You Have Nothing to Prove
Finding your voice as a jazz musician. Jazz has always had its gatekeepers. They may be older musicians at a jam session, respected …
The Power of Repetition in Jazz Guitar Improvisation
The Power of Repetition in Jazz Guitar Improvisation Many jazz guitar players avoid repeating themselves because they think it sounds …
What Older Musicians Can Learn from Young Creators
What Older Musicians Can Learn from Young Musicians A Reminder About Passion, Creativity, and Why We Make Music The other night, I had a …
Music Is a Conversation: Are You Listening?
Music Is a Conversation: Are You Listening? The Music Tells You What to Play Next This sounds obvious, but it is profound: To be a good …
Remember, It’s Called Playing Music
Remember, It’s Called Playing Music Music Is a Gift, Not a Problem to Solve Somewhere along the way, a lot of musicians forget that …
Don’t Just Play — Mean It: The Power of Playing With Intention
Playing With Intention There are nights when the club is almost empty, the crowd is distracted, the sound is weird, and the band is …
The Note After the Wrong Note: Recovering from Mistakes in Music
Recovering From Mistakes In Music No matter how long you’ve been playing, mistakes are part of the deal. Wrong notes. Missed changes. …
The Courage to Play Something Simple
Simple Jazz Guitar Ideas The Courage to Play Something Simple There is a certain kind of guitarist we have all heard. Maybe we have even …
Jazz Guitar Comping: Two Notes Can Be Enough
Jazz Guitar Comping Jazz guitarists can be dangerous people. Give us six strings, a few altered dominant shapes, and a singer trying to …