February 21, 2017 
by
Debbie Burke 
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Composer/pianist/teacher Phillip Keveren, who earned musical pedigrees from Cal State U and the University of Southern California, was driven to re-interpret the fugues and cantatas of Bach into jazz. Why, one may ask? Phillip says to blame it on the Swingle Singers.
This early acapella group from the 1960s “sang” the classics. “They captured my imagination,” says Phillip. He decided to blend Bach and bop.
Have you always ‘heard’ classical through a jazz lens?
I have always loved jazz, and when I listen to classical music I am especially drawn to the harmonic progressions and colors.
January 24, 2017 No Comments 
Save up to 70% on select blues books through February 22, 2017 at jazzbooks.com. Includes the very popular Real Blues Book by Hal Leonard.
Getting started on the blues? Try “The Blues Scale” series where both the Blues scale and relative minor Blues scale are explained in detail and how they are used. Includes play along MP3 files with MIDI files available for use. Available for Piano/Keyboards, Tenor Sax, Alto Sax, Trumpet, Guitar, and Flute.
If you’re ready to play, the “Blues Play Along Beginner Series” might be something that peaks your interest. This series from Andrew D. Gordon features 30 12-bar blues play along tracks in Blues styles such as: Funky Blues, Boogie Blues, Jazz Blues, Minor Blues, Country Blues, Latin Blues, Old Time Jazz Blues, Jazz Swing Blues, Classic Blues Rock, Soulful Blues, Slow Blues and more. Available for Guitar, Flute, Tenor Sax, Alto Sax, and Piano/Keyboards.
January 17, 2017 No Comments 
Save 20% on a wide range of popular transcription books through January 22, 2017 at jazzbooks.com. Chet Baker, David Liebman, JJ Johnson, Dexter Gordon, Paul Chambers, John Coltrane, Stan Getz, Art Tatum, Benny Carter, Chris Botti, Oscar Peterson, Sonny Rollins, Thelonious Monk, Wayne Shorter, Bud Powell, Billy Taylor, Cannonball Adderley, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson … and so many more!
January 12, 2017 by
Debbie Burke No Comments 
Bob Bernotas might not be a jazzy household name, but he’s been writing about the genre for many years. With a successful monthly newsletter and as the host of a show by the same name on an East Coast college radio station, he’s dabbled in clarinet and sax but holds a soft spot for the trombone. In fact, Bernotas owns a Conn that was played in the Count Basie Orchestra.
His online newsletter is available free to subscribers (www.jazzbob.com). The content is mostly music with a substantial dose of politics and baseball thrown in. Readers will notice a particular penchant for Sinatra.
Bernotas is the author of Reed All About It: Interviews and Master Classes with Jazz’s Leading Reed Players and Top Brass: Interviews and Master Classes with Jazz’s Leading Brass Players. Read the full article …
December 27, 2016 1 Comment 
Professor of Music and Coordinator of Jazz Studies at William Paterson University, David Demsey, offers his insight on one of the newest and hottest Jamey Aebersold Jazz publications, “Saxophone Solos. Vol. 2: Modal Classics” by Tony DaGradi. This book and CD set is recommended for Intermediate and Advanced jazz saxophonists looking to expand their vocabulary and style and is a powerful followup to DaGradi’s previous Aebersold release, “Sax Solos Over Jazz Standards.”
 Patrick Fanning |  Jason Lindsey |  Debbie Burke |  Matt Eve |  Jamey Aebersold |
February 28, 2017 
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