Video: Fast Blues Solo
Check this out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQy_eHcQHdI This is something I've been working on lately in the FretDojo Academy Club, my monthly online jazz standard learning group. I've been looking in detail at the soloing approaches of Grant Green, the...
Enter the Jazz Guitar Dragon
I've been ruminating today on this quote by Bruce Lee: “Not being tense but ready. Not thinking but not dreaming. Not being set but flexible. Liberation from the uneasy sense of confinement. It is being wholly and quietly alive, aware and alert, ready for...
The shocking proof that your jazz ability is all in the mind
Here's a little story about an intriguing conversation I had today with a fellow musician, that I hadn't met up with in years. Today I went with my son to a local music shop to inquire about piano lessons for him. (It's quite hard finding a good piano teacher...
FretDojo student shows how it’s done
I just wrapped up the latest challenge in the FretDojo Academy, and I thought I could share with you one of the member's efforts. Here's Steffen Böhm with a tasty rendition of Beautiful Love that he submitted for the challenge:...
You CAN teach an old dog new tricks
As the old saying goes... "You can't teach an old dog new tricks". We all know that, right? But... It's 100% untrue. For humans at least. Check this out: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20170828-the-amazing-fertility-of-the-older-mind This article dispels many...
Do you need to go to jazz school to become a great player?
I read a very interesting article today (that might raise some eyebrows), called "Are Schools Necessary?" by V. Orval Watts. Here's the link by the way: https://fee.org/articles/are-schools-necessary/ I think the question needs to be raised: Do you need to go...
Do you need to be black to play jazz?
Here's an interesting sentiment I get from jazz teachers and other players from time to time: "In the end, you really have to be American to be able to play jazz well, people from other countries just don't get it." (This was the words of a Canadian by the...
Video: Beautiful Love
I thought it would be cool today to show you something I've been working on lately: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mp5J8z_V0bM Here's a rendition of Beautiful Love, one of my favorite tunes to play. I've tried to go out of my comfort zone on this video and...
Jazz guitar policeman reveals his shameful ignorance
Here's a Jazz Police tale for you. Recently I was booked to do a duo guitar gig but my usual partner-in-crime wasn't available. So I asked around and got a replacement player. At the gig, we kicked things off with a tune that I know pretty well, On Green...
Obi-Wan Kenobi would have made a great jazz guitarist
Have you seen the new Star Wars movie yet? (Don't worry, no spoilers in this email). Great film, highly recommend. As I was watching it, it reminded me of one of my favorite (old school) Star Wars scenes - video below:...