jazz is a language

Jazz Is A Language….Or Is It?

By

Forrest

Jazz Education, Jazz Language, Perspectives

The idea that jazz is a language can be quite confusing and ambiguous. We often make this statement, as do many teachers and professionals, but it takes time to understand what this phrase actually means and what it doesn’t mean… We’re used to a language being something like English; a body of words, phrases, grammar …

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learn jazz language through visualization

Ingraining Jazz Language Through Visualization

By

Forrest

Jazz Language, Visualization

We talk a lot about ingraining language. It’s vital to have an array of ideas at your fingertips for any given harmonic situation. And these ideas should be so ingrained that you can easily make them your own with little effort. Visualization can speed up the process of ingraining language tremendously. Can’t visualize it, can’t …

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jazz licks and language

The Difference Between Jazz Licks and Language

By

Forrest

Jazz Language

Jazz musicians and educators constantly discuss the topic of jazz licks. It’s always up for debate…Should you learn them? Is it okay to play them over and over in your jazz solos? Does it matter where you get these licks from? If you’re discussing licks, you’ve already missed the boat. You don’t want to know …

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Charlie Parker Plays The Blues

3 Transitions in the Blues You Gotta Nail: Charlie Parker Bosses the Blues

By

Forrest

Blues, Jazz Advice and Tips, Jazz Language, Jazz Musicians, Jazz Standards, Perspectives

Blues is the backbone of so much in jazz. The melancholic feeling. The soul. The call-and-response phrasing, walking groove, and clearly defined melodic statements…blues is ingrained in jazz at its very roots. And every jazz musician at some point or another has to learn how to play the blues. There’s no way around it. If …

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Sonny Stitt Bebop Tactics

5 Must-Know Bebop Tactics From Sonny Stitt

By

Forrest

Jazz Advice and Tips, Jazz Language, Jazz Musicians, Jazz Standards

Bebop language is at the very heart of jazz. From the classic beboppers to the crazy out players, every great jazz improviser has spent time absorbing, imitating, and developing timeless bebop language. There’s just something about the feel, phrasing, and voice leading of bebop language that’s crucial for every jazz musician to understand… And to gain …

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