Tag Archives: Jazz

Chromatic III-VI-II-V Patterns

It’s been a while since I’ve posted an actual exercise. Here is one I use with students to introduce chromaticism into their playing. Enjoy.

  Chromatic III-VI-II-V's (373.7 KiB, 249 hits)
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  Backgrounds For Exercise for Eb Instruments at Q=120 (3.2 MiB, 127 hits)
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  Backgrounds For Exercise for Eb Instruments at Q=160 (2.4 MiB, 65 hits)
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  Backgrounds For Exercise for Bb Instruments at Q=120 (3.2 MiB, 105 hits)
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  Backgrounds For Exercise for Bb Instruments at Q=160 (2.4 MiB, 60 hits)
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Music Education Is In Crisis – Steve Wilson

From AllAboutJazz.com:

“We are getting many students who are technically proficient— in many instances are amazingly proficient— and some of them with prodigious talent,” he explained. “But many of the students don’t have an understanding of why the rest of the world digs American music—because [audiences] connect with this central thing that is uniquely American, blues and swing. It is the DNA of our music. That lack of connection, lack of awareness, I say, is a real crisis.”

I agree. I think a lot of people are just playing a billion notes and crap. Way too many people are doing that.

Classic Jazz Music Stations – USA

Came across this. There are several streaming radio stations that do jazz. Good stuff. Click the source link for more stations.

Classic Jazz Music Stations – USA:

Here are around 30 of the best full time Classic Jazz” radio stations in the USA. They are broadcasting “live” from various locales across the country.  All these stations have been very carefully selected based the on quantity and quality of the jazz they play.   Just click on the station’s name and it you will go directly to the music.  Enjoy… 

 
 
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(Via Jazz Radio Online)

‘It Can’t Be Done’: The Difficulty Of Growing A Jazz Audience : A Blog Supreme : NPR

‘It Can’t Be Done’: The Difficulty Of Growing A Jazz Audience : A Blog Supreme : NPR:

“Well, if education isn’t the answer, what’s the solution? How do we develop and maintain a strong jazz audience?”

Audience development is a complicated issue, and it’s not limited to jazz. Every artist and arts organization is trying to answer the same question. We’ve identified a problem and we’re going to “build” something to solve it. Sounds so simple, doesn’t it?”

(Via www.npr.org)

Excellent article. I wonder though if it is really a problem Jazz faces in the United States more. In Japan and I believe in Europe, Jazz music gets as much attention as Pop music. Heck, they even have huge public performances of the music of Final Fantasy! Yoko Kanno and T-Square concerts sell out. 

If Danny Elfman did a concert tour in the USA……..would anyone attend? Probably very very few. A Katy Perry or Justin Bieber concert though……sells out in hours. It’s a sad state of affairs here…..

Occupy……Jazz?

Noted trumpeter Nicholas Payton wrote a great blog entry title “On Why Jazz Isn’t Cool Anymore…” which is brilliant. Bravo sir. It has sparked debate on Reddit, NPR, MetaFilter and the circle jerk…I mean SaxOnTheWeb site. Probably the best response has been by trumpeter Ian Carey titled How Not To Become A Bitter White Jazz Musician.

While a lot of these other sites have gone off on positive or negative tangents about this, the essence of what Mr. Payton says is true. Jazz has been usurped after its death in 1959. The music has moved on.  It has evolved. Grouping the “Jazz” today would sort of be like grouping Mozart and John Adams together under the label of Classical Music. Wait…..they do still do that. What the…..

I personally don’t care what it is called. In fact, I HATE labeling music that is in my iTunes library. I have soundtracks, broadway musicals, jazz, smooth jazz, jazz and funk, funk, rock, classic rock, classical, choir music, NuJazz, Ska, New Orleans, Big Band…….I could be here all day listing them. Why can’t we just call it music and not worry about if it is Jazz, Rock, Classical or whatever?

Yeah……I don’t think it’s ever going to happen either……..we are screwed.

54th Annual Jazz Grammy Nominees

It’s hard to remember that the Grammy Awards actually give out Jazz awards. I mean, with people like Chris Brown getting nominated…..

So here are a few I like that were nominated….

AWARD: 54th Annual Jazz Grammy Nominees:

33. Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

The Jazz Ballad Song Book
Randy Brecker With DR Big Band
[Half Note]


The Good Feeling

Christian McBride Big Band
[Mack Avenue Records]

57. Best Instrumental Composition

“Hunting Wabbits 3 (Get Off My Lawn)”
Gordon Goodwin, composer (Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band)
Track from: That’s How We Roll
[Telarc International]


(Via All About Jazz News)

And lets hope that Chris Brown doesn’t win anything…..