I thought I would include a quick note about my student Logan and his lesson today. It was awesome! Most of you are playing the freddie (Bb)  (Eb) blues stuff right now. Logan was a bit reticent at first with the improv thing. I can totally understand not wanting to sound bad, wanting everything you play to sound like Trane. But we all have to walk before we run. Logan was dutifully walking up and down the major blues scale in time, with perfect 8th notes. But when I harangued him to get off the “Squares-ville Express” and just play different combination’s of the scale, out of time and in different octaves, something happened. Something cool. Something hip. Something idiomatic off the style we are playing.

We then combined it with the recording and POW there was some music happening. We will all get a chance to try this in our next lessons but let me suggest that you try it first without the recording. Play the different scales associated with Freddie, but don’t just play the scale up and down. Play different combination’s of the notes in different octaves. Don’t stray outside of the notes in the scale! And try it with the minor blues scale as well. Lets get the blues, but in a positive way. And don’t let your tone suffer as you practice this. Remember to keep those collective chins up.

Peace- Jason

1. rich Says:
   January 8th, 2009 at 1:17 pm

   i’m glad to hear Logan played inside the box as well as he can play outside of it. he continues to surprise me with his ‘big ears’ and combination of sound, sound, sound. it’s only been two short years of lessons and wow, the sound does happen. what will the young guy play like in a couple more years? move over Hawk, there may be a new sound in town…