. This time I was happier with how I handled the changes – hearing them more clearly and anticipating the tonal motion more accurately.
This amounted to a couple of good hours of practice. Tomorrow I’ll get back to this List with Hallucinations in all keys.
Onward…
May 11th, 2011 - 11:09 pm
Wednesday Report –
I resumed playing tunes from the List that I have in all keys today with Bud Powell’s Hallucinations. Then I played Half Nelson and Groovin’ High before other things came up and I had to pause practicing. Later I played Got A Match?, Good Bait,Fried Bananas, and Freight Train.
This afternoon the DU Jazz Faculty had a dress rehearsal/sound check for a fairly unique concert where the faculty perform winning compositions from the students. Our concert was tonight and it was a fantastic musical event. The tunes were really good and it was a marvelous sharing of support, admiration, and acknowledgement between the audience, composers, and faculty as we performed these great tunes.
Tomorrow I’ll pick up the list with Freedom Jazz Dance.
Onward…
May 12th, 2011 - 8:41 pm
Thursday Report –
I had a couple of practice sessions today, the early one was short, the later was more extensive. I started by playing tunes from the List that I have in all keys, just a couple; Freedom Jazz Dance and Four.
In the evening I played the Coleman symmetry etudes I made, increasing the mm. to 85 bpm. Then I played Farmer’s Market, Eternal Triangle, Donna Lee, Dewey Square, Daahoud, and Crazeology in all keys.
Tomorrow is a full day but I may have an hour in the afternoon.
Onward later…
May 13th, 2011 - 9:58 pm
Friday Report –
This day was very booked, from 8 am to 9:30 pm and I didn’t think I’d be able to shoehorn in a practice session. However, I ate a quick lunch and was able to spend about an hour playing tunes I have in all keys from the List. Today’s tunes were; Confirmation, Chi-Chi, Cheryl (which was a bit painful at the start!), Cherokee, and C.T.A.
Tomorrow I’ll pick up the List at Celia.
Onward…
May 15th, 2011 - 8:09 pm
Sunday Report –
Had a strange practice session in a car on Saturday – it’s been raining in Denver, that’s strange enough. I worked some more on Sunday between family events, so here’s what I’ve practiced the last couple of days; Celia, Bye Bye Blackbird, Butch and Butch, Bud Powell, Brownie Speaks, Boplicity, and Bouncin’ With Bud.
Tomorrow I’ll get back to the List with Body and Soul and hope to finish by Wednesday.
Onward…
May 16th, 2011 - 2:39 pm
Monday Report –
I got in a couple of fairly brief (less than two hours) but productive practice sessions today and finished all the tunes from the List that I have in all keys. Today’s tunes were; Body and Soul, Bluesette, Blues for Alice, Bloomdido, Billie’s Bounce, Bebop, Barbados, Au Privave, Anthropology, and Altoitis.
Tomorrow I’ll review all the tunes on the List in their original/most common key and then look for a new bebop head to learn. But tonight, I’ll be at the final Jazz Night concert hearing the three big bands at the Lamont School of Music and directing one of them. It starts at 7 pm at the Newman Center and if you’re in Denver please come out – it’s free and there’s free parking (woo hoo!!!).
Onward…
May 17th, 2011 - 6:01 pm
Tuesday Report –
Today I played through all the tunes on the List in the original/most common key. It took me about 95 minutes and a couple of the newer tunes, Cheryl and Mohawk, needed some reminding and I spent some time drilling them. The rest of the tunes just rolled right out!
I’ve decided I want to add some ballads to the List. I’ll start with a couple of tunes from the Hartman/Coltrane album that we’re playing in a couple of months at Cherokee Ranch and Castle Performing Arts Series.
Onward…
May 18th, 2011 - 5:04 pm
Wednesday Report –
I started my practice today by working through the Steve Coleman spiral interval etudes I made. This was very helpful and the connection between extremely large intervals is getting better. I’ll increase the mm. by 5 bpm tomorrow and see how that works.
Next I decided to learn “My One And Only Love” in all keys. I got through it a couple of times in all keys at a ballad tempo, concentrating not just on the pitches but also on phrasing, beautiful sound, pitch, and expressive playing. I worked the changes in C and F but will need another day to feel good about blowing through the changes in all keys.
Onward…
May 19th, 2011 - 7:29 pm
Thursday Report –
Played the Coleman spiral interval etudes again today, increasing the bpm to 90. I’m only having technical trouble a two places; switching octaves around G and F, where the saxophone has issues with the second octave key, and playing high D to low B – my left had gets a little out of place. I think I need to put a lifter on my D palm key. Then I worked on the changes to My One And Only Love in all keys and got a good handle on them.
Later in the day I had another session and played the following tunes in all keys; Altoitis, Anthropology, Au Privave, Barbados, Bebop, and Billie’s Bounce. Tomorrow I’ll continue with Bloomdido.
Onward…
May 20th, 2011 - 10:35 pm
Friday Report –
As promised, I started with Bloomdido and proceed through the List with; Blues for Alice, Bluesette, Body and Soul, Bouncin’ With Bud, and Boplicity. That was the first practice session.
During the second session I played; Brownie Speaks, Bud Powell, Butch and Butch, Bye Bye Blackbird, and Celia. Then I blew on “My One and Only Love” in C and Eb.
Tomorrow, on with the List with C.T.A.
Onward…
May 22nd, 2011 - 4:25 pm
Sunday Report –
I took Saturday off and instead of practicing and exercising I put up posters at the Five Points Jazz Festival for my June 16 concert with the Brad Goode Quartet and my quartet at The Walnut Room in Denver, and heard some concerts at the festival. Curtis Fuller is still playing great and Al Hood was enfuego!!!
Today I got back to practicing for a couple of sessions, but as I read my entry from Friday I skipped over C.T.A. and Cherokee – I’ll need to pick those up Monday. Anyway, here are the tunes I played in all keys today; Cheryl, Chi-Chi, Confirmation, Crazeology, Daahoud, Dewey Square, Donna Lee, Eternal Triangle, Farmer’s Market, Four, Freedom Jazz Dance, Freight Train, and Fried Bananas.
I’ll get those two skipped tune and start on the “Gs” Monday.
Onward…
May 23rd, 2011 - 7:48 am
Sounds like you DID get rapped. Thanks for sharing:-))
May 23rd, 2011 - 4:37 pm
Monday Report –
I started by playing Cherokee and C.T.A. that I had skipped on Sunday, then played through the Steve Coleman spiral etudes at 95 bpm. Some of the extremely large intervals are challenging to connect, but more practice will bring greater skills.
I then played the following tunes in all keys; Good Bait, Got A Match?, Groovin’ High, Half Nelson, Hallucinations, Hocus-Pocus, and Honeysuckle Rose. I’ll resume at Hot House tomorrow but tonight I’m going to hit the Brad Goode jam session in Boulder. I’ll give him a copy of the flyer for our concert and hopefully generate some interest in Boulder to hear our Walnut Room gig http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=197380920303443.
Onward…
May 24th, 2011 - 4:53 pm
Tuesday Report –
Had a good time in Boulder but had to leave too early – sorry I couldn’t stay to hear friends Bonnie, Josh, and others play.
Today I had a good practice session, starting with the Coleman spiral interval etudes at 100 bpm, then playing tunes from the List that I have in all keys. I started with Hot House and it went quite well! The other tunes today were; It Could Happen To You (blowing in all keys after playing the head), It’s you Or No One, Joy Spring, Jordu, Little Willie Leaps, and Mayreh. I also spent some time blowing on My One And Only Love in Eb – just for fun mostly!
Tomorrow I’ll resume playing from the List with Milestones (old).
Onward…
May 25th, 2011 - 10:27 pm
Wednesday Report –
I continued to play tunes from the List that I have in all keys. Today’s tunes were; Milestones (old), Mohawk, My One And Only Love (at ballad tempo, concentrating on phrasing and expressive devices), and My Romance. Later in the day I had a few more minutes and played the Coleman etudes at 105 bpm, and Perhaps in all keys.
In playing Perhaps I noticed again that this discipline is increasing my ability to better play what I hear/imagine. I noticed it because I haven’t played that tune a lot and in the beginning of my practice session I was consistently making errors in the seventh and eighth measures. However, the longer I played it, in different keys, the more accurately I heard the phrase and the more accurately I played it. I could actually feel the ease and accuracy increasing with each key I played – demonstrating to me the importance of this discipline in developing a greater relationship between the imagination and the physical.
As I’m writing this I realized I skipped Omicron so I’ll begin with that tomorrow.
Onward…
May 26th, 2011 - 9:50 pm
Thursday Report –
Today I started with the Coleman exercises, again at 105 bpm, then played Omicron. After that I got back to the List, playing the following tunes in all keys; Prince Albert, Ray’s Idea, Relaxin’ at Camarillo, Room 608, Scrapple from the Apple, Serpent’s Tooth, and several keys of Steeple Chase. I’ll finish Steeple Chase tomorrow and get a few more in before the closing festivities at Lamont eat the rest of my day.
Onward…
May 27th, 2011 - 8:10 pm
Friday Report –
Like I said on Thursday, time would be limited today, so I didn’t play the Coleman exercises. However, I started creating etudes using pitch pairs that centered on each of the other chromatic pitches.
Anyway, I was able to get through the rest of the List in all keys. After I finished Steeple Chase, I played; The Night Has A Thousand Eyes, There Is No Greater Love, There Will Never Be Another You, Webb City, Wee, and Yardbird Suite in all keys.
Tomorrow I’ll be busy with Lamont juries and Sophomore Proficiency Exams so I don’t anticipate practicing. Sunday I’ll review all tunes from the List in their orignal/most popular keys, then start learning “Lush Life” in all keys.
Onward…
May 29th, 2011 - 12:31 pm
[…] while I check out others (and continue with my own work in various other areas – please see my practice blog). The idea I’m working on is Coleman’s concept of Spiral Interval structures. […]
May 29th, 2011 - 5:34 pm
Sunday Report –
Today was spent playing all the tunes in the original/most common keys – it took about 110 mins. I also started memorizing “Lush Life,” the next tune to add to the List.
More work on that in all keys tomorrow.
Onward…
May 30th, 2011 - 4:43 pm
Monday Report –
Today was memorizing “Lush Life” in all keys. Of course, for this tune the verse is always played so that needed to be memorized too. I got it solid in about 70 mins. of practicing but when I started working on the changes, my mind had had enough and I could only learn it in the home key of Db – I’ll work on that more tomorrow.
However, I HAD to play something happy and major after all of that wallowing in pity that Lush Life brings. So I played through in all keys just about the happiest, most major Bebop tune I could think of – Barbados. That helped! Tomorrow, the changes to Lush Life and reviewing tunes from the List that I have in all keys.
Onward…
May 31st, 2011 - 6:02 pm
Tuesday Report –
I reviewed “Lush Life” today, and got the wierd-a$$ root movement learned – VERY interesting changes. Then I added “In A Sentimental Mood” to the List in all keys to balance out the craziness of Lush Life. The List now reflects the new tune.
Tomorrow I’ll start playing the tunes that I have in all keys.
Onward…
June 1st, 2011 - 4:40 pm
Wednesday Report –
Today was a day of variety. First I reviewed “Sentimental Mood” in all keys and blew on the changes in each key. Next I played Altoitis and Anthropology in all keys. Finally, I review the root motion to Lush Life in all keys, just to make sure.
Tomorrow I’ll continue reviewing the tunes I have in all keys with Au Privave, until then,
Onward…
June 2nd, 2011 - 9:15 pm
Thursday Report –
I had a couple of sessions today, each lasting a little less than an hour, in both I played tunes from the List that I have in all keys. During the first session I played; Au Privave, Barbados, Bebop, Billies Bounce, Bloomdido, Blues for Alice, and Blusette.
Then I presented a clinic to the jazz band from Central Catholic in Bloomington, IL. Randy, the band director, was a great guy and the students were very fun to work with – we all had a good time.
Later in the day I was able to get in another session during which I played; Body and Soul, Bouncin’ With Bud, Boplicity, and Brownie Speaks. Tomorrow, I’ll continue from the List in all keys with Bud Powell.
Onward…
June 3rd, 2011 - 5:42 pm
Friday Report –
Today I played the following tunes from the List in all keys; Bud Powell, Butch and Butch, Bye Bye Blackbird, Celia, C.T.A., Cherokee, Cheryl, and Chi-Chi. I’ll finish the “C”s tomorrow as I continue the discipline.
Now, I’m off to the First Friday Art Walk on Tennyson to hang with my beautiful wife Kalin and her artwork at the opening of a new gallery!
Onward…
June 4th, 2011 - 5:32 pm
Saturday Report –
Today I started playing with a headache that I had had all day, yuck! But I finally took some decongestant and by the time I had struggled through Confirmation in all keys and Crazeology in about five keys, the headache was gone and I was able to think clearly.
So, all of the tunes I played today in all keys were; Confirmation, Crazeology, Daahoud, Dewey Square, Donna Lee, Enternal Triangle, Farmer’s Market, Four, Freedomo Jazz Dance, Freight Train, and Fried Bananas. It was a good session once the headache went away!
Tomorrow, I’ll start with the “G”s. Until then,
Onward…
June 5th, 2011 - 1:30 pm
Sunday Report –
We have some things to do this afternoon so I thought I should get the practicing in when I had some time. Today I blasted through the tunes with little-to-no issues, even Hot House! Sometime the brain is just working right.
Today’s tunes in all keys were; Good Bait, Got A Match?, Groovin’ High, Half Nelson, Hallucinations, Hocus-Pocus, Honeysuckle Rose, Hot House, In A Sentimental Mood, It Could Happen To You, and It’s You Or No One. Eleven tunes in 70 mins. is good time for me.
I’ve been thinking about a different way of teaching jazz improvisation for a number of years now – it has to do with concepts of melodic/rhythmic shape. Recently, I’ve been working on an article tentatively called, “Towards A New Hierarchy for Teaching Jazz Improvisation” and have begun to clarify some of these ideas. Look for a blog post on this issue this summer and hopefully a publication in a national journal later.
Tomorrow, back to this List of songs in all keys beginning with “Joy Spring.” ‘Til then,
Onward…
June 6th, 2011 - 9:57 pm
Monday Report –
Today’s tunes in all keys were; Joy Spring, Jordu, Little Willie Leaps, Lush Life, and Mayreh. I also buried a couple of reeds!
I’ve been further developing my concepts about teaching jazz improvisation and am looking forward to putting it all down.
Just a cultural aside – Sarah Palin is an effing idiot.
Back to this List on Tuesday and a trip to Red Rocks to hear EWF! ‘Til then,
Onward…
June 7th, 2011 - 4:36 pm
Tuesday Report –
Today’s tunes in all keys from the List were; Milestones (old), Mohawk, My One And Only Love, My Romance (also blowing one chorus in each key), Omicron, Perhaps, Prince albert, Ray’s Idea, Relaxin’ at Camarillo, and Room 608.
Tomorrow, I’ll pick it up again at Scrapple but for tonight it’s off to Red Rocks to hear Earth Wind and Fire!!! ‘Til then,
Onward…
June 8th, 2011 - 9:59 pm
Wednesday Report –
I had a couple of practice sessions today and was able to finish the tunes on the List that I have in all keys. Today’s tunes were; Scrapple from the Apple, Serpent’s Tooth, Steeplechase, The Night Has A Thousand Eyes, There Is No Greater Love, There Will Never Be Another You, Webb City, Wee, Yardbird Suite, and You Stepped Out Of A Dream.
I also did some good work on my article on teaching improvisation that is rapidly turning into a textbook! I’ll share more thoughts as it develops, but one of the crucial questions it is trying to address is, “Does Harmony cause Melody or does Melody cause Harmony?”
Tomorrow will be review all the tunes in their original/most common keys and then select a new tune or two to learn in all keys – any suggestions?
Onward…
June 9th, 2011 - 4:51 pm
Thursday Report –
Today I played all the tunes on the List in their original/most common keys, took about 90 mins. Then I worked on the changes to You Stepped Out Of A Dream in all keys; play the tune, play the roots, blow on the changes, work on blowing on any sections that weren’t solid then move to the next key. I finally got the sound of the turnaroud at the end o the first B section in my ear/head!
Also did some writing on the improvisation/composition book – mostly about the history and formal outline of the jazz blues and some more examles in Sibelius. Right now, I’m trying to codifiy Chromatically Altered Static Harmony (C.A.S.H.) phrases in this method – I’m still workin’ on it.
Tomorrow, a new tune in all keys – I thought Bunko, but it’s really not the bebop language that I want to play so I’ll probably choose another.
Onward…
June 10th, 2011 - 6:56 pm
Friday Report –
I made my choice of a new tune to memorize and it was Split Kick, Horace Silver’s contrafact on There Will Never Be Another You. I spent about three hours on it and got it OK in all keys, but I’ll need to spend another day to get it solid.
I also spent some good time today writing my improvisation text – I have a good handle on the beginning of codifying bebop language in a new way that recognizes the rhythmic and melodic shapes that are so important. I’ll share more later, but it is pretty exciting.
Tomorrow, review of Split Kick and starting to play through all the tunes I have from the List in all keys. Until then,
Onward…
June 11th, 2011 - 7:42 pm
Saturday Report –
I had kind of an abbreviated day of practice today due to some travel and joyous family (or at least near-family) events, but I was able to put in enough time to review Split Kick in all keys and it feels pretty good now.
I kind of “chunk” up tunes when I learn them, working on phrases diligently to get the sound firmly in my ears and the passages under my fingers. Then when I put them together I really need to concentrate on the connections of the phrases. Transitions, in music and life, are frequently the hardest parts!
Spent a little time on my improv text again today and got some current stuff up on my web site. You can now license my latest big band arrangement, “David’s Tune.” It features Tenor and Piano and has a six-part sax soli with flugel lead and a trombone section + bass chorus (a la Tiptoe). There are also two French Horn parts and some doubling. If you want to play the piece w/o the Horns, the important parts are cued in the saxos. You can hear samples and license the music at http://www.lynnbakerjazz.com/license.html
So, tomorrow I’ll play all the tunes in their original/most common keys.
Onward…
June 12th, 2011 - 3:10 pm
Sunday Report –
As promised, I started playing tunes from the List that I have in all keys. Today’s tunes were; You Stepped Out Of A Dream, Yardbird Suite, Wee, Webb City, There Will Never Be Another You, There Is No Greater Love, The Night Has A Thousand Eyes, Steeplechase, and (the newly added) Split Kick. Nothing special to report about these tunes.
I also worked on the improv text, generating and applying shapes to Quartal, Diminished, and Augmented sounds through triad superimposition – but I’m probably saying too much. There will be more details later.
Tomorrow, I’ll continue working on tunes from the List that I have in all keys. ‘Til then,
Onward…
June 13th, 2011 - 12:11 pm
Monday Report –
Today I resumed working on tunes I have in all keys from the List, playing; Serpent’s Tooth, Scrapple from the Apple, Room 608, Relaxin’ at Camarillo, Ray’s Idea, Prince Albert, Perhaps, Omicron, My Romance, My One An Only Love, and Mohawk.
I think I’m going up to Boulder again tonight to Brad’s session at Cafe Sole – 7 to 10, come check it out.
Back to the List tomorrow.
Onward…
June 14th, 2011 - 8:33 pm
Tuesday Report –
Had fun at the session last night, playing Song for My Father and Four with some young jazz musicians in Boulder – oh, and Brad Goode (he had his Philly Joe thing goin’!).
Today I got back at the List playing the following tunes in all keys; Milestones (old), Mayreh, Lush Life, Little Willie Leaps, and Jordu. I’m still playing the verse and chorus, then the chord progression on Lush Life so it takes quite a little while longer to get through that one.
When I finished that I worked on You Stepped Out Of A Dream, which I’ll probably play Thursday night with the Brad Goode quartet Thursday night. Then, I worked on the solo sax piece that I’ll play during the concert with my quartet.
Tomorrow I’ll practice some in the morning before rehearsing with my quartet in the afternoon. I’m looking forward to the rehearsal and the Thursday concert.
Onward…
June 15th, 2011 - 7:05 pm
Wednesday Report –
Today I hit the practice in the early morning (waking some family members!) and played the following tunes from the List in all keys; Joy Spring, It’s You Or No One, It Could Happen to You, In A Sentimental Mood, Hot House, Honeysuckle Rose, Hocus-pocus, Hallucinations, and Half Nelson – effectively “killing” the rest of the J’s, and all of the I’s and H’s!
In the afternoon I had a great rehearsal with my quartet – I have be mention their names here; Reggie Berg – piano, Bijoux Barbosa – bass, Paul Mullikin – drums. These guys are fantastic musicians and are always a real treat to play with. However, the NEXT gig just feels like it’s going to be special. We’ll be playing music from our current CD and from the next CD at the Walnut Room in Denver on June 16. Doors at 7 pm , cover $10. It will be worth it.
Anyway, tomorrow I’ll resume play from the List tomorrow with Groovin’ High.
Onward…
June 16th, 2011 - 11:53 pm
Thursday Report –
I only spent about 45 mins. practicing this morning, playing the following tunes in all keys; Groovin’ High, Got A Match?, Good Bait, Fried Bananas, Freight Train, Freedom Jazz Dance, Four, and Farmer’s Market.
Had a great gig at The Walnut Room. The staff was on time and on top of it, and nice to work with. The lighting and sound were great (thanks Spencer!), and the pizza rocked! But the best part was the music. My quartet played with beautiful sympathy and ensemble feel – as usual. I told you these guys were fantastic. Brad’s quartet played very interesting arrangements of tunes from pre-1946. While this was not his working quartet, the members are such great musicians and play together frequently, so the music sounded great.
Tomorrow, back to the List in earnest.
Onward…
June 17th, 2011 - 8:08 pm
Friday Report –
I had a couple of good practice sessions today and played the following tunes from the List in all keys; Eternal Triangle, Donna Lee, Dewey Square, Daahoud, Crazeology, Confirmation, Chi-Chi Cheryl, (oops, notice I missed Cherokee, I’ll have to get that tomorrow!), C.T.A., and Celia.
I also analyzed part of a Johnny Griffin solo for the development of my improv text – things are continuing to take shape.
Tomorrow, I’ll start on the B’s. Time to start thinking about a new tune to learn!
Onward…
June 18th, 2011 - 7:08 pm
Saturday Report –
Another couple of good practice sessions today! I started by playing through the Coleman spiral interval etudes in all keys. I didn’t play every interval set in all keys, just the chromatic. It went with surprising ease – I may be learning something!
Next I spent a session-and-a-half playing tunes from the List that I have in all keys, playing; Cherokee (that I missed yesterday), Bye Bye Blackbird, Butch and Butch, Bud Powell, Brownie Speaks, Boplicity, and Bouncin’ With Bud.
I also had a breakthrough on my improv text by applying the principles to a specific line in order to judge if my theories worked in any sort of universal way, and voila!, they did. Some more tweaking is always in order and some occurred today, but I’m pleased that the concept is applicable. I know, this is all kind of shrouded in mystery right not, but some day soon, “all will be revealed.” ‘Til then,
Onward…
June 19th, 2011 - 4:57 pm
Sunday Report –
Today, when I blew my first note on my horn it stopped. Kind of freaked me out until I found that one of the top stack pads had come out and was blocking a tone hole. I dry-fixed that and went on to play the following tunes in all keys; Body and Soul, Bluesette, Blues for Alice Bloomdido, Billie’s Bounce, Bebop, Barbados, and Au Privave. I’ll finish the rest of the list tomorrow and learn and new tune – still TBD.
I also analyzed a chorus of Sonny Rollins on Eternal Triangle, two of Dizzy on Sometimes I’m Happy, and four of Brownie on Split Kick using my new theories. This is real interesting stuff, we a focus on the directions used in bebop improvisations.
More later,
Onward…
June 20th, 2011 - 3:10 pm
Monday Report –
I finished playing pieces from the List that I have in all keys with Anthropology and Altoitis. Earlier, I had decided that I would learn Swedish Schnaps, a Parker Rhythm Changes tune and so I worked at that. It reminds me somewhat of Mohawk, the way it hangs around the tonic and moves down to the Flat 6 in very syncopated phrases. Then I reviewed Split Kick in all keys, since that was the last one I added. Tomorrow I’ll review all the tunes in the original/most common keys.
Speaking of Parker, I analyzed his Groovin’ High solo today using my theories. I’m sure you’ve heard about how Parker playing “on the upper parts of the changes,” right? Well, these theories not only show what he did, but how frequently he did – quite revealing. They also reveal how great improvisers frequently alternate from just playing on the tonic change (regardless of the chord changes underneath) and playing very harmonically sophisticated materials on the chord changes – truly enlightening!
Onward…
June 21st, 2011 - 5:49 pm
Tuesday Report –
As promised, I played through all the tunes on the List in their original/most common keys – took about 85 mins. Had to review Swedish Schnaps when I got there – a few seconds of review were needed! Tomorrow I’ll start reviewing all the tunes in the List that I play in all keys.
I also did some more work on my improv text. Today I was looking at phrase lengths and direction changes within phrases in transcriptions of some major improvisors. There are certainly trends and interesting things that can be learned from examining and emulating those specific shape aspects.
Onward…
June 22nd, 2011 - 6:30 pm
Wednesday Report –
I had a good time at the Dazzle jam session last night, making some trouble with Ian Hutchison and Dan Schwint. Purnell Steen called “I Should Care” and it wasn’t played because not enough people knew it – next tune to add to the List: I Should Care. I actually learned it this afternoon, singing the lyrics as I played the changes on piano. I had a jazz vocal student ask me, rather incredulously, if that was me singing in my office – LOL! (I should care, I should go around weeping, I should care, I should go without sleeping, strangely enough I sleep well, ‘cept for a dream or two, but then I count my sheep well, funny how sheep can lull you to sleep so, I should care, I should let it upset me, I should care, but it just doesn’t get me, maybe I won’t find someone as lovely as you but, I should care, and I do).
Anyway, also played the following tunes from the List in all keys; Altoitis, Anthropology, Au Privave, Barbados, Bebop, Billie’s Bounce, Bloomdido, Blues for Alice, Bluesette, Body and Soul, Bouncin’ With Bud, and Boplicity.
Tomorrow back to this List with Brownie Speaks. ‘Til then,
Onward…
June 23rd, 2011 - 6:23 pm
Thursday Report –
Today I played the following tunes in all keys; Brownie Speaks, Bud Powell, Butch and Butch, Bye Bye Blackbird, Celia, C.T.A., Cherokee, Cheryl, and Chi-Chi. I thought about playing I Should Care, but just worked it over in my mind. The reed was kind of not behaving today and I just didn’t want to spend time on reed issues, at least not today.
I also worked on my improv text quite a bit, getting a better idea of organizing the materials and developing a catalogue of commonly used rhythmic ideas. “Shape is the place!” Regards to Mr. Blount!
Tomorrow, back to the List with Confirmation and more work on the text.
Onward…
June 24th, 2011 - 6:13 pm
Friday Report –
Today the reed was vibrating better again, thanks for climate-control as I practiced at Lamont today. I continued on the List, starting with Confirmation and continuing through; Crazeology, Daahoud, Dewey Square, Donna Lee, Eternal Triangle, Farmer’s Market, Four, Freedom Jazz Dance, and Freight Train.
I also worked on my improv text some more, transcribing Trane’s solo on Freight Train and doing some more research on comparing the use of direction changes within phrases between several saxophonists and several trumpet players. Interesting results.
Tomorrow, back to the List in all keys.
Onward…
June 25th, 2011 - 5:59 pm
Saturday Report –
I had a couple of sessions today, during which I played the following tunes from the List in all keys; Fried Bananas, Good Bait, Got A Match?, Groovin’ High, Half Nelson, Hallucinations, Hocus-Pocus, Honeysuckle Rose, Hot House, It Could Happen T You, It’s You Or No One, Joy Spring, and Jordu. I was playing the List from memory in the second session and overlooked two new ballads that I’ll need to come back to tomorrow, I Should Care and In A Sentimental Mood. Not hard tunes, just need to be played.
I also performed a direction change phrase analysis of Trane’s solo on Freight Train for my improv text. Soon I’m going to put together a menu of how these great improvisers change direction in their lines – that should be quite valuable.
Until then,
Onward…
June 26th, 2011 - 8:33 pm
Sunday Report –
I had an abbreviated practice time today due to attending Sunday service and spending some great time with the family (that’s here) in the mountains @ Breckenridge. We went up to avoid the heat and commune with nature and it was a great success. When we returned I played the following tunes form the List in all keys; I Should Care, In A Sentimental Mood (these were ones I missed yesterday), Little Willie Leaps, and Lush Life. I know, it doesn’t sound like much but three of them are ballads and Lush Life I play the Verse, Chorus, then the root motions – so it was actually a solid practicing session.
I’m honing some definitions for my improv theories and will soon start talking about those.
Tomorrow, back to the List, until then,
Onward…
June 27th, 2011 - 4:41 pm
Monday Report –
Today I played the following tunes from the List in all keys; Mayreh, Milestones (old), Mohawk, My One And Only Love, My Romance, and Omicron. It went very well at first, but I got bored with it in the middle of the ballads and it became kind of frustrating – doesn’t happen very often, but it did today.
I had spent a lot of time and mental energy today on my improv text and started to get a handle on organizing the material. First, I spent the morning codifying Direction Change techniques and as I thought about this idea, I began to understand how central this is to the concept of playing good bebop lines! One of the central components of bebop improvisations is their angularity and this is achieved through rapidly changing directions of the phrases. This is exciting to me, in part because I know of no other text that explicitly deals with the nuts and bolts of this concept. Anyway, my first crack at making an outline resulted in a 24 chapter text – that seems about right. Also, after writing all this I understand why my practice was somewhat unfocused today – doh!
So, I’m off to lead and participate in a Soundpainting event and have some fun tonight.
Back to the List tomorrow, but ’til then,
Onward…
June 28th, 2011 - 3:21 pm
Tuesday Report –
Today I was concentrating much better and played the following tunes from the List in all keys; Pehaps, Prince Albert, Ray’s Idea, Relaxin’ at Camarillo, Room 608, Scrapple from the Apple, Serpent’s Tooth, Split Kick, Steeplechase, and Swedish Schnaps. I’ll finish up the List tomorrow and then spend a day reviewing all the tunes in their original/most common keys.
Now, I’m going to prepare some scores for a performance of the H2 big band. We’ll be playing or recent CD “You’re It!” at a free concert during the Rafael Mendez Institute at 7:30 pm on July 11 at the Newman Center for the Performing Arts at Univ. of Denver. If you haven’t heard this recording you should check it out here, request that it gets airplay on your local station and buy a copy – very distinctive writing by Dave Hanson and fantastic playing by an all-star band.
After that, I’ll start to prepare some parts for a performance with the Wil Swindler Elevenet. Good times!
Onward…
June 29th, 2011 - 3:44 pm
Wednesday Report –
Today I finished playing tunes from the List that I have in all keys with; The Night Has A Thousand Eyes, There Is No Greater Love, There Will Never Be Another You, Webb City, Wee, Yardbird Suite, and You Stepped Out Of A Dream.
Then I spent some time with Wil Swindler’s transcription/adaption of Gil Evan’s arrangement of “Bird Feathers.” Playing harmony parts is always an interesting challenge because even though you don’t have the melody that would allow you to phrase in a good jazz style – you STILL have to phrase in a good jazz style! So, in addition to working on the pitches and rhythms, I always spend some extra time concentrating on the accent and other expressive gestures.
After that, I blew on You Stepped Out Of A Dream in all keys.
Tomorrow, the List review in original/most common keys and then select a new tune to learn. Until then,
Onward…
July 1st, 2011 - 4:41 pm
Friday Report –
Yes, your eyes are NOT deceiving you – I didn’t post on Thursday! In fact, I didn’t even practice, the day’s schedule just didn’t allow the time, it happens sometimes even to the most dedicated.
However, today I got back to it and played all of the tunes in their original/most common keys.
I’ve also decided which tunes to learn next – the remainder of the tunes from the Coltrane and Johnny Hartman album that I will be performing in August. Those tunes that I don’t already have are; They Say It’s Wonderful, Dedicated to You, You Are Too Beautiful, and Autumn Serenade. But FIRST, I’ll learn Charlie Parker’s “Bird Feathers” in all keys because I have a gig playing with Wil Swindler’s Elevenet on July 16 and he’s programmed his transcription/arrangement of Gil Evan’s work for Cannonball.
Lots to keep me busy, so,
Onward…
July 2nd, 2011 - 10:30 pm
Saturday Report –
So, this rarely happens, but I’ve changed my mind about memorizing a tune in all keys – in fact, memorizing it at all. Today, I worked for a while on Bird Feathers and decided there was not a single phrase in the tune, that is not in another tune, that I wanted to every play again! So I played on the blues changes – very common changes and then took care of some other things.
I have the Introduction and the First Chapter written for my improv text and have just about completed the outline of the rest of the book. My goal is to write a chapter a day in July and have August to proof and duplicate it for use in the fall.
In addition to writing tomorrow, I’ll work on a couple of the tunes from the Coltrane/Hartman album.
Onward…
July 3rd, 2011 - 5:42 pm
Sunday Report –
Today I learned “Autumn Serenade” in all keys and the List now reflects a new addition. This is one of the tunes we’ll play at Cherokee Ranch with vocalist Ed Battle when we recreate the John Coltrane/Johnny Hartman Impulse recordings. It is a great tune and I’m glad I’ve learned it in all keys. Tomorrow, I’ll do one of the others from the album that I don’t know in all keys.
I also wrote the second chapter in my improv book – like I say, a goal of one chapter a day will get it done with plenty of time. I found I had to create another definition to clarify a distinction between resolution types, but that wasn’t a problem.
So, on to more Hartman/Coltrane, until then,
Onward…
July 4th, 2011 - 4:57 pm
Monday Report –
I reviewed Autumn Serenade today – very solid. Then I learned You Are Too Beautiful in all keys, another tune from the Hartman/Coltrane album. This is a pretty dopy tune but it’s on the set list. In a later practice session I worked on Moment’s Notice, one of the tunes that we’ll play on to open for Ed Battle.
I also wrote another chapter of my improv text. Each chapter has a section about one rhythmic and one pitch concept. In this chapter the concepts are phrase ending rhythms and a concept I call 2nd Degree Resolutions.
Tomorrow, another tune and some more writing,
Onward…
July 5th, 2011 - 6:11 pm
Tuesday Report –
Today I reviewed You Are Too Beautiful in all keys and learned “They Say It’s Wonderful” in all keys, both for the Johnny Hartman/John Coltrane concert coming up. I also reviewed Moments Notice from memory – I’ll probably add that in all keys in about a week. Tomorrow I’ll start reviewing all the tunes on the List that I have in all keys – starting with You Stepped Out Of A Dream and working backwards alphabetically.
I also wrote another chapter in my improv text. This chapter deals with eighth note melodies that are embedded in the various iterations of the Charleston Rhythm, and what I call 1st Degree Suspensions. Really fun to get these ideas down on paper! ‘Til then,
Onward…
July 6th, 2011 - 6:03 pm
Wednesday Report –
Today I got back to reviewing songs on the List that I have in all keys playing; You Stepped Out Of A Dream, You are Too Beautiful, Yard Bird Suite, Wee, Webb City, There Will Never Be Another You, There Is No Greater Love, The Night Has A Thousand Eyes, Swedish Schnaps, and Steeplechase. It was a good session and hopefully I’ll get out tonight a new room to hear AOA and play some!
I also wrote another chapter in my improv text. This chapter was about Motivic Development via rhythmic displacement and interpreting Half-Diminished chords in this method – good stuff Maynard!
More tunes and writing tomorrow, ’til then,
Onward…
July 7th, 2011 - 3:48 pm
Thursday Report –
Today I continued to review tunes from the List that I have in all keys, playing; Split Kick, Serpent’s tooth, Room 608, Relaxin’ at Camarillo, Ray’s Idea, Prince Albert, and Perhaps. I also spent some time working on Wil Swindler arrangements that we’ll play a July 16. Bird Feathers harmony part is just about natural now! I’ll get back in a few minutes and play through Moments Notice – got to start getting that one in all keys pretty soon.
I also wrote another chapter of my improv text. This chapter was about introducing triplets and a concept I call “Bi-Directional Resolutions.” That one is like encirclement but is a more flexible concept.
Tomorrow, continuing with tunes from the List with Omicron and more writing. ‘Til then,
Onward…
July 8th, 2011 - 7:38 pm
Friday Report –
Today I played the following tunes from the List in all keys; Omicron, My Romance, My One And Only Love, Mohawk, Milestones (old), and Mayreh. I also played Lush Life in four keys and will get to the other eight tomorrow. In addition, last night I learned Moments Notice root movement in all keys and played that today. I learned the root movement off the horn while watching a movie which really put a strain on the memory and pitch imagination – which is what I wanted to do! Good thing I’d seen the movie before.
I also wrote an important chapter of my improv text that deals with anticipations and 2nd Order Triads – sounds mysterious but trust me, it will clarify a lot of stuff when you see it.
More tomorrow, ’til then,
Onward…
July 9th, 2011 - 4:12 pm
Saturday Report –
Continued with the tunes from the List that I have in all keys by finishing the last eight keys of Lush Life and continuing with; Little Willie Leaps, Jordu, Joy Spring, and going back (alphabetically) to play Moments Notice.
I also wrote a chapter in my improv text this morning. This chapter is about varying rhythmic values in improvised lines and an important concept I call “Anchor Phrases.” C.A.S.H. phrases are one type of Anchor Phrase, but the concept includes diatonic as well as chromatic movements.
Tomorrow I’ll continue from the list with It’s You Or No One and write some more. ‘Til then,
Onward…
July 10th, 2011 - 5:08 pm
Sunday Report –
Today I continued playing tunes from the List that I have in all keys with; It’s You Or No One, It Could Happen To You, In A Sentimental Mood, I Should Care, Hot House, Honeysuckle Rose, Hocus-Pocus, Hallucinations, and Half Nelson.
I also wrote another chapter in my improv text. This one has some more text and analysis of phrase structure of major artists in several ways that aren’t frequently discussed. It also starts a several-chapter-long discussion of direction changing devices in jazz solos.
Tomorrow, I will practice from the List again, write another chapter, and will also lead the great H2 Big Band in a Free concert at the Mendez Brass Institute – 7:30 pm at Gates Concert Hall if you’re in Denver. ‘Til then,
Onward…
July 11th, 2011 - 2:44 pm
Monday Report –
Today I continue on the List by playing the following tunes in all keys; Groovin’ High, Got A Match?, Good Bait, Fried Bananas, Freight Train, Freedom Jazz Dance, Four, Farmer’s Market, and Eternal Triangle.
Earlier this afternoon I wrote another chapter of my improv text. This one deals with multiple syncopations and alternating scales and arpeggios as devices to change direction in the lines. I’ll write more about direction change techniques tomorrow.
I’m on my way to rehearse the H2 Big Band for our concert tonight at Gates Concert Hall. Should be a bunch of fun, to paraphrase Tom Waits, “The band was killin’ and so were the tunes.” Hope you can come to the FREE concert tonight at 7:30.
Tomorrow I’ll get back to the List with Donna Lee in all keys. ‘Til then,
Onward…
July 12th, 2011 - 6:19 pm
Tuesday Report –
First – the H2 Big Band concert last night was killin’! If you haven’t already, you should pick up the CD “You’re It” by the band as soon as you can… if you like music.
Today I continued to play tunes from the List that I have in all keys with; Donna Lee, Dewey Square, Daahoud, Crazeology, Confirmation, Chi-Chi, and Cheryl. It was a good session, but I feel I need to spend a little more time each day – this writing thing is kind of cutting into the practice time.
Speaking of which, I wrote most of two chapter of my improv text today – both are concerned with direction change devices and cross-metering lines. I discovered an interesting pattern related to the amount of displacement of the cross-metered phrase and I’m in the process of deciding if it is actually useful to an improviser or just interesting!
Tomorrow, back to this list and writing. ‘Til then,
Onward…
July 13th, 2011 - 10:39 pm
Wednesday Report –
Today I played the following tunes from the List in all keys; Cherokee, C.T.A., Celia, Bye Bye Blackbird, and Butch and Butch. Had several errands and meetings get in the way of longer practice – I’m disappointed.
Also cleaned up the two chapters of my improv book that I wrote yesterday so I’m still on track with my chapter a day schedule. Tomorrow I’ll work on a concept called Extended Bi-Directional Resolutions, sounds kind of fun, dosen’t it?
Onward…
July 14th, 2011 - 5:40 pm
Thursday Report –
Well, I did it and re-prioritized practice by doing it earlier in the day and was successful at have a more productive session. My brain always works better earlier in the day and it is important for me to do the important things at that time – each person is different and I recommend that you find out when your optimum brain-time is and do your most important work then. Today I played the following tunes from the List in all keys; Bud Powell, Brownie Speaks, Boplicity, Bouncin’ With Bud, Body and Soul, Bluesette, Blues for Alice, Bloomdido, Billie’s Bounce, and Bebop. That feels better!
Unfortunately, the writing took a bit of a hit today. I got about half of the next chapter finished on my improv text – the part about a practice I’ve identified that I call Consonance Escape Tones. However, I’m trying to pair a rhythmic element with each melodic element and was not happy with how the rhythm part of the chapter went. I’ll need to sleep in this and try again tomorrow. ‘Til then,
Onward…
July 15th, 2011 - 5:58 pm
Friday Report –
Today I finished playing the songs from the List that I have in all keys, I played; Barbados, Autumn Serenade, Au Privave, Anthropology, and Altoitis. I also played the Colorado Bandmasters Association big band reading session. There were about two good tunes, maybe three. We’ve got to do a better job of putting good music in front of young musicians!
I also wrote more on my improv text. I’ve been struggling a little with some of the rhythmic portions of the chapters, though ideas are emerging – but the melodic/harmonic elements are all there so I decided to do more chapters of just the melodic/harmonic stuff and let the rhythmic ideas “flower.” So I wrote about Extended Bi-Directional Resolutions, Harmonic Anticipation and Delay, and most of chapter on Super-Imposition of different triads on Minor chords.
Onward…
July 16th, 2011 - 2:06 pm
Saturday Report –
Today was a general review day, playing all the tunes on the List (131) in their original/most common keys. Went pretty well except for a little stumble on the second A of Moose the Mooch and the last A of Sub-Conscious Lee.
Today was also a good day of writing my text as the rest of the chapters on Rhythm fell into place and I have the chapters and appendices organized. Now, there’s really nothing left to do but the writing!
I’ll probably work some more on that today and may blow on some changes later. I’ll start learning a new tune in all keys tomorrow. ‘Til then,
Onward…
July 17th, 2011 - 12:49 pm
Sunday Report –
I wrote first today – did the two chapters on Super-Impositions on Dominant chords in my improv text. The closer I get to the end of writing the faster I want it to go – but there’s plenty of time and it seems to be better when I let the next chapter sit overnight – kind of like gumbo!
So today I learned a tune in all keys that I’ve been playing “at” for a long time – I’ll Remember April. You know, neither the melody or changes are difficult but it sure is a cool tune, and after playing on it in all keys I feel the sound’s really in my ears and fingers. Looking forward to the next time it’s called on a gig.
Tomorrow I’ll start the lengthy review of all the tunes on the List that I have in all keys. I have a gig with a new Tenor/Bass/Drums Trio on Tuesday and my Quartet gig on Wednesday to devote some energy to, so there won’t be huge amounts of progress through the List until Thursday. Oh well,
Onward…
July 18th, 2011 - 4:18 pm
Monday Report –
I started playing through the tunes on the List that I have in all keys in reverse-alphabetical order. Today’s tunes were; You Stepped Out of A Dream, You Are Too Beautiful, Yardbird Suite, Wee, Webb City, There Will Never Be Another You, There Is No Greater Love, The Night Has A Thousand Eyes, Swedish Schnaps, Serpent’s Tooth, and Scrapple From The Apple. Oh Darn! I just noticed I blew right past Split Kick and Steeplechase – I’ll have to get those either later today or the next time I get a chance to practice.
Also wrote more on my improv text, discussing concepts I call Triplet and Sixteenth Micro-Resolutions. Good stuff.
Onward…
July 19th, 2011 - 9:15 pm
Tuesday Report –
I didn’t get to practice today but I got to play several hours which is good, even if it’s not practicing! This morning I had a rehearsal with my quartet for our gig at Dazzle (http://www.dazzlejazz.com) tomorrow evening. If you’re in Denver come and check us out at 7 pm – we’re previewing material from the next recording and the band is sounding great!
This evening I played a gig at Jazz@Jacks for Microsoft with a new trio of Bijoux Barbosa – bass and Dave Rolfh – drums. Nice trio! We had a good time and I look forward to doing some more with these gentlemen.
I had some spare time and my computer after my interview on KUVO to promote the Wednesday concert so I took advantage of the time and KUVO’s air conditioning and finished two chapters of my improv text. The melody sections were already written for these and I just finished the rhythm sections. The topics were conceptualizing double-time and half-time lines at extreme tempo ranges.
I’ll have some time to practice tomorrow before my gig, ‘Til then,
Onward…
July 21st, 2011 - 4:35 pm
Thursday Report –
I didn’t have time to practice Wednesday, but played a great gig with my quartet. Today, I got back to the List playing the following tunes in all keys; Steeplechase, Split Kick, Room 608, Relaxin’ at Camarillo, Ray’s Idea, Prince Albert, Perhaps, and Omicron.
I also wrote another section of my improv text, the introduction to Son and Rumba Clave. Not a lot of detail here, others have done fantastic work on that. I’m just trying to establish a knowledge base so I can get to the next chapter of exercises on how to improvise “IN” clave – something many jazz players have serious problems with. So, that and more playng is tomorrow. ‘Til then,
Onward…
July 22nd, 2011 - 6:10 pm
Friday Report –
I was back to the List today, playing the following tunes in all keys; My Romance, My One And Only Love, Moment’s Notice, Mohawk, Milestones (old), Mayreh, and Lush Life.
I also wrote a rhythm section of my improv text on developing Clave awareness and how to improvise “in Clave.”
Tomorrow, more writing and practicing. ‘Til then,
Onward…
July 23rd, 2011 - 9:00 pm
Saturday Report –
Today I hit the List in all keys on the following tunes; Little Willie Leaps, Jordu, Joy Spring, It’s You Or No One, It Could Happen To You, In A Sentimental Mood, I’ll Remember April, and I Should Care.
I also wrote more on my improv text, cleaning some stuff up and finishing an important section on “Shape Stealing.” Shape Stealing is actually kind of the proof and culmination of this improv theory and is pretty darn cool!
Tomorrow will be back to the List and some more writing. ‘Til then,
Onward…
July 24th, 2011 - 4:20 pm
Sunday Report –
Today I played the following tunes from the List in all keys; Hot House, Honeysuckle Roser, Hocus-Pocus, Hallucinations, Half Nelson, Groovin’ High, Got A Match?, and Good Bait.
I also wrote a very interesting chapter of my improv text dealing with Mixed-Meter Clave and 3rd Order Consonances. This is chapter 20 out of a proposed 23, so I’m closing in on completion within goal. Just three more chapters and one Appendix to write – should be finished with the first draft by the end of next week.
I’ll get back to the List tomorrow with Fried Bananas. ‘Til then,
Onward…
July 25th, 2011 - 1:54 pm
Monday Report –
Today I played the following tunes from the List in all keys; Fried Bananas, Freight Train, Freedom Jazz Dance, Four, Farmer’s Market, Eternal Triangle, Donna Lee, and Dewey Square. Then I did a new thing and just played a fantasy on tunes I randomly chose from the List, kind of in the style of Sonny Rollins. The catch was I tried to keep everything in concert C. Things went well until about five mins. into playing the fantasy and then the poor reed had just had enough. That was OK because it was past lunch time by that point.
I also wrote more on my improv text – two chapters concerning Metric Modulation were the focus today. I have to write the Exercise section for these chapters and I’ll be finished. Leaving only one chapter and an Appendix to write. I see the light and I don’t think there’s a train behind it!
Tomorrow, more writing and playing from the List. ‘Til then,
Onward…
July 27th, 2011 - 9:35 pm
Wednesday Report –
I had a long day of driving Tuesday, transporting my son to the Jazz Arts Summer Camp in Westcliffe, CO so I didn’t get to practice. However, today I got back at it any played the following tunes from the List in all keys; Daahoud, Crazeology, Confirmation, Chi-Chi, Cheryl, Cherokee, C.T.A., and Celia – finishing out the D’s and C’s. Then I played another fantasy of tunes from the List like did on Monday, this time transposing all tunes to the key of G. This is a fun and beneficial way to end the practice session and I think I’m going to make it “de rigueur.”
Also, wrote a little more on the final chapter of my improv text. I’ve added one more Appendix so I don’t think I’ll have the whole thing ready to print by tomorrow, but it is my goal to print the main text and start editing on Thursday.
I’ll also play more tunes in all keys tomorrow. ‘Til then,
Onward…
July 28th, 2011 - 5:18 pm
Thursday Report –
Today I continued to play tunes from the List that I have in all keys by playing; Bye Bye Blackbird, Butch and Butch, Bud Powell, Brownie Speaks, Boplicity, Bouncin’ with Bud, Body and Soul, Bluesette, and Blues for Alice.
I also printed the first draft of my improv text and duplicated a bunch of files for my up-coming Promotion application at DU. Both of those projects are about 80% done and I’ll be proofing the text for the next couple of days before I start to make edits to the files.
I’ll continue to practice with Bloomdido tomorrow. ‘Til then,
Onward…
July 29th, 2011 - 12:33 pm
Friday Report –
I just realized that yesterday’s report was my 2 to the 8th comment – kind of cool if you’re into binary stuff!
Today I finished playing the tunes from the List that I have in all keys with; Bloomdido, Billie’s Bounce, Bebop, Barbados, Autumn Serenade, Au Privave, Anthropology, and Altoitis. It’s been so long since I did anything else I had to look back at my comments to see what I am supposed to do next! and found I’m supposed to play all the tunes in their original/most common keys. So that’s what I’ll do next, but probably not tomorrow because I have a long drive and several concerts to attend.
I also made the first editing pass at the draft of my improv text. Some areas are a little under-explained and I need to adjust some of the assignments and listening suggestions, but it is shaping (pun intended) up nicely.
Onward…
July 31st, 2011 - 3:43 pm
Sunday Report –
I drove to and from Westcliffe, CO yesterday to hear performances at the Jazz Arts camp, and got FRIED by the sun at the big band concert! So, as anticipated I didn’t practice Saturday.
Today I played through all the pieces on the List in their original/most common keys. Tomorrow I’ll learn a new tune or two in all keys – one if it’s a bebop tune two if they are standards.
I also made a second editing pass at editing my improv text and made some good changes. I’ll finish this pass today and make another editing pass Monday before I start editing. This is coming together!
Onward…
August 3rd, 2011 - 12:37 pm
Tuesday Report (delayed) –
I decided to learn the Thad Jones rhythm changes tunes “Fingers.” I’ve known this tune for years and have played it in the original key, but I thought I needed a challenge and decided to learn it in all keys. If you don’t know the tune you should check it out – each “A” section is different and there’s a great phrase elision between the first two A’s that makes it feel like one 16 bar phrase. So, learning it in B Flat wasn’t too bad, but the work was putting it in all keys. I concentrated on really getting the first eight measure together and that was all I had time for.
Wednesday I’ll work on getting the first A back under my fingers and learn the second A and more if I have time.
I’ve made three editing passes on my improv text and am now in the process of applying the edits to the files. There will be more on that pretty soon. ‘Til then,
Onward…
August 3rd, 2011 - 8:26 pm
Wednesday Report –
I worked on “Fingers” again today, and finished learning the second A section in all keys. I’ll finish with the bridge and last A tomorrow and add it to the List.
I also had some really great feedback about the improv text from Kevin Tague and have incorporated it into the text. More soon. ‘Til then,
Onward…
August 4th, 2011 - 6:20 pm
Thursday Report –
Today I finished working on “Fingers” and it will now go on the List. Experience informs me that it will take several times through the List and probably one more day of specific attention to get it solid in all keys – but that’s how it goes with sophisticated tunes like this. Tomorrow I’ll start reviewing all the tunes from the List that I have in all keys.
I also worked on my improv text some more. Though the work has stalled a little, I’m feeling another spurt of energy coming on soon and think it will be finished in the near future! ‘Til then,
Onward…
August 6th, 2011 - 12:02 am
Friday Report –
Today I went back to the List and started playing the tunes I have in all keys. Today’s tunes were; Altoitis, Anthropology, Au Privave, Autumn Serenade, Barbados, Bebop, and Billie’s Bounce. I had a lot of transportation today, so that’s all the playing I got in, but I’ll hit it again tomorrow.
I also worked on my improv text today. I have about three more chapters to edit tomorrow, then take care of some very tedious formatting issues. I should have it finished by the end of the weekend – I need to get it to the printers soon. It’s looking good!
Onward…
August 12th, 2011 - 7:40 pm
Friday Report –
I continued with playing tunes from the List that I have in all keys. Today the tunes were; Omicron, Perhaps, Prince Albert, Ray’s Idea, Relaxin’ at Camarillo, Room 608, Scrapple from the Apple, Serpent’s Tooth, Split Kick and Steeplechase (though I only got through six keys for Steeplechase and will finish that tomorrow). These were on Soprano and took about 1.5 hrs., and that was enough time “on thew face” today.
I also got my laptop back and edited about 30% of my improv text – next week is the week! ‘Til then,
Onward..l
August 14th, 2011 - 4:02 pm
Sunday Report –
Today I played all the tunes on the List in their original/most common key. I would distract myself every so-often by blowing a chorus on the changes when I noticed my concentration starting to wander. It took about 90 mins to play the 133 tunes (obviously I didn’t play the ballads at “ballad tempo” today!). Tomorrow I’ll pick out a new tune to learn and spend some time concentrating on “Fingers” again.
I also finished the first version of my improv text and made a pdf of it to send to the printers. I’ve sent it to my colleagues at Lamont and if they find some problems I’ll make those changes before I send it to the printers. But it’s almost ready!
Onward…
August 15th, 2011 - 9:03 pm
Monday Report –
Today I concentrated on “Fingers” in all keys – short story, long practice session. Tomorrow I’ll learn a new tune.
The improv text is completed and will be sent to the printers soon, just waiting a little longer for any potential feedback on this first edition. ‘Til then,
Onward…
August 17th, 2011 - 12:51 pm
Wednesday Report –
I didn’t practice on Tuesday (!!!!). However, I did play some good saxophone quartet music with the VLSQ at the new Lone Tree Performing Arts Center. Really nice 500 seat concert hall and multiple-use facility that opens next month. We were there to help the acousticians fine tune the stage and room by making lots of sonorous saxophone noise!
Today I learned Beatrice in all keys and the List now reflects the addition.. I’ll come back later in the day to practice music for my next concert on Saturday with my quartet and vocalist Ed Battle. We’ll be playing “Moments Notice” and “Equinox” to open for Ed and then re-create/interpret the John Coltrane/Johnny Hartman album. Should be fun, ’til then,
Onward…
August 18th, 2011 - 7:18 pm
Thursday Report –
I started the day with a 2.5 hr. rehearsal of music from Coltrane, specifically the Coltrane/Hartman recording. My quartet and Ed Battle will perform this music Saturday at the Cherokee Ranch and Castle Performing Arts Series. We’re looking forward to it!
I also spent some time playing tunes from the List that I have in all keys. Today’s tunes were; You Stepped Out Of A Dream, You Are Too Beautiful, Yardbird Suite, Wee, Webb City, There Will Never Be Another You, ThereIs No Greater Love, The Night Has A Thousand Eyes, and Swedish Schnaps.
Tomorrow I’ll work more on the List starting with Steeplechase. Then, meet at the Quonset Hut for a Soundpainting session at 6:30. It’s open to the public and we’d love to have you come out and either play or listen! ‘Til then,
Onward…
August 19th, 2011 - 4:41 pm
Friday Report –
I continued to play through the tunes in the List that I have in all keys with; Steeplechase (on which I spent extra time shedding the bridge), Split Kick, Serpent’s Tooth, Scrapple from the Apple, Room 608, Relaxin’ at Camarillo, Ray’s Idea, Prince Albert, Perhaps, and Omicron.
I’ll be leaving in a little while for a Soundpainting event this evening at the Quonset Hut. If you’re in Denver you’re invited to come out at 6:30 to 2690 W. Barberry Pl. for some fun!
Onward…
August 20th, 2011 - 6:40 am
Michael Jefry – it is certainly time for us to play!
August 23rd, 2011 - 3:22 pm
Tuesday (and delayed Monday) Report –
On Monday we had an important jazz faculty meeting at Lamont, before which I practiced My Romance (playing the melody and improvising in all keys), My One And Only Love (in all keys), and Moment’s Notice (melody and root motion in all keys).
On Tuesday I continued from the List playing the following tunes in all keys; Mohawk, Milestones (old), Mayreh, Lush Life, Little Willie Leaps, Jordu, Joy Spring, It’s You Or No One, It Could Happen To You, and In A Sentimental Mood. I finished the session by playing the melody and blowing on I’ll Remember April in all keys.
Tomorrow I’ll resume playing tunes in all keys with I Should Care. ‘Til then,
Onward…
August 24th, 2011 - 9:43 pm
Wednesday Report –
I spent all practice today working on playing the melody and blowing on “I Should Care” in all keys. I concentrated on Soprano Saxo. today and the reed didn’t hang out as long as my lip – which is a good sign!
I noticed my most consistent problem involved the varying harmonic rhythms in the tune and locating the ii-V-I in the key of IV at the end of the A section. Once I got the ii-V-I in the right place, just being mindful of the harmonic rhythm, especially the vi chord that hangs out for a couple measure in the B section, made it as easy as it sounds!
Tomorrow I’ll resume playing tunes from the List in all keys. ‘Til then,
Onward…
August 25th, 2011 - 4:24 pm
Thursday Report –
I got back on the List today, playing the following tunes in all keys; Hot House, Honeysuckle Rose, Hocus-Pocus, Hallucinations, Half Nelson, Groovin’ High, Got A Match?, Good Bait, and Fried Bananas. Things were poppin’ and after a few issues with Hot House (when does it not present some issues?), I smoked the other tunes.
Also printed a copy of my improv text, “The Shape Method,” to be included in my promotion file, and finished my syllabus for fall quarter for Jazz Improv and Comp. A good day!
Tomorrow it’s back to the List continuing with “Freight Train.” ‘Til then,
Onward…
August 29th, 2011 - 3:25 pm
Monday Report –
Well, the weekend wasn’t great for practicing, but was good for music-making. Here’s the catch-up: On Friday I played “Freight Train” and “Freedom Jazz Dance” in all keys, then spent about an hour concentrating on improvising on “Four” in all keys. That night, about 10:15 I got a call to play with Ben E. King and Al Jardine bands Saturday night – and the rehearsals were 10:30 am Saturday morning. So Saturday was spent rehearsing and gigging with some Sweet Soul and Rock and Roll legends and now have the string harmony part from “Spanish Harlem” and Mike Love’s solo from “Kokomo” forevermore!
Sunday was a day of recovery and today I got back to practicing from the List by really woodshedding “Fingers” in all keys for about an hour. Then I finished up by playing “Farmer’s Market” and “Eternal Triangle” in all keys. Tomorrow, I’ll get back to the List with the D’s. ‘Til then,
Onward…
August 31st, 2011 - 5:41 am
Tuesday Report (delayed) –
Back to the List today playing the following tunes in all keys; Donna Lee, Dewey Square, Daahoud, Crazeology, Confirmation and Chi-Chi. I’ll continue with the C’s Wednesday. ‘Til then,
Onward…
August 31st, 2011 - 8:11 pm
Wednesday Report –
Today I spent time back on the List playing the following tunes in all keys; Cheryl, Cherokee, C.T.A., Celia, Bye Bye Blackbird, Butch and Butch, Bud Powell, Brownie Speaks, and Boplicity. Other than all of my tenor reeds being for shit, it was a good session.
I also made a lot of good progress in the past several days on a new piece for the Playground Jazz Ensemble, an octet mixing contemporary chamber music and jazz. I’ve been interested in Soundpainting from a palette for a while, so I decided to take this opportunity to create a palette. I’ve designed standard Soundpainting materials of; Hits, Long Tones, Minimalism Phrases, and mixed them with a melody and text from Whitman. I’ll “soundpaint” the composition using these and other pre-composed and improvised pieces. The only thing I haven’t figured out yet is how to control the text elements – but I’m close.
More practicing from the List tomorrow. ‘Til then,
Onward…
September 1st, 2011 - 10:06 am
Thursday Report –
Today I finished the List playing the following tunes in all keys; Bouncin’ With Bud, Body and Soul, Bluesette, Blues for Alice, Bloomdido, Billie’s Bounce, Bebop, Beatrice, Barbados, Autumn Serenade, Au Privave, Anthropology, and Altoitis. Thirteen tunes is usually about all my mind can take, and certainly all my chops on soprano can take in one sitting!
Tomorrow I’ll learn a new bop tune – haven’t decided which one yet. ‘Til then,
Onward…
September 2nd, 2011 - 6:04 pm
Friday Report –
Today I learned Wee-Dot, a little blues by Parker, in all keys. That didn’t take long.
Later in the day I played all the tunes I have in the original/most common keys. That was fun.
Tomorrow I’ll start to review the tunes I have in all keys – after reviewing Wee-Dot to get it embedded. ‘Til then,
Onward…
September 3rd, 2011 - 4:26 pm
Saturday Report –
I started playing tune from the List that I have in all keys. Today’s tunes were; Altoitis, Anthropology, Au Privave, Autumn Serenade, Barbados, Beatrice, Bebop, Bloomdido, Blues for Alice, Bluesette, Body and Soul, Bouncin’ with Bud, and Boplicity. I just noticed that I didn’t play Billie’s Bounce, I’ll have to get that tomorrow. ‘Til then,
Onward…
September 4th, 2011 - 1:06 pm
Sunday Report –
After picking up Billie’s Bounce in all keys (having forgotten it Saturday), I continued through the List playing the following tunes in all keys; Brownie Speaks, Bud Powell, Butch and Butch, Bye Bye Blackbird, Celia, and C.T.A. I might blow in Cherokee in all keys later today if I have time – the current Blood, Sweat and Tears band is playing tonight at A Taste of Colorado and I’m looking forward to hearing them live.
If I don’t get back to practicing today I’ll “Labor” at it tomorrow. ‘Til then,
Onward…
September 5th, 2011 - 8:56 pm
Monday Report –
I DID blow on Cherokee in all keys on Sunday. When the location of the beginning of the bridge is established, it is pretty easy and fun to play in a variety of keys. FEAR NOT!
After practice, I attended the BST concert. Man, it was fun to hear all those classic tunes!
Today, I continued on the List, playing these tunes in all keys; Cheryl, Chi-Chi, Confirmation, Crazeology, Daahoud, Dewey Square, and Donna Lee. Tomorrow I’ll resume the list with Eternal Triangle. ‘Til then,
Onward…
September 6th, 2011 - 2:05 pm
Tuesday Report –
Today I continued playing tunes that I have in all keys from the List. Today’s tunes were; Eternal Triangle, Farmer’s Market, Fingers, Four (which I improvised on in each key after playing the head), Freedom Jazz Dance, Freight Train, Fried Bananas, Good Bait, Got A Match?, and Groovin’ High.
Tomorrow I’ll pick up the List with Half Nelson. ‘Til then,
Onward…
September 7th, 2011 - 3:38 pm
Wednesday Report –
As promised, I started again on the List today with Half Nelson and proceeded through; Hallucinations, Hocus-Pocus, Honeysuckle Rose, Hot House, I Should Care, I’ll Remember April, In A Sentimental Mood, It Could Happen To You, It’s You Or No One, Joy Spring, and Jordu. It was an interesting session, with hard-core Bebop tunes grouped on the outside and very diatonic standards in the middle – just happened that way.
The interesting thing was observing how the weather change (it got very moderate and humid) affected the soprano reed and resulted in a very resonant, though tending toward flat in the upper register, sound.
Tomorrow I’ll get back to the list with Little Willie Leaps. ‘Til then,
Onward…
September 9th, 2011 - 5:24 am
Thursday Report (delayed) –
I had a shortened session due to other obligations so I only played these tunes from the List in all keys; Little Willie Leaps, Lush Life, Mayreh, Milestones (old), and Mohawk. I’ll resume from the List on Friday with Moment’s Notice. ‘Til then,
Onward…
September 9th, 2011 - 2:37 pm
Friday Report –
Today I picked the List back up at Moment’s Notice. I was going to try to improvise in all keys, but the root motion was not solid enough so I just played the tune and the root motion – I’ll work on it some more and start blowing in all keys pretty soon. Anyway, I continued on playing tunes in all keys from the List with; My One And Only Love, My Romance (which I did improvise on in all keys), Omicron, Perhaps, Prince Albert, Ray’s Idea, and Relaxin’ at Camarillo.
I’ll finish the List this weekend and play all the tunes in their original keys before I find a new tune to learn on Monday. ‘Til then,
Onward…
September 10th, 2011 - 6:03 pm
Saturday Report –
Worked on the soprano again today, and my lower lip was hurtin’ from the new reed. Upshot is that I didn’t get as many tunes in as I had hoped and will have to finish the List tomorrow. Today I played the following tunes from the List in all keys; Room 608, Scrapple from the Apple, Serpent’s Tooth, Split Kick, Steeplechase, Swedish Schnaps, The Night Has A Thousand Eyes, There Is No Greater Love, and There Will Never Be Another You.
Entertaining some friends tonight with local microbrews and interesting conversation, should be fun.
Onward…
September 11th, 2011 - 5:47 pm
Sunday Report –
Today was the last day before Lamont starts again. Actually looking forward to seeing all the students return and hearing them audition.
I finished playing the tunes on the List the I have in all keys by playing; Webb City, Wee, Wee-Dot, Yardbird Suite, You Are Too Beautiful, and You Stepped Out Of A Dream.
Then I remembered hearing Hargrove in one of those videos talk about how George Coleman “schooled” him on Cherokee in all keys, so I decided I should shed that. More fun than you might think! Tomorrow I’ll review all the tunes in their original/most common key. ‘Til then,
Onward…
September 13th, 2011 - 4:38 pm
Monday (delayed) and Tuesday Reports –
On Monday I played through all the tunes on the List in their original/most common keys. Simply stated.
Tuesday I learned several tunes in all keys that I just had in one. Granted, the tunes were pretty simple, so I did three of them; Blue Seven, I Got Rhythm, and Sandu. Then I practiced blowing on several tunes in their original keys, just to practice blowing; Split Kick, I Should Care, Body and Soul, Fried Bananas. I finished up playing on All The Things You Are in all keys.
Wednesday I’ll start reviewing all the tunes on the List that I have in all keys. ‘Til then,
Onward…
September 14th, 2011 - 9:09 pm
Wednesday Report –
This morning I started working my way through the List playing the tunes I have in all keys in reverse alphabetical order. For each of the standards I played the melody once in a key and then improvised choruses until I felt the changes securely. I started with You Stepped Out Of A Dream and it took a while before the changes settled in – I really hadn’t blown on it in a while. I applied that process to all the standards and just played the bebop heads in all keys. So, in addition to the first tune I played; You Are Too Beautiful, Yardbird Suite, Wee-Dot, Wee, Webb City, There Will Never Be Another You, There Is No Greater Love, and The Night Has A Thousand Eyes.
I’ll continue to apply this procedure to this pass through the List when I practice tomorrow. ‘Til then,
Onward…
September 17th, 2011 - 7:53 pm
Thursday through Saturday Report –
I had an opportunity to play one tune (Swedish Schnaps) in all keys on Thursday before my day of advising, teaching, auditioning, and placements started. By the time that finished at 10 pm I wasn’t going to practice!
Friday was full of meetings, rehearsals, performances, and parties. Lamont had our first convocation with our new Director, Nancy Cochran, and the place has a very up-beat and optimistic vibe about it. We’re all looking forward to how the future unfolds. She asked the Classical Guitar faculty and the Jazz Faculty to perform at the Convocation – and I think she was “sending a message” – we’ll see.
Today was a day to catch up – mostly on resting. But I did get to practice some playing the following tunes from the List in all keys; Steeplechase, Split Kick (and blowing on the changes after playing the melody), Serpent’s Tooth, Scrapple from the Apple, and Sandu. Not a lot of heavy lifiting, but it was nice to get the horn back on the face in a disciplined way.
Tomorrow I’ll get back to it with Room 608. ‘Til then,
Onward…
September 18th, 2011 - 3:48 pm
Sunday Report –
Had a good session on the Soprano today – the reed was speaking from the first attack! I played the following tunes from the List in all keys; Room 608, Relaxin’ at Camarillo, Ray’s Idea, Prince Albert, Perhaps, Omicron, and My Romance blowing on the changes after playing the melody.
Tomorrow is the first meeting of the Lamont Jazz Orchestra and I’m really looking forward to it. This is a very strong group of musicians and I think they have great individual personalities that will form a band with a great personality. I hope to be able to practice tomorrow morning in between fixing some personnel problems in the Lamont combos and getting the books together for LJO rehearsal. ‘Til then,
Onward…
September 19th, 2011 - 9:01 pm
Monday Report –
Today I was able to get some practicing in while preparing for the first LJO rehearsal. I played the following tunes from the List in all keys; My One And Only Love, Moment’s Notice, Mohawk, and Milestones (old).
Tomorrow I hope to get some time in the morning and more in the afternoon since my combo rehearsal time has changed. ‘Til then,
Onward…
September 21st, 2011 - 5:20 am
Tuesday Report (delayed) –
I had several good practice sessions today covering tunes from the List in all keys. The tunes were; Mayreh, Lush Life (verse, head, root motion), Little Willie Leaps, Jordu, Joy Spring, It’s You Or No One (Since it’s a standard I also improvised on the changes in each key until they felt solid. For some reason, I had difficulty getting the sound of moving to the Dominant II chord in my head, so this took a little while. After the sound became natural, each key thereafter was easier and more secure.), and about 2/3’s around the cycle on It Could Happen To You.
On Wednesday I’ll finish It Could… (starting at E) and continue with the List. ‘Til then,
Onward…
September 21st, 2011 - 5:35 pm
Wednesday Report –
I started by playing the head and blowing on the changes to It Could Happen To You in E, A, D, G, & C. Then I did the same for In A Sentimental Mood. Didn’t get as much done as the day before, but did get to concentrate on some good tunes and changes.
Tomorrow I’ll do the same with “I Should Care.” ‘Til then,
Onward…
September 22nd, 2011 - 8:46 pm
Thursday Report –
Today I began by playing I Should Care in all keys, blowing on the changes until they felt secure – that took about an hour. Later in the day I also played; I’ve Got Rhythm, Hot House, Honeysuckle Rose, Hocus-Pocus, Hallucinations and Half Nelson in all keys.
Tomorrow will be a busy day of meetings, rehearsals and performances, but I hope to be able to practice some.
Onward…
September 23rd, 2011 - 10:18 pm
Friday Report –
As predicted, Friday was a very full day, but I did get some practicing in. I played Groovin’ High, Got A Match?, and Good Bait in all keys. Not much, but something is better than nothing.
I’m playing a cool FREE concert/workshop of some of my tunes with original lyrics by Donna Wickham tomorrow night at 7 pm at the Art Salon. If you’re into this stuff, I’d love to see you there. ‘Til then,
Onward…
September 25th, 2011 - 5:18 pm
Sunday Report –
I didn’t practice Saturday but did play a really nice gig at The Art Salon with my quartet + Donna Wickham on vocals. Donna had selected several of my songs to create lyrics and we played six of them and spoke with the audience about the compositional and lyric-creating process – very fun. A video of one of the more poignant pieces on the program is posted at http://www.lynnbakerjazz.com/images.html
Today I got back to practicing, playing the following tunes from the List in all keys; Fried Bananas, Freight Train, Freedom Jazz Dance, Four, Fingers, Farmer’s Market, and Eternal Triangle. I blew a couple choruses in each key on Four, just because I’m doing that on non-blues or rhythm changes tunes this time through the list. Tomorrow, I’ll continue with the “D”s. ‘Til then,
Onward…
September 26th, 2011 - 4:54 pm
Monday Report –
Today I got to spend some good time this morning on the Tenor – too bad the reeds weren’t up to it. Anyway, I played the following tunes from the List in all keys; Donna Lee, Dewey Square, Daahoud, Crazeology, Confirmation, Chi-Chi, Cheryl, Cherokee (blowing in all keys after the melody), C.A.A., and Celia. Through the “D”s and “C”s, tomorrow, on to the “B”s! ‘Til then,
Onward…
September 27th, 2011 - 8:07 pm
Tuesday Report –
Today I started by playing Bye Bye Blackbird in all keys and blowing on the changes for a couple of choruses after each melody. I then played the following tunes from the List in all keys; Butch and Butch, Bud Powell, Brownie Speaks, Boplicity, Bouncin’ With Bud, Body and Soul (also improvising in all keys), Bluesette, Blues for Alice, Blue Seven, Bloomdido and Billie’s Bounce.
A good couple of practice sessions today but I have lots of meetings and 5 hours straight of rehearsals tomorrow and I may not get any time in, so I’m thankful for what was there today.
Onward…
September 28th, 2011 - 7:56 pm
Wednesday Report –
As expected, I didn’t have a lot of time to practice today, but I had a little. I got the week wrong for my extra morning meeting so there were a few minutes and I took advantage of them. Today I played the following tunes from the List in all keys; Billie’s Bounce, Beatrice (also blowing in all keys), and Barbados. I’ll finish the List tomorrow by polishing off the “A”s. ‘Til then,
Onward…
September 30th, 2011 - 6:01 am
Thursday Report (Delayed) –
Today I finished playing the tunes from the List the I have in all keys by playing; Autumn Serenade (and blowing in all keys), Au Privave, Anthropology, and Altoitis.
In the afternoon I had a chance for more practicing so I played all the tunes that I have in all keys in the key of F – kind of like a huge medley. It was fun and somewhat challenging – for instance, I hade to vamp a little while before I could call up the melody of Little Willie Leaps. You see, since I wasn’t playing it in the original key (I was playing it a whole step down) I didn’t have the most-practiced kinetic memory to draw upon and had to rely more on rhythm/pitch shape memory. This is a good lesson and I’ll come back to this in other keys as time goes by.
When I get a chance to practice again I will review all the tunes in their original/most common keys. ‘Til then,
Onward…
October 1st, 2011 - 9:51 pm
Saturday Report –
Didn’t have much chance to practice on Friday but did get to rehearse with the Lamont Saxophone Quartet and the DU Jazz Faculty Combo. The DU Jazz Faculty is preparing a concert of Bud Powell music, I composed a piece titled “Hallucinating” drawn from Powell’s composition “Hallucinations,” and did a straight-ahead arrangement of “Bouncin’ With Bud” that we rehearsed on Friday. I also worked Friday on the first trial of live streaming of our combo concert series, “Flo’s Underground.” I’ll let everyone know when the audio issues are resolved and we begin regular streaming.
Today I had some opportunity to practice and decided to work on some fundamental “chops” issues, playing triad pairs in a particular pattern, major and bebop major scales starting on various places in the scale and memorizing the changes to “Bud Powell” and “Bouncin’ With Bud” and practicing blowing on them. Tomorrow I’ll review all the tunes. ‘Til then,
Onward…
October 2nd, 2011 - 7:43 pm
Sunday Report –
Today I played all the tunes from the List in their original/most common keys. That was fun and took about 90 mins. since there are now quite a few! Tomorrow I’ll find a new bebop head to learn in all keys. ‘Til then,
Onward…
October 3rd, 2011 - 7:32 pm
Monday Report –
Today I learned a Charlie Parker blues, “Visa” in all keys. I wasn’t extremely familiar with the tune so I began by repeated listening to it until I could sing along with the recording flawlessly. Don’t tell the “distracted driver police” but I did this in the car on the way to work.
When I arrived at work I was able to look at the lead sheet and check that it was a correct match to my understanding of the tune. Then I began the process; first learn the tune, then memorize the tune in the original key, play it about fifteen times so you know you have the shape learned, then learn various phrases of the tune in each key. Here’s where I did something a little different, I learned the first phrase, then the last phrase, then I next to last, etc. back to the first phrase. At that point I was able to play the tune all the way through in all keys. This took about two hours and burned a lot of calories!
I’ll review the tune tomorrow and see if I have enough time to start reviewing the tunes from the List that I have in all keys. In any event, the List now reflect the addition of “Visa.”
Onward…
October 5th, 2011 - 9:01 pm
Wednesday Report –
As expected, Tuesday didn’t provide a lot of time to practice. However, I did get a chance to review “Visa” and was pleasantly surprised that it was pretty secure in all keys.
Today I had some time to start reviewing all the tunes from the List that I have in all keys. I decided to play them in a different key order, this pass will be in ascending minor seconds. Today’s tunes were; Altoitis, Anthropology, Au Privave, Autumn Serenade, Barbados, Beatrice, and Bebop. Then the DU Jazz Faculty played a little gig for the staff and faculty of DU playing a couple of Bud Powell tunes; Bouncin’ With Bud and Blue Pearl and I felt TOTALLY free – it was pretty cool.
Tomorrow I’ll resume the List with Billie’s Bounce. ‘Til then,
Onward…
October 6th, 2011 - 8:20 pm
Thursday Report –
I had opportunity for three practice sessions today and it was FUN! I played the following tunes from the List in all keys; Billie’s Bounce, Bloomdido, Blue Seven, Blues for Alice, Bluesette, Body and Soul, Bouncin’ With Bud, Boplicity, Brownie Speaks, Bud Powell, Butch and Butch, Bye Bye Blackbird, Celia, C.T.A., and Cherokee. I played them with key centers ascending by half-steps, except Cherokee – for some reason I spaced on that relationship and went to the cycle of fifths. It was probably because it was the last tune and I was focusing my mind on improvising in all keys.
Tomorrow I’ll pick it up with Cheryl. ‘Til then,
Onward…
October 8th, 2011 - 4:36 pm
Friday Report (delayed) –
I got a little bit of practice time on Friday, playing the following tunes from the List in all keys in key centers ascending by half steps; Cheryl, Chi-Chi, Confirmation, Crazeology, Daahoud, and Dewey Square.
The rest of the day was quite eventful with a good performance class, car maintenance, faculty jazz rehearsal, faculty meeting in which a $300,000 gift to the jazz studies program was announced (!!!!!), and the first live stream of our jazz concert series.
The next time I practice I’ll get into Donna Lee. ‘Til then,
Onward…
October 8th, 2011 - 10:54 pm
Saturday Report –
It was rainy, dark, and cold today and I just really couldn’t get it going to do a lot of practicing. All I did today was play Donna Lee in all keys, following by blowing on it until the changes felt comfortable. I’ll get back the List with Eternal Triangle. ‘Til then,
Onward…
October 9th, 2011 - 1:57 pm
Sunday Report –
Today I got back the List as promised and played the following tunes in all keys in ascending half-step key relationships; Eternal Triangle, Farmer’s Market, Fingers, Four, Freedom Jazz Dance, Freight Train, and Fried Bananas. Fingers in these key relationships really challenged me today – a good workout!
Tomorrow I’ll get back to it with the “G”s. ‘Til then,
Onward…
October 15th, 2011 - 6:48 pm
Saturday Report –
The past week has been very busy at Lamont with Guest Artist Michael Weiss and lots of important meetings, so the practice was not as focused as usual. Over the past week I played through the following tunes in all keys; Good Bait, Got A Match?, Grovin’ High, Half Nelson, Hallucinations, Hocus-Pocus, Honeysuckle Rose, and Hot House. I also learned Tempus Fugue-It in all keys and the List reflects the addition.
I also worked on playing several tunes I have for up-coming concerts, a Bud Powell concert with the DU Jazz Faculty (Bouncin’ With Bud, Bud Powell, and Tempus Fugue-It) and a concert at Eastern Oregon University in November.
I’ll get back to the List tomorrow. ‘Til then,
Onward…
October 16th, 2011 - 9:05 pm
Sunday Report –
Back to a good practice routine and attitude today with playing the following tunes from the List in al keys; I Should Care, I’ll Remember April, In A Sentimental Mood, It Could Happen To You, It’s You Or No One, and Joy Spring. Didn’t really learn a lot other than ascending half-step key relationships can be confusing! However, it was great to get back into the routine.
Tomorrow, I’ll continue with Jordu. ‘Til then,
Onward…
October 17th, 2011 - 7:26 pm
Monday Report –
I had a couple of different sessions today, one early morning and another early evening. Here are the tunes from the List that I played in all keys; Jordu, Little Willie Leaps, Lush Life, Mayreh, Milestones (old), Mohawk and Moment’s Notice.
More tomorrow. ‘Til then,
Onward…
October 18th, 2011 - 6:50 pm
Tuesday Report –
Again, I was able to get in a couple of sessions and ended up playing the following tunes from the List in all keys, with chromatically ascending key centers; My One And Only Love (skipped that one Monday), Omicron, Perhaps, Prince Albert, Ray’s Idea, Relaxin’ At Camarillo, and Room 608. This key relationship is pretty challenging on some tunes!
I also took the time yesterday to blow on My Romance in al keys.
This is my last post for this thread, 300 is enough. I’ll resume the post on a new thread that will also include the List. ‘Til then,
Onward…