Learn Jazz Standards Podcast

Welcome to episode 244 where today I go over 3 common roadblocks I hear about from intermediate jazz musicians. These roadblocks can make these musicians feel like they are stuck on a plateau and unable to move forward in their progress. I discuss one action item for each roadblock to help you move past them. If you've been at this jazz thing for a while and would consider yourself in the int...

Welcome to episode 243 where today I reveal my top 10 favorite jazz albums of all time. These albums are ones that I have come back to time and time again, and think you should check out as well. I go over 5 older jazz albums and 5 modern jazz albums I absolutely love. I had someone in our Learn Jazz Standards Facebook group recently ask me, "Hey Brent, what are your favorite jazz albums of a...

Welcome to episode 242 where today we conclude with our final episode of Minor Blues Month!  In this episode, I share with you my in-depth practice plan for mastering a minor blues. I'll walk you through all of the material I work through, how to organize it, and a step-by-step practice plan. Get out your notes, this is a meaty one! Today is the final episode of Minor Blues Month on the LJS p...

Welcome to episode 241 where today we are diving into Strategy #3 of Minor Blues Month! In the last episode, we pick up where we left off with an etude that was re-composed to add chord tones and scales. This time we implement bebop language utilizing enclosure and chromaticsm to take it to the next level. It's episode 3 of Minor Blues Month here on the LJS podcast where I've been going...

Welcome to episode 240 where today we are diving into Strategy #2 of Minor Blues Month! In the last episode, we composed a 12-bar minor blues using the minor pentatonic and blues scale almost exclusively. This time we build on that etude by incorporating chord tones and a few scales to level up the jazz in our minor blues. This is our second episode for Minor Blues Month here where we are going ov...

Welcome to episode 239 of the LJS Podcast where today we kick off "Minor Blues Month" on the podcast! We'll be uncovering 3 strategies for improvising over a minor blues and then my master practice plan for dominating a minor blues. Today is Strategy #1: Minor Pentatonics and "Blues Scales."Listen to episode 239October 2020 is Minor Blues Month here on the LJS podcast wher...

Welcome to episode 238 of the LJS Podcast where today I sit down and learn the first A section of a jazz etude I've been wanting to learn. Listen in as I walk through my process for learning a jazz solo by ear off of a recording. You'll find observing the process helpful as well as learning some awesome jazz lines to try out for yourself. Have you ever heard a jazz solo and after you hea...

Welcome to episode 237 of the LJS Podcast where today I share a masterclass I am taking out of the vault about listening to jazz. The way we listen to jazz can dictate how much we actually get out of it when we listen. As jazz musicians, listening can be one of our best forms of practice if we approach it mindfully. When you listen to jazz, what are you hearing? What are you listening for? What ki...

Welcome to episode 236 of the LJS Podcast where today I show you a simple technique that will help you take your jazz ballad playing to the next level. One of the challenges of playing ballads is the slow tempo and chords that seem to last forever. Side step 2-5's will help you add more harmonic movement and have you sounding like a pro. Ballads can be some of the more difficult jazz standard...

Welcome to episode 235 of the LJS Podcast where today I put you to the test. Instead of the regular format of tips and tricks for becoming a better jazz musician, we're doing an ear training intervals quiz and I want to see how well you do. Today's episode is a bit more of an experimental episode where I am going to be putting you to the test. We are going to be going outside of our norm...

Welcome to episode 234 of the LJS Podcast where today I give a quick lecture on the importance of having fun when you practice. Of course, having fun should be the center of why we practice and want to improve. But having fun when you practice can also lead to quicker results in your jazz playing. Today's episode is probably the shortest in LJS podcast history, but that's because I want...

Welcome to episode 233 of the LJS Podcast where today I show you 4 jazz blues licks that I know you're going to love. We listen to them and I explain what makes them work and sound so great. Prepare to have your face melted. Now if you're an avid listener of the LJS podcast, you may have heard me talk a lot about the blues before and how I believe that the blues is a really great song fo...

Welcome to episode 232 of the LJS Podcast where today I talk about the 6 biggest mistakes I see beginner jazz musicians make. Having helped thousands of students through Learn Jazz Standards, I've discovered common mistakes that come up time and time again. Intermediate and advanced players make these mistakes too. I reveal them as well as some alternatives to correct your course. Over the la...

Welcome to episode 231 of the LJS Podcast where today I feature a chapter reading from my book "Jazz Improvisation Made Simple" where I discuss establishing your "why" and setting goals for your jazz playing. Establishing your why will help you keep anchored when the going gets tough or you feel like you are in a plateau. If you're a long-term listener of the LJS podcast,...

Welcome to episode 230 of the LJS Podcast where today I go over my 3 step LIT Process for learning and applying jazz licks. Learning licks and then copy/pasting them into your solos rarely sounds natural, so we need to learn and apply them in a way that allows them to come out organically and expressed our own way. I've got a question for you. Have you ever learned a jazz lick, maybe off of a...

Welcome to episode 229 of the LJS Podcast where today I have on special guest Brett Pontecorvo to teach us how to properly use scales to build great solos. Scales are useful tools, but if applied in an un-musical way, can be problematic. Brett walks us through some solid tips for taking vanilla scales and developing them into melodic masterpieces. Scales are a classic way to get started with impro...

Welcome to episode 228 of the LJS Podcast where today I teach you a few principles and techniques that will help you play "outside" of the changes without it sounding avante garde or playing wrong notes. I use a lick from an etude in our Inner Circle membership as an example. Have you ever listened to a jazz recording and suddenly the soloist that you're listening to starts going ou...

Welcome to episode 227 of the LJS Podcast where today we cover 3 practice habits for retaining musical material. It can be frustrating when you learn a jazz standard, solo, or lick, only to forget it later. In this episode, I introduce some practice habits that can be helpful for long-term retention and set you up for success. It can be tough when we are learning a new jazz language, new jazz stan...

Welcome to episode 226 of the LJS Podcast where today we cover the very important topic of ending jazz standards. Ever come to the end of jamming on a standard only for things to fall apart at the end? We all need some stock endings in our arsenal, and in today’s episode, I go over 7 different endings you can use to conclude jazz standards. In this episode: 1. Take the A Train ending 2. Count Basi...

Welcome to episode 225 of the LJS Podcast where today I answer a question that I get asked quite often: when do I stop practicing something I'm working on and move on to something else? Often we get overly concerned about mastery and perfection, which can lead to getting stuck. Learn when you know something "good enough" and why you may want to move on even if things aren't per...

Welcome to episode 224 of the LJS Podcast where today I learn a new jazz standard in real-time on the show. If you'll join with me you'll know a new jazz standard by the end as well. You'll see how I approach learning a jazz standard by ear, no filters, no edits. You know, I love a lot of things about jazz music, like I love the improv, I love the creativity, I love the challenge it...

Welcome to episode 223 of the LJS Podcast where today we go over three music theory concepts in the jazz standard On the Sunny Side of the Street that can be helpful for improvising on standards in general. I discuss the three concepts as well as a few different ideas on how to approach them in your solos. I don't know about you, but whenever I work on a jazz standard or learn a new jazz stan...

Welcome to episode 222 of the LJS Podcast where today we have on special guest Kyle Younger on the show to discuss the history of jazz and its ties to the racial oppression of the African American community. Jazz is African American music, and we cannot understand or play this music without recognizing the oppression of those who created this music. When we play jazz music and when we practice jaz...

Welcome to episode 221 of the LJS Podcast where today in celebration of the launch of my new LJS Inner Circle Membership, I go over my 3 step proven process for "improv hacking" jazz standards. This is one of those episode that has so much value packed into it, I know you'll be reaching for your notepad! From time to time on this podcast, I like to come out with a super high-value e...

Welcome to episode 220 of the LJS Podcast where today I talk about how working on less is oftentimes the best way to improve as a jazz musician quickly. It seems counterintuitive to many that practicing less stuff (or even for less time) will produce greater results in your playing. But in this episode I share what will make the biggest differences, and how to apply a less is more strategy. Have y...