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Archive for the ‘Jazz Music’ Category

One of the greatest motivators of learning to play an instrument for most people is the thought of being able to compose their own music, to take their talent to a new level, and use their music to express their inner feelings. The first step to take to learn how to compose your own music is to learn the art of improvising. The good news is that it isn’t as hard as you think.
The sad thing about learning improvisation, is that many people put a lot of emphasis on the fact that they must first learn to master chords, notes, read music, and be able to play other peoples music well, before they can get onto the more important task of creating their own masterpieces. The result of these thoughts usually ends with the person becoming so caught up in getting everything right that they feel afraid to improvise, and compose simply because they fear getting it wrong, or creating something that sounds terrible.
Why Improvisation Is Important
Improvisation is vital to a musician, because it is a lesson taught in creativity, and it develops an ear for hearing music on a whole new level, and copying it. For those who want to learn to compose, creativity is the most important aspect of being a composer, it is even more important than knowing keys, notes, chords, or even reading music itself.
Improvisation at its greatest can be found in jazz music. If you want to learn about improvisation, be sure to listen to some of the classic jazz. Jazz is the type of music that was mostly improvised, and added to. It was rarely played to a set out strict music sheet, but evolved as it was being played, and only got better each time the musician played it.
How To Improvise
Improvisation is nothing more than experimentation, and creativity. We all have those two things. Don’t be fooled into thinking that, in order to improvise, you must first know all of the chords, or notes used to play your instrument. Improvisation can be started off as early as when you have learned your first couple of notes, or chords.
The best way to use improvisation is to experiment with the chords or notes as you are learning them. If you are taking lessons, use some your practice time to try out different chord, or note combinations. Try anything you like, experiment. Improvisation is all about learning the art of non-conformity to the average style of music, and how to learn to use your creative talents to make an expression of yourself.
How To Deal With The Internal Critic
Everyone’s a critic, but we are our own worst critic. Most people are afraid to try new and different things simply because they are afraid to fail. The first time that you improvise, you will probably sound terrible, and maybe even the second time, too. This isn’t failing, this is learning. As you get better at playing your instrument, you will also get better at improvising. If you start off learning how to improvise early, you will only get better at it as you learn more chords, or notes. By starting to improvise early on, you will never be concerned about when the right time to start improvising is, simply because right now is the best time to start.
Don’t be afraid of what other people will think, either. If you are afraid of someone criticizing your first attempts at improvising, just play your instrument when nobody is around, until you are more confident, and ready to share your music with others.
Taking Improvisation Into A Musical Composition
Once you have mastered improvisation, it is only a small step to take it to the next level, which is creating music of your own. Once again, composing music is a lot like improvisation, and to master it you need to be creative, and understand that it may not sound perfect at first. But with a little creativity and some tweaking, you have the potential to make the music in your head come to life through your instrument.
Conclusion
Composing is nothing more than letting yourself be creative, and letting that creativity to make your music unique. You don’t have to be able to play as well as Mozart to start to improvise, and from there begin to compose music. Mozart started out just like you, improvising, learning, and then composing. So let your creative talents flow, and remember that you don’t have to get it right every time. But you do have to want to succeed.

Richly talented Jazz artist Stanley Clarke has released him latest album titled Stanley Clarke and Wow! It’s really a good one.

Unfortunately, it’s not everyday that I get a CD from an artist that I can just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. There is usually a song or two that I just can’t force myself to get through. Not at all the case with Stanley Clarke. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish.

The nice thing about a CD like this is with this level of talent even if Jazz isn’t your favorite style you still can’t help but appreciate the greatness of the artist.

If you’re a Stanley Clarke fan this is a CD your collection flat cannot be without. In fact, this is one of those CDs that you don’t even have to be a fan of Clarke, or even Jazz to know is good. This is just good music. Period.

While this entire album is outstanding the truly standout tunes are track 2 – Quiet Afternoon, track 4 – Desert Song, and track 6 – Life Is Just A Game.

My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 1 – School Days. Outstanding!

Stanley Clarke Release Notes:

Stanley Clarke originally released Stanley Clarke on October 25, 1990 on the Epic label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. School Days 2. Quiet Afternoon 3. Dancer, The 4. Desert Song 5. Hot Fun 6. Life Is Just A Game

Personnel includes: Stanley Clarke (vocals, piano, acoustic, electric & piccolo basses, handbells, gong, chimes); Jack Nimitz, Buddy Childers, Lew McCreary, George Bohanon, William Peterson, Stuart Blumberg, Albert Aarons (brass); David Sancious (organ, keyboards, Mini-Moog synthesizer, guitar); George Duke (keyboards); Billy Cobham (Moog synthesizer, drums); Icarus Johnson (acoustic & electric guitars); John McLaughlin (acoustic guitar); Raymond Gomez (guitar) Gerry Brown (drums, handbells); Steve Gadd (drums); Milt Holland (congas, triangle, percussion).

Recorded at Electric Lady Studios, New York, New York and A&M Studios, Los Angeles, California in June 1976.

Music is the essence and the most important aspect of our lives. Music is categorised under various genres such as rock, jazz, classical etc. The categories are determined by the instruments which are generally used to compose the tracks. At times like to take relieve from our stress by enjoying our favourite tracks as they have a great soothing effect. The Rock music is one of the most popular forms which has gained immense popularity with its hard and rocking beats. This type of music typically uses musical instruments such as drums, bass and guitars. It has several styles which have been incorporated by the famous musicians. You can also find this type of music which is accompanied by instruments like pianos, mouth organs and synthesizers.

Rock music first made its mark in United States and United Kingdom during the early fifties. Since then, this genre of music has a got a huge fan following due to certain typical characteristics. However, with the passage of time various new genres have also been added under the Rock category of songs. In 1990, jazz was coupled with the rock genre to form another sub genre called jazz rock music. After that, the rock got blended with the melodious folk music which resulted in folk rock. This genre was a combination of hard and soft melodies that gradually began to gain grounds among the masses. In this type, all the traditional songs were coupled with the musical instruments which are typically related to rock instruments. The popular artists of this genre were Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Woody Guthrie etc.

Nowadays, we have several sub genres under the main category of rock. The most preferred sub genres are heavy metal rock, blues rock, punk rock, and progressive rock etc. Moreover, during the 1980’s and 1990’s, various new genres have also been added like Indie rock, hard rock, brit pop rock etc. One of the most popular rock bands is The Beatles which attracted the attention of the music lovers with its hard core lyrics and compositions. During the 1970s, the Pink Floyd was the most famous and influential band. The type of music which was used by this band was referred to as psychedelic rock.Rock Music is accompanied with a very prominent vocal melody which is further accompanied with various musical instruments. To buy Rock Music, one can log into the various online stores to avail them at ease. These online stores have a varied range and categories of music to facilitate all your shopping process. You can also get cheap rock music and latest rock music without any hassles along with various offers and gifts.

I don’t listen to music unless I’m somewhere it’s played for the masses – like supermarkets or shopping malls, places where pop songs are meant to sooth us savage beasts and keep us shopping. I’m a talk radio junkie. The only time I turn my radio to a music station is at Christmas.
Christmas carols fill me with feelings of peace on earth, good will to men – that is, if they’re played after Thanksgiving. Every year carols seem to be played earlier than the year before. This year I heard them before Halloween. If this trend continues, it’s going to change Christmas. Instead of singing Silent Night, children will sing Silent Fright. Instead of gold, frankincense and myrrh, the three Wise Men will bring ghouls, Frankenstein and mur-der. Oh yes, and when Joseph and Mary knock on the door of the inn to ask for a place to stay, they’ll say trick or treat.
Every Sunday I sang hymns at church. Abide With Me, Amazing Grace, Rock of Ages – I learned my favorites by heart; but the old standbys are being replaced by new hymns. These are 7/11 hymns. Instead of singing wonderfully descriptive phrases, the same seven lines are repeated eleven times.
I went to the opera several times before I realized opera is like the opposite sex. You don’t have to understand it. You just have to listen and applaud appropriately. In fact, understanding the opposite sex would be a lot easier if a libretto-type translation of what they were saying appeared over their heads.
Because jazz doesn’t have a libretto, I don’t have to understand it. I can just feel it. Every singer and musician seems to feel it differently. Jazz encourages spontaneity and individuality. It’s more than music. It’s a life message. We could all jazz up our lives a notch or two.
I do, however, understand country western songs. I understand the girl is going to leave, the truck is going to be repossessed and the dog is going to die. Country western puts my life in perspective. My worst day wouldn’t be bad enough for a country western song.
Then there’s soul. When I think soul, I think Ray Charles. Of course, when I think Ray Charles, I also think pop, country and jazz. Although soul is described as rhythm and blues mixed with gospel, maybe any music you feel is soul – soul-ly for pleasure.

One word describes the CD Back In New York from Scott Hamilton… AWESOME!

Scott Hamilton has been a super star in the Jazz genre for quite a while now and Back In New York is an excellent illustration as to why.

Back In New York is a pleasantly varied, mix of 1 tracks that are very well written songs by this clearly superb artist. With many of the songs displaying a lot of the kind emotion that makes for a really great listen. Seemingly drawing from what I can only imagine are him own real life experiences. At different points touching on the most real emotions like love, and the pain of failed relationships can certainly be heard.

Overall Back In New York is an outstanding release. What I call must have music. I give it two thumbs up and is most definitely a worthy addition to any Jazz collection. Truly an outstanding Jazz CD. One of those that is completely void of any wasted time, as each track is simply superb.

While this entire CD is really very good some of my favorites are track 4 – I’ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face, track 7 – Bouncing With Bud, and track 10 – I’ve Just Seen Her

My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 1 – What Is This Thing Called Love. This is a great track!

Back In New York Release Notes:

Scott Hamilton originally released Back In New York on April 5, 2005 on the Concord Jazz label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. What Is This Thing Called Love 2. Wonder Why 3. Blue ‘N’ Boogie 4. I’ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face 5. Lullaby Of The Leaves 6. Fine And Dandy 7. Bouncing With Bud 8. Love Letters 9. This Is Always 10. I’ve Just Seen Her

Personnel: Scott Hamilton (tenor saxophone); Bill Charlap (piano); Peter Washington (double bass); Kenny Washington (drums). Recording information: Nola Studios, New York, New York (2004).