duke ellington

Lockdown dance parties, loosening the Nutcracker's limbs, finding space to breathe. The songwriter and saxophonist discusses three important albums.

Ashley's picks:

Jonathan Richman – I, Jonathan
Duke Ellington – The Nutcracker Suite
Joshua Abrams & Natural Information Society – Mandatory Reality

Ashley's excellent new record, Ray, is out now on Slip. Check it out on Bandcamp. A few tracks are previewing on The Wire too.

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In this episode of Jazz South Spotlight, Kevin Le Gendre speaks to vocalist and band leader Kate Westbrook, of Kate Westbrook and The Granite Band.

Kevin and Kate discuss how the band have adapted to working and recording in lockdown, the origins of the band's name and capturing the sounds of the Dartmoor quarries on their album. Plus, they discuss the The Granite Band's new music commission for Jazz South, Says The Duke, a celebration and tribute to the great Duke Ellington, and memories of seeing the late, great musician in London nearly 50 years ago, a seminal evening for Kate.

The Granite Band is: Kate Westbrook - voice; Roz Harding - saxophone; Jesse Molins - guitar; Matthew North - guitar; Billie Bottle - electric bass; Mike Westbrook - piano/keyboards - Coach York drums.

'"Granite' stands out as one of the greatest British jazz records in recent years and it does so by means of a cross-generational band that knows nothing about musical styles, just outstanding music." Francisco Macias (writer)

Jazz South Spotlight is a new podcast series shining a light on outstanding jazz talent from the South of England. Over 6 episodes Kevin Le Gendre will be meeting six bands selected and commissioned by Jazz South to each write a new piece of music in 2020 as a reimagining of their original live performance programme.

To listen to Kate Westbrook and The Granite Band's new piece, Says The Duke, in full, visit: www.jazzsouth.org.uk/spotlightpodcasts.

In this third podcast on some of the best-reviewed jazz of the 2010's that we missed first time 'round, the boys look at four albums that 'borrow' something, whether inspiration from a sci-fi author, jazz protests of the sixties, or jazz greats of the past such as Charlie Parker or Duke Ellington.   It's a light pop matters segment this time but little known indie band The Bolshoi and Italian horror soundtrack maestros Goblin do get a mention.  Delfeayo Marsalis – SWEET THUNDER; Irreversible Entanglements – IRREVERSABLE ENTANGLEMENTS; Nichole Mitchell – MANDORLA AWAKENING II:  EMERGING WORLDS; Rudresh Mahanthappa – BIRD CALLS.  

Welcome to JazzPianoSkills; it's time to discover, learn, and play Jazz Piano!

Every JazzPianoSkills weekly podcast episode introduces aspiring jazz pianists to essential Jazz Piano Skills. Each Podcast episode explores a specific Jazz Piano Skill in depth. Today you will discover, learn, play Duke Ellington's C-Jam Blues. In this Jazz Piano Lesson you will:

Discover
Duke Ellington's C-Jam Blues
Learn
How to the Minor Blues Scale when playing Duke Ellington's C-Jam Blues
Play
Various regions of the Minor Blues Scale for developing improvisational skills when playing Duke Ellington's C-Jam Blues

For maximum musical growth, be sure to use the Jazz Piano Podcast Packets for this Jazz Piano Lesson. All three Podcast Packets are designed to help you gain insight and command of a specific Jazz Piano Skill. The Podcast Packets are invaluable educational tools to have at your fingertips while studying and practicing Duke Ellington's C-Jam Blues.

Download Podcast Packets
Illustrations
(detailed graphics of the jazz piano skill)
Lead Sheets
(beautifully notated music lead sheets)
Play Alongs
(ensemble assistance and practice tips)

EPISODE OUTLINE:
Introduction
Discover, Learn, Play
Invite to Join JazzPianoSkills

Demo 1
C-Jam Blues (The Progression)
BPM = 140

Demo 2
C-Jam Blues (with Minor Blues Scale)
BPM = 140

Demo 1
C-Jam Blues (Root to 7th)
BPM = 140
Jazz Improvisation

Demo 3
C-Jam Blues (b3rd to Root)
BPM = 140
Jazz Improvisation

Demo 4
C-Jam Blues (5th to #11)
BPM = 140
Jazz Improvisation

Demo 5
C-Jam Blues (b7th to 5th)
BPM = 140
Jazz Improvisation

Demo 7
C-Jam Blues (Open Range)
BPM = 180
Jazz Improvisation

Conclusion
Closing Comments

Visit JazzPianoSkills for more educational resources that include a sequential curriculum with interactive Jazz Piano Courses, private and group online Jazz Piano Classes, and a private jazz piano community Jazz Piano Forums.

If you wish to support JazzPianoSkills with a donation you can do so easily through the JazzPianoSkills Paypal Account.

Thank you for being a JazzPianoSkills listener. It is my pleasure to help you discover, learn, and play jazz piano!

Ya want big bands?  We got big bands.  Sometimes we got one in each speaker.  In this exploration of the more extroverted side of jazz, the boys explore works by a blazing trumpet player (and world-class womanizer), a so-so clarinetist with a heart of gold, two piano-playing band leaders who both worship Duke Ellington, and two (but it sounds like thirty) major-league skin-pounders.  Much musing on the glory days of fifteen musicians criss-crossing the nation via bus results, and there's just time left to discuss Wilco, Carl Wilson and . . . Celine Dion?   Buddy Rich and Max Roach – RICH VS. ROACH; Duke Ellington and Count Basie – FIRST TIME! THE COUNT MEETS THE DUKE; Woody Herman – COMPLETE COLUMBIA RECORDINGS DISC 7; Harry James – TRUMPET BLUES – THE BEST OF HARRY JAMES. 

Welcome to JazzPianoSkills; a unique Jazz Piano Program dedicated to introducing aspiring jazz pianists to essential Jazz Piano skills. Each Podcast Episode will help you successfully Discover, Learn, and Play a specific Jazz Piano skill.

This Jazz Piano Lesson will help you Discover, Learn, Play the classic jazz standard by Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington, "Take the 'A' Train". In this jazz piano lesson you will:

1. Discover: The classic jazz standard "Take the 'A' Train"
2. Learn: How to methodically practice "Take the 'A' Train" 
3. Play: "Take the 'A' Train" using correct chord/scale relationships

For maximum musical growth, be sure to download the Podcast Guides for this Jazz Piano Lesson.

• Illustrations (detailed graphics of Chords, Scales, Arpeggios)
• Lead Sheets (sheet music with Chords, Scales, Arpeggios)
• Play Along Tracks (with Practice Tips and various tempos)
• Bundle (get all three Podcast Guides!)

All three Podcast Guides are designed to help you gain a functional command of the "Take the 'A' Train". The Podcast Guides are invaluable educational tools to have at your side and finger-tips while studying and practicing JazzPianoSkills.

You can listen to this Podcast Episode at JazzPianoSkills and have access to the SpeakPipe Widget that allows you to speak immediately and directly to Dr. Bob Lawrence. Ask your questions, get answers, and interact one-on-one with Dr. Lawrence.

Episode OUTLINE:

1. Discover
   1. Take The ‘A’ Train
      1. Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn
      2. Tune Architecture
         1. Form: AABA
         2. Key: C
         3. Chord Progression
            1. A Section
            2. B Section
2. Learn
   1. Chord Changes In Time for "Take the 'A' Train"
      1. Left Hand Voicing Only
      2. Two-Handed Voicing
   2. Learn the Melody for "Take the 'A' Train"
      1. Using your ear - no fakebook
3. Play
   1. Chord Changes in Left Hand for "Take the 'A' Train" with:
      1. With Melody Only
      2. With Arpeggios in Right Hand
      3. With Scales in Right Hand
   2. Improvise over the chord changes for "Take the 'A' Train"
      1. “A” Section
         1. Arpeggios Only (no reference to the melody)
         2. Scales Only (no reference to the melody)
      2. “B” Section
         1. Arpeggios Only (no reference to the melody)
         2. Scales Only (no reference to the melody)
      3. The entire form of "Take the 'A' Train" using
         1. Melody
         2. Arpeggio Motion
         3. Scale Motion
         4. Patterns

Visit JazzPianoSkills.com for a comprehensive curriculum of jazz piano courses & lessons exploring essential jazz piano skills used by professional jazz pianists.

Thanks for being a JPS Podcast listener.

We continue our Comfort Music series with Oliver and discuss his five favorite comfort albums. We talk about the often overlooked genius of Labi Siffre, the intimacy of Duke Ellington's compositions, and how Tribe helped Oliver get through the tough times.

Show Tracklisting: 

• Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong: April in Paris
• Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong: Isn't This A Lovely Day?
• Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong: Under a Blanket of Blues
• Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong: The Nearness of You
• Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong: Moonlight in Vermont
• Duke Ellington: Solitude
• Duke Ellington: Where or When
• Duke Ellington: Willow Weep For Me
• Labi Siffre: Gimme Some More
• Labi Siffre: I Got  The...
• Labi Siffre: Cannock Chase
• A Tribe Called Quest: Electric Relaxation
• A Tribe Called Quest: God Lives Through
• A Tribe Called Quest: Award Tour
• Frank Ocean: Pink + White
• Frank Ocean: Nikes
• Frank Ocean: Seigfried
• Frank Ocean: White Ferrari

Here is the Spotify playlist of as many songs as we can find there

If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

Charlie Christian from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma only had 25 years on this earth his revolutionary single string style of play would go on to influence generations of Electric Guitar Players.

IT'S A GOOD DAY FOR THE RESISTANCE when jazz titan and outspoken wrestling fan MATT SHIPP joins Arts & Seizures for a Superbowl Sunday smackdown! There will be no quarter given and no holds barred as we discuss Radical Leftwing Pianoism and the Future of the Republic. Count on high-minded hijinks and old-fashioned anti-establishment outrage! As ever, live Sunday at 2 pm on www.heritageradionetwork.org - it is the Fastest Half Hour on the Internet Today!!!