Welcome to episode 210 of the LJS Podcast where today I take out my guitar and do a little bit of practicing with you. We explore some incredible jazz language over 1-6-2-5 chord progressions while listening to a Dexter Gordon recording of a rhythm changes. I learn and pick apart licks from scratch to help you understand what makes them so effective and great. We are going to have some fun on the podcast today. I have not been able to pick up my guitar in a little while. I've been traveling. I'v...
Mar 16, 2020•47 min•Season 1Ep. 210
Welcome to episode 209 of the LJS Podcast where today I talk about 4 secrets for jazz improv success. I find that jazz is often overcomplicated, so in this episode, I do my best to simplify with these 4 secrets so that you can have a great path forward and a good idea of what to work on to make the most progress in the shortest amount of time.View Show Notes: https://www.learnjazzstandards.com/episode209 Sign up for the Newsletter: https://www.learnjazzstandards.com/newsletter/ Learn Jazz Standa...
Mar 09, 2020•37 min•Season 1Ep. 209
Welcome to episode 208 of the LJS Podcast where today I have on special guest Dani Rabin from the prog jazz-rock band Marbin. Dani is not only a phenomenal musician but a great musical mind and educator. We discuss his philosophy on learning jazz improvisation, and effective strategies to practice towards making great musical decisions when improvising. Important Links: LJS Inner Circle Membership Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way View Show Notes Learn Jazz...
Mar 02, 2020•1 hr 22 min•Season 1Ep. 208
Welcome to episode 207 of the LJS Podcast where today I demonstrate three strategies you can practice to help you develop more melodic jazz solos. Often, we are tempted to jump straight to bebop lines and complex theory applications when improvising. But simple melodies are often skipped, and therefore missing an important aspect of making meaningful solos. Learn how to start practicing this. Important Links: LJS Inner Circle Membership Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards ...
Feb 24, 2020•21 min•Season 1Ep. 207
Welcome to episode 206 of the LJS Podcast where today I have a special podcast episode planned. My new book, "Jazz Improvisation Made Simple" is launching on Amazon on March 8, 2020. The Kindle eBook version is now available for pre-order and to celebrate, I do a reading of the Introduction and first chapter of the book. I know you'll enjoy this. Important Links: LJS Inner Circle Membership Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way View Show Notes Learn Jazz Standa...
Feb 17, 2020•33 min•Season 1Ep. 206
Welcome to episode 205 of the LJS Podcast where today I have a special guest and 30 Steps to Better Jazz Playing alumni, Shirley Jansen on the show. Shirley is a tenor saxophone player who exudes the joy of musical growth. She shares what has been working for her in her jazz playing, the power of learning solos from the jazz greats, and how the community is helping her grow. Important Links: LJS Inner Circle Membership Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way View...
Feb 10, 2020•40 min•Season 1Ep. 205
Welcome to episode 204 of the LJS Podcast where today I have professional jazz musicians Diego Maldonado and Wallace Stelzer on the show to talk all about preparing to play live with other people. One of the top musical goals I hear among the LJS Community is to be able to play with other musicians, whether that be at the local jazz jam or with some friends. In this episode, we discuss what you need to do to prepare, and how to know when you are ready. Important Links: LJS Inner Circle Membershi...
Feb 03, 2020•52 min•Season 1Ep. 204
Welcome to episode 203 of the LJS Podcast where today I talk with special guest and LJS community member, Bob Petix about his journey as a jazz bassist. He talks about getting started playing bass in his late 40's and how he has developed his musicianship since then. We talk about what's working for him in the practice room and some of the key things that have stimulated his musical improvement. One of the biggest themes for Learn Jazz Standards this year 2020 is community. This is really the ye...
Jan 27, 2020•38 min•Season 1Ep. 203
Welcome to episode 201 of the LJS Podcast where today I talk about 3 ways to start improvising organically when you play jazz solos. A common problem I hear from subscribers is the struggle to let go of pre-meditating or thinking about what they need to play. It can be tough to let go, "forget" what you've been practicing, and just improvise freely. I share some simple ways you can start training yourself to do this better.View Show Notes: https://www.learnjazzstandards.com/episode201Sign up for...
Jan 13, 2020•28 min•Season 1Ep. 201
Welcome to episode 200 of the LJS Podcast where today we celebrate the big 200 episode mile marker! To do that, I have a lot of special guests today, you, the podcast listeners, to share your 2020 jazz and music goals. We go through each goal and I give some feedback. Get inspired and get ready to take action! Important Links: LJS Inner Circle Membership Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way View Show Notes Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your fi...
Dec 30, 2019•35 min•Season 1Ep. 200
Welcome to episode 199 of the LJS Podcast where today we take a look back on 2019. A lot of really great stuff happened with Learn Jazz Standards in 2019 and I go over some of the big mile markers, as well as the top 5 downloaded episodes of the year. I also share my favorite episodes and a sneak peek into what's coming next year. Important Links: LJS Inner Circle Membership Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way View Show Notes Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle...
Dec 23, 2019•32 min•Season 1Ep. 199
Welcome to episode 198 of the LJS Podcast where I go over my 3 step process for learning to hear chords. Being able to hear different chord qualities is important for being able to hear chord progressions, which of course is important for learning jazz standards. It's also important for our improvisation as well, so I show you a great method for training your ears to hear any chord. Important Links: LJS Inner Circle Membership Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart ...
Dec 16, 2019•19 min•Season 1Ep. 198
Welcome to episode 197 of the LJS Podcast where I have my good buddies drummer Diego Maldonado and bassist Wallace Stelzer over to the studio to hang out and geek out on jazz. This is a fun episode full of jazz nerdery, music philosophy, a little bit of alcohol, NYC's best cookies, and some shenanigans. Important Links: LJS Inner Circle Membership Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way View Show Notes Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first mon...
Dec 09, 2019•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 197
Welcome to episode 196 of the LJS Podcast where today I go over jazz practice plan #2, the last in a series of 2 episodes. This practice plan is called the Recycling Jazz Practice Plan which is having a powerful effect on my Jazz Blues Accelerator course students, which is based on this framework. Learn how this practice plan works and how to start taking action.View Show Notes: https://www.learnjazzstandards.com/episode196Sign up for the Newsletter: https://www.learnjazzstandards.com/newsletter...
Dec 02, 2019•29 min•Season 1Ep. 196
Welcome to episode 195 of the LJS Podcast where today I go over a jazz practice plan in a series of two episodes we'll be going through. This practice plan is called the Stair Step Practice Plan, and this has been highly effective for students in my 30 Steps to Better Jazz Playing course, which uses this exact framework. Important Links: LJS Inner Circle Membership Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way View Show Notes Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% ...
Nov 25, 2019•42 min•Season 1Ep. 195
Welcome to episode 194 of the LJS Podcast where today we take a look back in time at jazz history. We look into the different eras of jazz, the important musicians to listen to from them, and how the music evolved over time. Important Links: LJS Inner Circle Membership Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way View Show Notes Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!...
Nov 18, 2019•51 min•Season 1Ep. 194
Welcome to episode 193 of the LJS Podcast where today I take the often overwhelming and confusing world of jazz theory and make it simple. Jazz theory is often overcomplicated with way too much information and concepts that are unnecessary. I boil things down to the basics and help make things more understandable. Important Links: LJS Inner Circle Membership Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way View Show Notes Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off you...
Nov 11, 2019•51 min•Season 1Ep. 193
Welcome to episode 192 of the LJS Podcast where today I put myself on the spot and compose a jazz tune on the podcast. I had no pre-conceived ideas before recording, I just start going in real-time. See how I did and the tune I came up with in the end. Important Links: LJS Inner Circle Membership Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way View Show Notes Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!...
Nov 04, 2019•40 min•Season 1Ep. 192
Welcome to episode 191 of the LJS Podcast where today I walk you through a chords analysis of the popular jazz standard All the Things You Are. This tune is packed full of valuable lessons that will help you understand other jazz standards better and ultimately improve your improvisation skills. Important Links: LJS Inner Circle Membership Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way View Show Notes Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!...
Oct 28, 2019•28 min•Season 1Ep. 191
Welcome to episode 190 of the LJS Podcast where today I talk about how to get jazz gigs. One of the big goals for most musicians is to get out there and play. That's where the real fun and learning can happen. But how do you acquire those gigs? I go over three ways with different strategies for each to help you get out there and start performing. Important Links: LJS Inner Circle Membership Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way View Show Notes Learn Jazz Standa...
Oct 21, 2019•24 min•Season 1Ep. 190
Welcome to episode 189 of the LJS Podcast where today I have on special guest pianist and educator Brett Pontecorvo to talk about making time to practice and setting up a masterplan to achieve your musical goals. Not having time to practice is a common complaint, but this episode crushes that limiting belief and shows you a path to achieve more in your musical life. Important Links: LJS Inner Circle Membership Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way View Show Not...
Oct 14, 2019•46 min•Season 1Ep. 189
Welcome to episode 188 of the LJS Podcast where today I have on special guest jazz pianist Keelan Dimick to discuss the transformational moments in his musical development. Keelan is a jazz piano phenom and he opens up and shares his journey as a musician and the key points in his development. Important Links: LJS Inner Circle Membership Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way View Show Notes Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!...
Oct 07, 2019•52 min•Season 1Ep. 188
Welcome to episode 187 of the LJS Podcast where we conclude "Jazz Blues Month!" In this episode, I cover my philosophy on mastering musical material, and it especially applies to jazz blues. No, it's not a bunch of fancy licks, shortcuts, and hacks. It's a real process. I dig into that and how you can start taking action. Important Links: LJS Inner Circle Membership Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way View Show Notes Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50%...
Sep 30, 2019•29 min•Season 1Ep. 187
Welcome to episode 186 of the LJS Podcast where we continue onto week 3 of "Jazz Blues Month!" In this episode, I cover the 2nd strategy of this series which is understanding the 3 pillars of jazz blues language. Not only do we discuss what they are, I tell you what to practice and a few tools that can help for each. Important Links: LJS Inner Circle Membership Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way View Show Notes Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off ...
Sep 23, 2019•36 min•Season 1Ep. 186
Welcome to episode 185 of the LJS Podcast where we continue "Jazz Blues Month!" In this episode, I cover the first of 3 strategies I'll be covering on crushing it on a jazz blues. Strategy #1 is "Mapping", and I go over 3 phases of mapping over a jazz blues. After mapping, the mystery of what notes to play will be completely solved. Important Links: LJS Inner Circle Membership Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way View Show Notes Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circ...
Sep 16, 2019•36 min•Season 1Ep. 185
Welcome to episode 184 of the LJS Podcast where today we kick off "Jazz Blues Month!" In this episode, I discuss 3 reasons why you need to master the jazz blues. If you go deep into understanding and navigating a jazz blues it will unlock countless secrets for becoming a great jazz improviser. Here's why! Important Links: LJS Inner Circle Membership Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way View Show Notes Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first m...
Sep 09, 2019•28 min•Season 1Ep. 184
Welcome to episode 183 of the LJS Podcast where today we listen to two solos I've recorded in the past. We'll listen to one that I'm proud of and checks off the boxes of a good jazz solo, and we'll also listen to one I'm not so proud of. I analyze what made the good one good, and the bad one bad. Important Links: LJS Inner Circle Membership Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way View Show Notes Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!...
Sep 02, 2019•31 min•Season 1Ep. 183
Welcome to episode 182 of the LJS Podcast where today I have special guest Adam Levy on the show to talk about diminished harmony and how to start improvising over diminished 7th chords. If you've ever felt confused by diminished chords and how to approach them, consider this a must-listen episode. Important Links: LJS Inner Circle Membership Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way View Show Notes Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!...
Aug 26, 2019•56 min•Season 1Ep. 182
Welcome to episode 181 of the LJS Podcast where today I announce that I'm taking a break from jazz...for two weeks. But the fact that I'm taking a break does have some significance, and I want to explain the benefit of taking breaks for you and your musicianship. Important Links: LJS Inner Circle Membership Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way View Show Notes Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!...
Aug 19, 2019•9 min•Season 1Ep. 181
Welcome to episode 180 of the LJS Podcast where today I answer questions from the Learn Jazz Standards Community Facebook Group and YouTube channel. Lots of great jazz questions are answered over a wide range of topics. Important Links: LJS Inner Circle Membership Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way View Show Notes Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!...
Aug 12, 2019•38 min•Season 1Ep. 180
