The B Section

In part 2, Brett and Kevin discuss more legal considerations that pertain to recording. 

Charleston, SC based trumpet player and attorney Kevin Hackler joined the B Section to discuss what working musicians should know about how the law works to protect themselves. In part 1, Kevin and Brett discuss important information regarding contracts for gigs. 

Want to make your own bebop style lines? Chromaticism and devices such as enclosures can help you achieve this while also providing you with smooth voice leading.

Being able to play in odd meters is something that is often expected of the professional jazz musician. Plus, its fun! The two meters that come up the most are 5/4 and 7/4. Learning the most common groupings of the beats within each measure will help you get the hang of these odd time signatures. 

Rhythm changes is one of the bread and butter forms that all jazz musicians must be familiar with. In this episode, B Section host Brett Belanger breaks down the A sections into manageable pieces and then gradually adds complexity.

There are a lot of criteria that can be useful to consider when asking this question. Ultimately, situational awareness and keeping your ears open will answer most of them. Don’t overstay your welcome!

Using the example of C7sus, Brett explains a few ways to go about playing over this chord especially as a single-line instrument like bass. 

B section host Brett Belanger and friend of the podcast Jonathan Lovett scratch the surface of Chick Corea’s influence and contributions to the word. Rest In Peace, Chick. 

There are many reasons you might find yourself playing bass guitar on a straight ahead jazz gig. When this is the case, it can be beneficial to utilize these tricks to capture more of the double bass vibe to better suit the music.

Part 2 of my chat with Bob. Enjoy!

Season 2 is here! Kicking off the second season is an interview with Bob Lanzetti. Bob is a versatile musician and a great guy. In the interview, Bob discusses his start in music, the beginnings of Snarky Puppy, and what he has been up to as of late. 

The last episode of Season 1. Brett reflects on the first season of the podcast as well as 2020 in general. Season 2 coming in 2021!

While it may seem self explanatory, there are some things to keep in mind when asking musicians to play a gig. Communication is key! Be forthcoming with all the details you have to eliminate potential tension and to not waste anyone’s time.

Everyone wants more gigs right? The number one tip for getting work as a musician is networking. People rarely hire musicians purely based on skill level! Check out these tips for getting gigs.

B Section host Brett Belanger continues his discussion with Dr. Tim Fischer on pursuing higher education in jazz.

Tim Fischer reappears on The B Section to discuss getting higher degrees in the field of jazz. As someone who has earned his doctorate degree and has been teaching for some time at the college level, Tim is well versed in this area. This part one of our conversations. 

2020 has given all of us more time to practice. In this episode, B Section Host Brett Belanger discusses what he has been practicing lately. 

The concept of what makes something swing is not only subjective but also rather abstract. That being said, we as jazz musicians generally know it when we hear it! In this episode, Brett goes through some different considerations when learning how to swing.

Playing on just one chord for an extended period can actually be trickier than it seems. If you just play within the corresponding scale, you might run out of ideas and it can lead to a boring solo. In this episode, Brett gives you some ideas to generate more harmonic motion when playing on one chord.

The 2 feel is an important element of swing. It sets the groundwork for the 4/4 swing that often comes later. While simple in theory, there are some things to consider when developing a good 2 feel.