2/20/10

Major Scale Options

Here is a document that I put together with scale options for Major seventh chords.


2/18/10

Saxophone technical exercises to correct finger motion

Here are some exercises that I have my students do to correct the most common technical problem- fingers that fly off of the keys. In order to play fast and clean while staying relaxed the fingers must stay low to the keys. Lifting fingers too high can even cause carpal tunnel syndrome because the hands have to tense up in order to move the fingers so far. Some rare players can somehow play very fast and clean while lifting their fingers off of the keys very high, but these people are the exception.

Working on these exercises until your fingers stay right on the keys can really help with tension in the whole body, because if the hands are locked up, the rest of the body will follow.

Technical exercises to correct finger motion

2/17/10

Pentatonic Side-slipping etude



This is a study to illustrate the use of pentatonics to side-slip chromatically over Impressions changes. Over the minor seventh chord a major pentatonic from the flat third is used as the starting point. Then the pentatonic moves up or down a half-step to a pentatonic scale that is
outside the key, then back to the inside pentatonic.Click to download the PDF document

2/16/10

Dominant Scale Options document

I put together a document that details 26 different scale options that work over dominant chords. All of the usual scale choices are here, along with many that are much less commonly used by Jazz improvisers. Some of the less common choices obviously do not fit as neatly as the more standard choices, but they can offer the player quite interesting and exotic scale options.

Let me know if you have any ideas for additions to this document, which is by no means exhaustive.
(click on each page for a full page image)


2/1/10

Tim Price on the music of Charlie Mariano- Rico Reeds blog

Hello again, Tim Price here for Rico Reeds. I thought I might discuss some unique and important music played by Charlie Mariano and friends.
The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady--- Charles Mingus's 1963 recording was wake-up call to jazz- - a lesson in alto saxophone expression by Charlie Mariano. Even so, today, in listening to that, one wonders why Mariano was not given his proper place in jazz he deserved-he played in a style derived from the mainstream of jazz's development with constantly expanding horizons. Externally, Charlie's style bore the marks of modern jazz in terms of melody, harmony, rhythm, and phrasing. His was a wholly romantic art. Charlie Mariano was always able to convey emotional depth via all musical elements.The real thumbprint of a jazz innovator!

His playing was always utterly spontaneous, and his resultant open ended saxophone sound is the stuff of which great jazz, and music without boundary's is made.

As Mariano's world opened while living in Europe his music became a pastiche of Indian, Japanese and other indigenous musics. Through his life Charlie would continue to combine musical genres; his interest in world music never abated. Elements of these music's inevitably found their way into his compositions and performances, as, a characteristic celebration of his musical diversity. Musicians from other cultures sought him out as a mentor and voice to add the elements they heard in their music.

Here is a stunning example of this, with some of the greatest players on the planet. EG- Charlie Mariano, Chaouki Smahi, Billy Cobham, Bobby Stirn, Paul Shigihara, Mike Herting, Yahia Smahi. Check out how Charlie creates spontaneously in the moment while paying homage to the collective spirit of being in the ensemble.WOW!

Take note also, Paul Shihihara is one of the real voices in today's music on guitar- very personal and beautiful.

Special thanks to Charlie's daughter, Cynthia Mariano for sending this link to me ! Thanks Cynthia!

Mariano Cobham Smahi Friends
La Rose du Sable, Thinking Of You, Album 2009 www.chaoukismahi.com

Check this great clip out-and get the CD asap!!


This music, from all musicians within, is a very unique and inspired masterpiece.Totally profound !

Charlie's musical legacy is one of such influence that decades from now people will still be talking about him, not only as a saxophonist but as a musician and human being that gave something deep and vital to the world.

Enjoy and stay in the moment ~ see ya next week~ Tim Price

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