Jazz Band

A native of Memphis, Tennessee, first gained wide notice in the mid-‘80s through a partnership with Bob James. That collaboration produced 3 well-received albums, including his 1988 break-through outing, And You Know That!
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Perhaps you've been thinking of starting a jazz band, but are not sure how to do it or even if it's worthwhile. Jazz bands can accommodate students with diverse levels of skill, and they provide the only popular medium in which…
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Jazz musicians have kept improvisation alive and well over the past century. Any good jazz history book will tell you how jazz began in New Orleans in humble beginnings and gradually branched out to encompass the world.
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Unfortunately today, many music educators are not necessarily trained or familiar with how to utilize the plethora of the incredible teaching materials since the 1960's when college jazz degrees first became prominent and since the 1970's…
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This article dedicated to any player or teacher who is interested in improvisation. Beginners will find some helpful ideas here about how to construct an interesting solo. Advanced players will probably know everything in this article, but…
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"All dressed up and nowhere to go" hints at a long-standing dilemma in jazz education. We are blessed with a plethora of incredible teaching materials that too often remain unknown or gather dust.
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One of the great things about being an adult amateur with a serious day job is that you probably have some disposable income that you can spend on your hobby. I say go ahead and spend it; have fun and buy what you want. You deserve it.
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Ever get confused about purchasing jazz band music for your music program that best meets the needs of your ensembles? Although there are six levels of difficulty level to consider first, knowing the range requirements for each brass…
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Computers, tablets, smartphones, DVDs. CDs are all great learning tools. Let's look at how our students can maximize learning and fun in their jazz playing experience. Perhaps the most user-friendly, interactive practice experience is with…
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Most musicians are familiar with the expression for practicing known as, "wood shedding," a.k.a. "shedding" for short. When I was a student at the University of North Texas, the lower level players were referred to as "lizards" because…
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