Jazz Festivals » Jazz Style

Jazz Piano Lessons – Tips to Help You Learn to Play Jazz on the Piano Fast

admin2 — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 15:33:13 +0000

In order to play Jazz piano you need to get a fundamental knowledge of piano theory. Some of this knowledge will consist of chord formation, rhythmic feel, and scales and modes.

All Jazz songs have a one of a kind chord progression in every piece. Your jazz piano lessons should focus on learning the different rhythms of a jazz piano.

Every jazz style is dependent on beat and has a unique rhythm. You should practice playing different rhythms in the bass line.

Your jazz piano lessons should emphasize weak beats which are also referred to as syncopating. You should know that in jazz music the second and fourth beats are emphasized by resting on the normally strong strong beats. In order to make a stronger syncopation you should rest on just the first half of the first and third beats.

Your lessons should also focus on a key element in the jazz feel and this is the swing rhythm. To accomplish this you need to play uneven eight notes.

Within a pair of eight notes you should play the first note longer than the second to make an uneven pattern. You shouldn’t hold all the notes for the exact same amount of time.

Your jazz piano lessons should practice jazz chord progressions. The basic progression is the twelve bar blues. The twelve bar blues includes progressions among the I, IV, and V chords.

In the key of C, the chords would be C (I), F (IV), and G (V). You should begin on the C and move between the C and F for various bars, adding a G chord until you get a pattern with twelve bars.

These are some of the things your jazz piano lessons should focus on. With the right lessons there is no reason you can’t learn how to play jazz piano songs.

By: Jenna Mae

Best Jazz Albums of All Time – My Top 10 List

admin2 — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:55:12 +0000

1) Kind of Blue -Miles Davis

Yes this is probably the number one selling jazz album of all time. Some say it IS the best jazz album of all time. Did you know that the musicians didn’t even rehearse for the recording session? Miles just showed up to the Blue Note session with some melodies and chords and proceeded to record each song in one take… that’s how Miles liked to do it… he wanted everything to be spontaneous. Needless to say, everyone played brilliantly. There was so much talent and feeling that there was just no need for many takes. The songs consist of simple melodies and there is so much space yet also deep emotion. It is a pleasure to listen to and feel this album.

2) A Love Supreme -John Coltrane

This album completely changed the jazz world in 1965 and even today it’s effects can be found in many musical styles, not just jazz. Coltrane evolves from the extremely complex and dense harmonic language he had mastered with Miles Davis and Monk and just played with pure, raw passion. The four songs on this album are simultaneously filled emotions of anger, joy, sadness, ecstasy, tragedy and triumph. I know of many different types of artists such as writers or painters who use this album to inspire energy and passion from within themselves for their own personal art. This album also inspired a revolution in Coltrane’s playing as he played with this same organic raw intensity for the rest of his life.

3) Time Out -Dave Brubeck

This was the first instrumental jazz album to sell over a 1,000,000 copies. ‘Take 5′ was even a number one hit on Billboard’s charts which is a serious feat for any jazz song (and any song in 5/4!). Brubeck uses rhythmic influences from Eastern Europe to create a very new sound in the jazz style. The complex rhythms he uses sound very natural and are easy to listen to, probably the reason for his success. This one is guaranteed to please and intrigue it’s listeners.

4) Ellington at Newport -Duke Ellington

Here’s a historic concert that has a wonderful background story… It was 1956 and many big bands were failing because of the rise of bebop and modern small group jazz. So at the 3rd annual Newport Jazz Festival, Ellington tried hard to please the crowd with new suites and new arrangements, but the crowd was very sedated as usual. Then finally on a two section song, Dimuendo and Crescendo in Blue, Duke had the two sections connect with a sax solo by Paul Gonzalves and him told to play the solo as long as wanted to. He usually only took a couple choruses but this time Gonzalves took a 27 chorus solo that eventually had the crowd off it’s feet and dancing! This changed the face of jazz solos and as well as gave Duke some new found success. Duke’s band continued in this popularity for 18 more years.

5) Jazz at Massey Hall -Charlie Parker

This album often appears reissued under the name “The Greatest Concert Ever”. It is an all star lineup of Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Charles Mingus, and Max Roach. These guys were all involved in the creation of bebop about 15 years before this concert date (1953) and thus were all seasoned veterans by the time of the concert. Also this was the only time these five would record together and everyone plays amazingly. A lot of earlier bebop recordings suffered from sound quality but this one sounds very good for a live concert.

6) Headhunters -Herbie Hancock

When I first heard this album I felt I had finally found that perfect “sound” I had been searching for my whole life. Some critics and pure acoustic jazz-heads say this album is not jazz, but I must disagree. Others do too, this album was so popular that it quickly sold over a million copies after it’s release in 1973. It’s simple, funky, extremely enjoyable, and AMAZING! Listen to it over and over for maximum satisfaction.

7) Blue Train -John Coltrane

Recorded in 1957, this album was Coltrane’s first album as a leader. It’s very interesting to hear how Coltrane was playing before he started heading to the freer, passionate playing that he evolved to in the 60’s. Did you know that ten years earlier, Coltrane was considered just a mediocre player? He studied with others and performed SO MUCH with Miles. He was known to constantly practice after gigs late into the night to become the player he was on this album… and he continually improved after this recording! I love this album because it has such a solid, classic jazz sound with great musicians and great originals by Coltrane himself.

Getz/Gilberto -Stan Getz, Joao Gilberto

So Herbie Hancock won a Grammy for Album of the Year in 2008, the last jazz album to win the award was this one in 1965. It created the Bossa Nova craze in the United States and is one of the best selling jazz records of all time. Stan Getz, Joao and Astrud Gilberto are extremely graceful and intimate as they float along through this wonderful material composed by the famous Antonio Carlos Jobim. I think the best word to describe this album is relaxing.

9) Mingus Ah Um -Charles Mingus

Charles Mingus had a way of making his bands sound lush, original, and of course swing like crazy. This album features many tribute songs to former jazz legends that are guaranteed to get your foot tapping and your fingers snapping! Also there are some amazing ballads filled with highly colorful and emotional horn arrangements. I love to listen to and jam the song Fables of Faubus, a track dedicated to the infamous former governor of Arkansas who took a stand against integration in schools in 1957, the music says it just right.

10) Concert by the Sea -Errol Garner

Errol Garner is a beast. This may be because he can’t read a note of written music and therefore must rely on his hearing to guide him to what sounds good. Well he certainly knows what that is because this album is incredibly interesting both harmonically and rhythmically. His left hand swings so hard that it really is on another level of most all pianists. He is technically fluent and plays extremely extravagant arrangements of many well-loved standards like Autumn Leaves and I’ll Remember April.

By: Bradford Alderman

Chromonica Harmonica – The "Classic" Pop, Jazz Chromatic Harmonica

admin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 08:35:07 +0000

The Chromonica is a truly classic model of chromatic harmonica – made by the Hohner Company of Germany, it has been around for several years, and looking at pictures of chromatic harmonica players over the decades past, you can see the Chromonica in the hands of several famous players, such as Stevie Wonder and Toots Thielemans. Most often in these pictures they are playing Hohner’s Super Chromonica, the 12 hole version of the chromonica, model #270.

Stevie Wonder is famous for his pop/funk style of playing the chromatic, a choppy, slurring style that he created and that a lot of players aspire to imitate.

Toots Thielemans style on the other hand is much smoother, a legato jazz style that fits beautifully with traditional jazz accompaniment.

The Chromonica harmonica has a wooden comb, which means that the middle part of the instrument, the basic body of the instrument, is made of wood. Quite often these days, the comb of the harmonica is made of plastic .

There are varying schools of thought about whether it’s better to have a wooden comb or a plastic comb – they definitely have their pluses and minuses. Wood, as you can imagine, reacts to humidity and swells and shrinks accordingly, a little bit. Plastic combs on the other hand don’t have this problem but may not have the beautiful tone that wood has.

However, the Chromonica has been in production for several decades, and is still a really great instrument. It is not Hohner’s “top of the line” anymore, but it is a good reliable instrument that you can get a “classic” sound with, and if taken care of, the Chromonica harmonica can last and be one of your favorite instruments.

The Chromonica comes in various sizes: the 12 hole and the 16 hole models. The 16 hole chromonica has an extra lower octave on the left side of the harmonica, which can be fun, but on the other hand the 12 hole harmonica tends to fit in your hands much better, is lighter, and is easier to hold cupped to a microphone if that is the way you play.

Chromatic harmonicas are designed to play every complete scale in any key — major, minor, pentatonic, blues, etc. — all on one instrument. Nevertheless, they can be bought in various keys – the most common by far is the key of C.

A chromatic harmonica theoretically can play in any key because it has as part of its mechanism the ability to play all 12 notes of the “Western” (standard do-re-mi) scale, so that by using the button slide on the side of the chromonica you can build your various scales. But as you can imagine, the various keys start in various places on the scale of western music, such as G typically starting lower than the C scale harmonica.

The c scale-tuned harmonica is midrange, and also is very easy to understand music theory-wise, so that if you were using the chromatic harmonica (a Chromonica in this case) to build scales for whatever song you are playing, it is easy to start with the basic “blank slate” (no sharps or flats) of the key of C harmonica, and build it up from there.

An example of this would be if you were playing a key of C Chromonica in the key of D, then you would use the button slide to give you the C sharp and the F sharp in the scale of the key of D to play your C chromonica in the key of D.

In summary, Hohner’s Chromonica harmonica is a classic chromatic harmonica that has quite a lot of history behind it, has a beautiful tone, and is reliable. It is a midrange model Hohner harmonica and is a great place to start playing the chromatic harmonica.

By: Matthew Shelton

Learn How to Play Jazz Piano

admin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:09:26 +0000

This means that whether jazz piano chords are what you learn first or you concentrate on building melodies, there are many great options to take your first steps into the world of jazz piano and all that it entails. This type of music may not be at the top of the charts but there has been resurgence in the popularity of jazz in recent years and many key artists of different styles have been known to introduce a jazz style or motif to their own songs. This creates a greater demand for musicians who can play jazz which makes it a useful skill for musicians to have and knowing how to play jazz piano could keep any budding musician busy.

Uncover the spirit of jazz – Learn how to play jazz piano

A major reason why so many people have a fondness of jazz is due to the way that it can take it change its style or speed dramatically and is not as stuck in a traditional style as some other musical styles. People who do not like to be constrained or tied to a generic style appreciate the freedom that jazz allows and piano improvisation is a skill that is greatly admired by many fans of the style. Jazz is becoming increasingly popular and whether it is being played live in a jazz club or on a CD at home, jazz music can bring people together. A lot of this is down to jazz piano chords and the spirit and energy they bring to songs.

The idea of a jazz club conjures up images of a bye gone era when cool people came together in small underground clubs to share the music they loved with people who held similar passions. Jazz may not belong to the mainstream like some musical forms but lovers of this genre are immensely proud and excited with the style of music available. This makes knowing how to play jazz piano an immensely enjoyable hobby for people to have.

Make it up as you go along

One of the best things about jazz music is that everyone can get involved and create their own style or take on a particular style of music that can please a great number of people. There are many instruments which can come together to make a fantastic piece of jazz music but one of the most vital is the piano. This means that piano improvisation skills are a vital part of any jazz musician or bands arsenal and it can really add a great touch to any piece of jazz music. It doesn’t matter what type of jazz is your favorite to listen to or your favorite to play, the possibilities for making good jazz are almost limitless and learning the techniques of jazz can help you to create fantastic art forms. This means that having a firm understanding of jazz piano chords is a great way to improve your ability to make great jazz music.

The Different Styles Of Jazz Music

admin — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:00:39 +0000

There are different types of jazz music, each with their own origin and style. Jazz music is distinctly different from any other types of music and can be recognized world wide as having a uniquely American flair to it. Jazz had its beginnings in the United States but is now considered to have a fine mixture of African culture thrown in with it.

There are four distinct parts to jazz music that include rhythm, harmony, melody, and tonal qualities. No matter what type of jazz that you enjoy you’ll be able to find a club that caters to your tastes. There are many experimental jazz venues that are popping up all over the place, including many European cities where all types of music are welcomed and appreciated.

One jazz style is called the Work Song. It is upbeat and rhythmically fast because it was used to make the work day go by faster. The Work Song is repeated over and over and isn’t considered a modern form. This jazz tends to be associated with African American music. It’s probably the rhythmic beat that makes it the least popular jazz style today.

New Orleans Jazz is another style that had its beginnings in the early 1890’s American history. It began marching songs and gospel songs used in brass band performances. One of the foremost leaders in this style is the famous bandleader, William Basie, otherwise known for his band, the Count Basie Orchestra. This style of jazz is still popular today.

The Chicago Style of jazz started in the late 1917’s. Chicago, known as one of the premiere jazz locations in the country, drew many musicians from southern states as the prohibition forced people to move north looking for new jobs and places where they could play this new type of jazz. During this period, piano was added to the background of jazz music, creating an entirely new sound known as Chicago Style jazz.

World War II came and went transforming jazz yet again. This era is when Bebop was born. Bebop fuses fast tempo with changing rhythmic patterns and makes a softer, lighter sound. Bebop will often focus on a solo performer instead of the whole band.

As you can see, jazz is always changing, yet retains part of its original formation at it roots. Jazz is a musical style that changes with the times and the various outlooks of its listeners. One reason that jazz remains popular and alive is its ability to adapt to the world it lives in.

By: David Neehly

The Wonderful World Of Jazz Guitar

admin — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:26:52 +0000

In many places in the world the jazz guitar is not normally heard of and even more rarely seen however that is not an indication that there are no resources available to learn jazz guitar. Jazz music and guitarists are becoming less and less known because of new music influences as well as the grasp of young people wanting to play electric guitars and drums. The people are not standing in line to learn jazz guitar but if they knew some and heard some of what a jazz guitar can do, surely there would be more people learning to play it.

The media plays a huge role in the declination of jazz guitarists because it is rarely portrayed. In fact, it is almost too easy to go out to the streets and ask a few young adults if they know what a jazz guitar is because the proof is right there on the streets. Jazz guitar is unique and wonderful and if you are reading this article because you wish to learn the guitar then that is fabulous because the world needs a whole bunch more like you! We don’t want to go forward without the history and roots in which jazz guitarists bring to the musical world as well as the fabulous sounds.

Jazz Guitar History

The jazz style of guitar is likely one of the oldest types of guitar and in fact, it was through jazz music that electric guitars were invented. In order to make jazz guitars louder back in the day, they used to modify the guitar in order to amplify it’s sound without the use of power. If you wanted to learn jazz guitar in those days there was no plugging anything in to any outlets and no television or computer to instruct you on it.

Another amazing technique that is generally only used in blues and jazz is a technique called “bottle necking” and this was done with the old jazz guitarists breaking off the tops of wine bottles, places them on their ring fingers and proceeding to make fabulous sounds. If this kind of guitar playing sounds exciting to you, please go out and try to find a way to learn the jazz style of guitar as it is both rewarding and very pleasing to the ears. Similar to any near-extinct animal, jazz guitarists are a rare and everything should be done to protect this fine musical ability before there are no great jazz players left on earth to learn the jazz style of guitar from.

By: Roland Jefferson III

Learn How to Play Jazz Piano

admin — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:36:28 +0000

If you are looking for an instrument that is a little bit different but is still immensely fun to play then one of the best instruments could be the piano with all of its different styles. The piano is one of the most endearing and popular instruments of all time and knowing all about playing jazz piano provides many players with endless amount of fun and many great challenges. Whether it’s to entertain friends and family with a unique style of playing or to join a band or ensemble, being able to offer piano improvisation ensures that this style of playing is one that appeals to many.

This means that whether jazz piano chords are what you learn first or you concentrate on building melodies, there are many great options to take your first steps into the world of jazz piano and all that it entails. This type of music may not be at the top of the charts but there has been resurgence in the popularity of jazz in recent years and many key artists of different styles have been known to introduce a jazz style or motif to their own songs. This creates a greater demand for musicians who can play jazz which makes it a useful skill for musicians to have and knowing how to play jazz piano could keep any budding musician busy.

Uncover the spirit of jazz – Learn how to play jazz piano

A major reason why so many people have a fondness of jazz is due to the way that it can take it change its style or speed dramatically and is not as stuck in a traditional style as some other musical styles. People who do not like to be constrained or tied to a generic style appreciate the freedom that jazz allows and piano improvisation is a skill that is greatly admired by many fans of the style. Jazz is becoming increasingly popular and whether it is being played live in a jazz club or on a CD at home, jazz music can bring people together. A lot of this is down to jazz piano chords and the spirit and energy they bring to songs.

The idea of a jazz club conjures up images of a bye gone era when cool people came together in small underground clubs to share the music they loved with people who held similar passions. Jazz may not belong to the mainstream like some musical forms but lovers of this genre are immensely proud and excited with the style of music available. This makes knowing how to play jazz piano an immensely enjoyable hobby for people to have.

Make it up as you go along

One of the best things about jazz music is that everyone can get involved and create their own style or take on a particular style of music that can please a great number of people. There are many instruments which can come together to make a fantastic piece of jazz music but one of the most vital is the piano. This means that piano improvisation skills are a vital part of any jazz musician or bands arsenal and it can really add a great touch to any piece of jazz music. It doesn’t matter what type of jazz is your favorite to listen to or your favorite to play, the possibilities for making good jazz are almost limitless and learning the techniques of jazz can help you to create fantastic art forms. This means that having a firm understanding of jazz piano chords is a great way to improve your ability to make great jazz music.

By: James Hanna