Clik here to view.
Whisper Not
When I was in college, I picked up a cassette of Legacy by Jon Faddis from the dollar bin at the record store. It’s a kind of greatest hits of jazz trumpet, and it was one of the best dollars I ever...
View ArticleRIP Wayne Shorter
In 2013, Wayne Shorter said, “The word ‘jazz’ to me only means ‘I dare you.’” I love Wayne’s playing and writing without always understanding it. I got exposed to both via Miles Davis, who put Wayne’s...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The whole tone scale
Like diminished chords, the whole tone scale is not very widely used, but when you need that specific vibe, nothing else will do. Whole tone scales are easy to understand, because there are only two of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Interview/remix with Martin Urbach
I have been practicing my semi-structured interviewing skills on Martin Urbach. I did a few rounds of recording interviews on my phone, and what I learned from that is that my phone is not an adequate...
View ArticleClik here to view.
My top 100 jazz tracks
A while ago I wrote a post explaining how jazz works. In response, someone asked me to name my favorite hundred jazz tracks. So here’s my list. It’s totally subjective and necessarily incomplete, but I...
View ArticleWhat makes jazz great?
Improvisation Charlie Christian – “Waiting For Benny” [iframe_loader width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PHnBiT1Jp_4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen] Composition Duke Ellington...
View ArticleWhat are the greatest basslines ever?
The bassline is neglected by most non-musicians. But if you want to write or produce music, you quickly find out how important it is. The bassline is the foundation of the whole musical structure, both...
View Article
