Josh Walsh @ Jazz-Library

Reader, If you want to get better at improvising, one of the best things you can do is transcribe solos by ear—not just read them off a page. Why? Because learning directly from the greats trains your ears, improves your phrasing, and helps you internalize the language of jazz in a way that theory alone never will. And if you’re looking for the perfect place to start, Clifford Brown’s solo on Sandu is a fantastic choice. Join our workshop this Friday This week we are sharing our goals in...

Reader, There are few jazz albums that have completely changed the direction of jazz forever. But without a doubt, Kind of Blue by Miles Davis is one of them. And of all the tracks on that legendary album, perhaps none has had a greater impact than So What. Miles’ solo on this tune is deceptively simple—but beneath the surface, it’s a masterclass in space, motivic development, and modal improvisation. He doesn’t play fast, he doesn’t play flashy, but every note feels intentional. So let’s...

Reader, Ornithology is the study of birds. And the tune Ornithology was written by Charlie "Bird" Parker. I'm ashamed I didn't put that together until this morning. Seriously, how did I get through music school without learning this essential piece of jazz trivia? Every week I get an email from someone who's taking the 7-day soloing challenge complaining that these concepts are "too basic." And I have to sit them down and reassure them lovingly and patiently... yes, they are basic... but are...

Reader, This photo is Helô Pinheiro. When she was 17 years old, living in Rio de Janeiro, she used to walk by the same cafe each and every day. Antônio Carlos Jobim took notice of this and ultimately it inspired the great jazz standard, Girl From Ipanema. Girl From Ipanema's most famous recording comes from Stan Getz and João Gilberto. The song is sung in Portuguese by João, and while not originally planned, they also recorded his wife Astrud singing it in English. The rest is history. Join...

Reader, When I was in music school here in Cleveland my family moved outside of New York City. I would go home to see them a few times a year and would venture into the city to attend Barry Harris' workshops. I was classically trained at the time, but my professors really encouraged me to go. Ultimately, its what sparked my love for jazz and jazz education. Ever since, I've been endlessly fascinated by Barry's unique way of explaining jazz harmony, and watching how he puts the same ideas he...

🚨 Correction - This newsletter initially was delivered with the incorrect observations. It has been corrected below. Sorry about that, copy/paste malfunction! Reader, Free For All is my favorite Art Blakey album. Admittedly though, hard-bop intimidates me. From my understanding of history, that intimidation factor was one of the reasons the artists played it in the first place. So, there’s that. The lead track, Free For All, was written by the late, great Wayne Shorter, and today we’ll take a...

Reader, Our transcription today comes from a live performance at Carnegie Hall featuring Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. The excerpts below are from two of Bird's solos. Charlie's lines fly. I've long struggled to figure out the flurry of notes that Charlie plays, even playing it at 50% speed. But, I give it my best, and I think I got this one right. Join our workshop this Friday We're wrapping up our mastery series on 4-note, 2-hand comping chords this week. I have a new worksheet for...