[JL]

All great stuff as usual, Randy. And so very well presented! Thanks for all these helpful clips. And great playing, by the way.

p.s. Just watched the video above on licks. What you describe toward the end of that clip regarding different ways to take a lick and vary it, is absolutely what it's all about, imo. "Licks" sometimes get a bad rap because they might be too formulaic or used to simply "plug and play", but if you use them as a jumping off point for countless variations, then you're using them in an extremely creative way, and end up creating your own personal 'vocabulary'.

By the way, that variation you played at 8:55 can be found in the head to "Bessie's Blues" by Coltrane (where he goes to the 'quick four'). He might not have had the grace note in there, but it's very similar.

 

[Randy Hunter]

Just watched the video above on licks. What you describe toward the end of that clip regarding different ways to take a lick and vary it, is absolutely what it's all about, imo. "Licks" sometimes get a bad rap because they might be too formulaic or used to simply "plug and play", but if you use them as a jumping off point for countless variations, then you're using them in an extremely creative way, and end up creating your own personal 'vocabulary'.

By the way, that variation you played at 8:55 can be found in the head to "Bessie's Blues" by Coltrane (where he goes to the 'quick four'). He might not have had the grace note in there, but it's very similar.

Thanks JL! I'm glad you enjoyed the video and I always look forward to your feedback. I agree; I think you get the most out of licks when you work with variations and fragments. That's when they start to become vocabulary rather than just, well, licks. It's all about studying the language and gaining creative fluency with it.

And yes, I did realize that Bessie's Blues was in there. What a great blues head!

Thanks again, Brother!

 

[Randy Hunter]

I've posted a new set in my Quick Tunes series. Set 7 includes lessons on Song for my Father, Killer Joe, and How High the Moon/Ornithology. All instruction is transposed for tenor sax, alto sax, and concert pitch instruments. Written instruction, video instruction, video demonstrations, play-along tracks, and I Play-You Play videos are included for each tune in this set. The video below gives a few samples. I hope you'll pop in on my website and check things out! Lessons can be purchased at Online | Lessons | Playing | Jazz Saxophone for Beginners and I have monthly subscriptions to everything at Randy Hunter Jazz Subscription

Thanks so much!

Randy Hunter

 

[Randy Hunter]

I'm working on a new lesson series on Tritone substitutions on my subscription site. Here's a brief YouTube video called Rhythm Changes and the Tritone Sub. I hope you enjoy it.

Randy Hunter
Online | Lessons | Playing | Jazz Saxophone for Beginners - Jazz Improv & Beginning Sax Lessons
Randy Hunter Jazz Subscription - Monthly Online Lesson Subscriptions

 

[Randy Hunter]

Here's a sample from the newest lesson in my Sound and Style category at Online | Lessons | Playing | Jazz Saxophone for Beginners. In this one I share a technique for using blues sounds on a variety of chords. The progression from There Will Never Be Another You is the basis for the lesson, but the approach can be applied to most tunes that use functional chord progressions.

Randy Hunter
Online | Lessons | Playing | Jazz Saxophone for Beginners - Jazz Improv & Beginning Sax Lessons

Randy Hunter Jazz Subscription - Monthly Online Lesson Subscriptions