Jazz Theory and Improvisation Workshop

Videos of Performanceat Smalls

2012-02-01T16:48:00.000-05:00

Here the first of 2 videos of the theory class performance at smalls

MRMr Knight & Autumn Leaves

All the things you are & Lady Bird

We have a set for sunday.

2012-01-24T23:15:00.000-05:00

It is great to hear how everybody in the group is stepping it up. I am very excited to hear them perform sunday, they worked hard, with as result a beautiful set of music. Smalls, here we come.

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Getting it together!

2012-01-17T23:24:00.000-05:00

Getting a set of music together and made a little playbook on who solo's where. And a nice arrangement on Mr. Knight from John Coltrane. We have one more week to clean things up. Looking forward to hear the workshop perform in two weeks. And, Albert proved for once and for all that you can play you horn after a wine tasting. Glad we got that cleared up:)

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Back in the mix

2012-01-11T00:30:00.000-05:00

After a small holiday break we are back on track and getting ready for the performance at smalls on the 29th. We warmed up with sight-singing diads, played through some ii V melodies in all keys, warmed up with the modes and got started with Blues for Alice. We analysed the changes, worked on the melody and everybody took a solo. We also touched upon All the things you are and Ladybird. We are getting it together.

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Dec 20, ii V sequence.

2011-12-21T00:09:00.000-05:00

We warmed up with two and three whole note interval eartraining, equivelant to major 3rds and sharp 4ths. From there we moved on to a ii V sequence through all keys, sightsinging, chordtones only. We explored different options how to create more freedom over these changes and we related it to Lennie Tristano and his school of thought. We also briefly discussed the diminished scale and its four contexts. Plus we worked on All the things you are and Blues for Alice. Great class

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Dec 13 workshop

2011-12-14T09:19:00.000-05:00

We started with major and minor thirds, with special attention to descending from the third to the root. This was followed by sightsinging over a ii V I progression with emphasis on the melody-chord relationship. After this we put it to the test on our instruments first focusing on chord-tones in random order. We continued with All the Things you are, a great Jerome Kern tune. We analysed the changes and talked about the fact that each note in the chromatic scale is represented in this tune with a chord, a possible lead to 12 tone technique. There is also a verse to this tune, written in 1939. We ended the workshop with Ladybird. Everbody is progressing nicely.

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Workshop Dec 6

2011-12-06T23:44:00.003-05:00

Great class today, the ears are getting sharper. Students are getting better in defining half-steps.
Next week we are moving on to ii V I sightsinging, and playing the progression on instruments. We have also checked out "The Real McCoy", a fantastic album that includes Elvin, Joe Henderson , Ron Carter and of course McCoy Tyner.

Marc Mommaas

We listened to Blues on the Corner, checked out McCoys R.H. and the interaction between Ron. and Elvin. What a jewel of a record, groundbreaking and an important staple in the development of the jazz language. We are also working on "All the things you are, a great classic. Plus, we have come up with a setlist for the gig at Smalls in January.

Olivia

Albert

Jerry & Ryan

Ted

John

2011-12-03T12:32:00.001-05:00

Welcome to the blog of the New York Jazz Workshop's Jazz Theory and Improvisation class lead by Marc Mommaas.