Josh Walsh @ Jazz-Library
Each week, receive a new jazz transcription of a solo, with observations and playing tips. Join our weekly Zoom workshop to explore and play together.
Watch Oscar Peterson play our 8th note technique 🎹
Reader, After we wrapped up our workshop last Friday, I was listening to a few different performances of Oscar Peterson playing our tune, Someday My Prince Will Come. There were some great moments, but this phrase below really stuck out to me as a perfect representation of what we've been practicing. Streams of eighth notes, chord tones on the strong beats, handing over smoothly from one chord to the next. I wanted to make sure you had a chance to see it too. Oscar Peterson on Someday My...
This Berklee jazz professor taught me to 'listen to the ring'
Reader, Last Friday, Dave Frank taught a masterclass on improvisation. There's been a buzz in the community ever since, as it may be the most impactful workshop we've ever had. Dave broke down his Flow, Phrase, Breathe approach for us, and then we took turns playing for him and getting feedback. We all left transformed and inspired. Here are 5 takeaways you should practice this week: Friday Workshop: We're continuing our work on Someday My Prince Will Come and the jazz waltz. See you Friday,...
The improvisation concept behind 70% of all great jazz lines
This weeks workshop: Our guest Dave Frank is joining us to talk about playing solo piano, his #1 technique for beginning improvisers, and how our favorite players influence our sound. RSVP Below. Reader, Early in my jazz journey, I could play scales and knew my theory. But when I tried to improvise, my lines sounded like basic scale exercises. I was frustrated because I wanted to play cool phrases, but I didn't know how to take that rudimentary knowledge and actually create something musical...
The 2 Upbeats That Make Jazz Waltzes Swing 🎹
This weeks workshop: Continuing to study the Jazz Waltz on the tune Someday My Prince Will Come. RSVP Below. Reader, When I first tried to comp on a jazz waltz, I did what every classically-trained pianist does: I played it like a Strauss waltz. But, my classical training was coming through too literally, and it just didn't swing at all. So, what makes a jazz waltz actually swing? Last week at our workshop, we started working through Someday My Prince Will Come. It's the perfect tune for...
The voicing that changed my blues comping 🎹
This week's workshop: We're wrapping up our series on Beautiful Love by creating solo phrases and motifs over the harmony. RSVP Below Reader, For years, I struggled to make my blues comping sound anything other than basic. I had the changes down, but my voicings felt... thin. Then I discovered this voicing used by Monty Alexander and Gene Harris, and suddenly my blues playing had weight and character. Let me show you how it works. It's really approachable. Play this: This voicing has our...
The scale that makes dominant chords soar 🎹
This weeks workshop: Improvising over dominant chords in Beautiful Love. RSVP below. Reader, Our solos on Beautiful Love last week are harmonically correct. But do they sound interesting? On our last workshop, we covered the entire tune with just 2 scales: D harmonic minor and F major. It worked...but it was safe. Today, I'm showing you how to add color where it matters most: the dominant chords. Dominant chords exist to create tension, and as jazz musicians, we harness that tension to create...
6 minor moves to steal on Beautiful Love (transcription inside)
This week's workshop: Things we can play over D harmonic minor, and applying them to Beautiful Love. RSVP Below Reader, Most players think boring solos = not knowing cool enough notes. Wrong. It's what you DO with simple notes that makes them cool. Let me show you exactly what I mean... New here this week? Check out part one of this series here in the archive: Michel Petrucciani Transcription My students often feel like their solos are boring because they don't know cool enough notes. Not so!...