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Easy Ways to Improvise Using Jazz Classics.
I’ve always loved to listen to jazz & I love to play jazz but with my busy schedule I’ve had very few opportunities to play jazz live.
With my Classical Guitar practice, running the Music Academy, my own teaching, the “Guitar Heroes” project (which was my exploration of Classic Rock) and doing the lessons and interviews for Australian Guitar Magazine, I’ve always been busy, but I would still find time each day to improvise in a jazz context.
That’s what “Green Dolphin St” is all about – it is a vehicle for improvisation.
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This Is How I Build My Guitar Improvisation
In my arrangement of Green Dolphin St there is an improvised solo in the middle where I use the chord progression of the tune as a stimulus for the improvisation. I then play the melody again to round things out.
In the arrangement I incorporate the melody, chord progression and a bass part where I imitate the walking bass lines of jazz bass players. But above all it’s a vehicle for improvisation.
The song itself, Green Dolphin St, is a pop song that had been used in a hit Hollywood movie. The song became a standard & many of the greats of jazz players like Miles Davis, John Coltrane & Sonny Rollins have played & recorded it. I always loved Joe Pass playing it on solo guitar so it’s definitely a favourite of mine.
I hope you enjoy and look forward to hearing any comments!
Steve.
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