Jazz Fan Tip from Yogi Berra

Published: Fri, 07/31/15

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Jazz Fan Tip
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In many parts of the world, July and August are the best months to attend jazz festivals.  Jazz fan tips are designed to help new jazz fans enjoy both live and recorded music.
Baseball star Yogi Berra once said that "90% of all jazz is half improvisation. The other half is the part people play while others are playing something they never played with anyone who played that part. So if you play the wrong part, its right. If you play the right part, it might be right if you play it wrong enough. But if you play it too right, it's wrong." 
Further to Yogi's note, the “half” of jazz that is not improvised includes the
  • Intro 
    • ​Optional first few notes are often used to set the mood for the rest of the tune.
  • "Head" (theme or melody, usually played at least once in the beginning and again at the end),
    • ​Melody Lead instrument (e.g., horn, guitar, piano) plays (interprets) a pre-determined melody line over a background of rhythm and harmony
    • Harmony Piano, guitar and/or other accompanying instruments play a pre-determined pattern of chords designed to support the melody.

    • Rhythm  The bassist outlines both the harmonic and rhythmic structures. The drummer accompanies the performance with the specific rhythmic style of the piece, along with the (different) specific supporting role.

  • Chord structure
    • ​recurring pattern of chords usually repeated throughout the entire tune
  • ​Outro
    • ​Optional brief final statement ends the tune
Ed Byrne's Latin Jazz Evolution, pictured above,  performed tunes from their Conquistador CD at the 2013 Hartford Jazz Festival.  Besides Ed Byrne (trombone, leader and composer), the Latin Jazz Evolution featured Carl Clements (sax), Matt Dwonzyck (bass), Jocelyn Pleasant (drums), Rubin Rosa (Latin percussion) and Damian Curtis (piano - not shown),

Browse Ed's Artist Page
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Using a wealth of examples from the jazz repertory, "Linear Jazz Improvisation" Book 1 avoids theoretical terminology and focuses on identifying and systematically developing  the essential elements of tunes.

LJI offers not only the methodology for focused practicing of meaningful improvisation in your own style, it supplies the very substance of what you play.

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