Southend Jazz Co-op

Notes from Nikki Iles session - 10th February 2007

Feel and Character

When we play the heads of tunes our phrasing often lacks Feel and Character.
Adding weight to the right notes in each phrase and articulating clearly not only brings the phrases alive but adds a real swing feel to the music.

Comping

Piano and guitars must learn to comp on the "ands" of the beat. Practice playing on the "and" of 2 and the "and" of 4 for eight bars and then swop to the "and" of 1 and the "and" of 3 for eight bars.
Pianist needs to move up the octave to keep out of the way of the bass, and avoid the too many tonic notes in the chords

Backings

Listen to recording of the Thad Jones Mel Lewis big band to hear how backing can be played with dynamics and feel (CDs available on Amazon for under a fiver!)

Practice taking backing phrases and starting them on beat1, then beat 2 etc. Then try playing then starting on the upbeats i.e. the "and" of 1, then the "and" of 2 etc!!

Building a solo

To make solos more cohesive practice playing a short idea (2or 3 notes only)
Learn to repeat it, add another idea to the phrase, then extend it further.
Use the melody of the tune as a starting point for your ideas.
Practise with a friend! And takes their last idea as your starting point

Use the pentatonic scales and learn them.
The pentatonic scale consists of five notes, with no half steps.
Major pentatonic in C: C-D-E-G-A (on a keyboard the black notes form a pentatonic scale from Gb to Gb)
Minor pentatonic in C: C-Eb-F-G-Bb (on a keyboard black notes from Eb to Eb)