Seven Steps to Heaven Guest Post by Brent Jensen, Part 3

June 18, 2010 in Blog, Learning Jazz

Here is part 3 of Brent Jensen’s Video series on learning tunes.

Brent Jensen’s Recordings

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Feel free to listen to some of this awesome material Brent recorded. He’s got some great stuff! It’s just fun to hear a sample of what he has recorded. Also, any purchases of these songs or albums made through this site will help Brent …

Seven Steps to Heaven Guest Post by Brent Jensen Part 2

June 17, 2010 in Blog, Learning Jazz

Brent Jensen, Origin Saxophone Recording Artist and Professor of Jazz Studies at the College of Southern Idaho, tells us how he approaches learning tunes.  This is his third video in the series (Part 1 has two parts).  The original handout is also below as well as text and a .pdf document. Enjoy! Make sure to check out all of Brent’s …

Solo Transcriptions

June 16, 2010 in Solo Transcriptions

Transcriptions done by www.Learnjazzstandards.com

Miles Davis-So What

Click here to practice So What

(includes transcription)

Charlie Parker-Blues for Alice

Click Here for the Transcription

Sonny Rollins-St. Thomas

Click Here for the Transcription

User Submissions

Miles Davis-Freddie Freeloader-Submitted by Brent Vaartstra
Miles Davis Freddie Freeloader Solo

Click here to practice Freddie Freeloader…

In a Mellow Tone

June 16, 2010 in Jazz Originals, Jazz Standards, Swing Era & Dixieland

This is such a great standard when done right. However, “In a Mellow Tone” Don’t Mean a Thing, If It Ain’t Got that Swing! Listen to the way Dizzy and his group does it. What a burnin’ chart! I changed the way I do my play alongs today, and I’d like some comments. See if you like it better. I …

Seven Steps to Heaven-VIDEO by Brent Jensen, Step 1 (B)

June 15, 2010 in Blog, Learning Jazz

Here’s the rest of the video Brent Jensen, Origin Records recording artist and Professor of Jazz, did to explain step one of his Seven Steps to Heaven handout on learning and mastering tunes.  Enjoy!

Brent Jensen’s Recordings

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Brent has made some awesome recordings! It’s just fun to hear a sample of what he has recorded. Also, any purchases of …

Seven Steps to Heaven-VIDEO Guest Post by Brent Jensen! Step 1 (A)

June 14, 2010 in Blog, Learning Jazz

Brent Jensen, Professor of Jazz at the College of Southern Idaho and saxophone recording artist for Origin Records, has graciously done a handout for us explaining how to improve your improvisation. He also explains several of the steps in videos! Here’s Step 1 (A). Stay posted for more videos!

Brent Jensen’s Recordings

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Feel free to listen to some of …

Ceora by Lee Morgan

June 12, 2010 in Jazz Originals, Jazz Standards, Latin Jazz

This is a great little jazz original by Lee Morgan. It’s in the Real Book, and is a great bossa nova, but it’s a bit tricky. The melody in the Real Book on measure 32 is correct, but they play it ONLY ON THE LAST TIME THROUGH. The first time through the head, the band plays a simpler version of …

My Little Suede Shoes by Charlie Parker

June 11, 2010 in Jazz Originals, Jazz Standards

My Little Suede Shoes is a very catchy, lyrical tune.  It’s one of the most accessible tunes Bird wrote.  Many of his tunes had angular melodies that some people  unaccustomed to bebop have a tough time following (not you or I, of course, but some listeners have a tough time with bebop.  Try singing Donna Lee…).  However, this is a …

44 Essential Jazz Recordings-Guest Post by Brent Jensen

June 10, 2010 in Jazz Recordings

Brent Jensen is the Director of Jazz Studies at the College of Southern Idaho.  He is also an amazing saxophonist and recording artist for Origin Records.  Here is his first of several upcoming guest posts by Prof. Jensen on our site.

Brent has websites you can go check out! I’ve included the links right under his post.

44 ESSENTIAL JAZZ …

So What-with Miles Davis Solo Transcription

June 9, 2010 in Jazz Standards

This jazz standard is the first tune on Miles Davis’ classic record, “Kind of Blue.”  It’s the top jazz album of all time as measured by sales.  It’s sold over 20 million copies, and still sells about 5,000 copies a week.  And it was recorded in 1959.  You should listen to it.  A lot.  It’s one of the most important …