HOW DO YOU KNOW HOW WELL YOU PLAY JAZZ?

You don't, unless someone tells you.

Praise could be from a member of the audience, that is always so appreciated, could be from a tutor. It could be from another band member, and you really appreciate that. As a performing artist, when you get praise, wow, does that make you feel good! When you get occasional criticism that burns you up for days.

I've just sent an email to Terry Seabrook, thanking him for the jazz funk workshop he did with us, and also for writing a brilliant arrangement of The Sidewinder for us. That man is absolutely brilliant at what he does. He has made our jazz what it is.

We had a jazz concert last Friday and it was outstanding, the way the band played. The two girl singers were wonderful together, we all interacted with everyone else in the band. First time we had ever played most of the songs in public. Absolutely fabulous night - and yes some of the audience came up and said so. Yes, I emailed everyone and told them, individually as well.

I'm naturally inclined to say nice things if I honestly can do so. But I never say anything if I don't mean it. If you say things are good and you don't mean it then it is just crummy - and people know. If I feel critical then I say nothing. (You have to read between the lines). I might say something, but it would be face-to-face and there would be a purpose in doing so.

I have just sent an email from all of us to Terry thanking him for the work he has done with us. I know he will appreciate it, anyone would. If I am at the Snowdrop pub to-night when Terry's session ends I will say something to each musician if I think they are good. They will be. They always are.

QUESTION FOR EACH OF YOU PLAYERS.
When was the last time another player said how well you played? And when was the last time you told someone else how well they played as opposed to just thanking them for playing?

People have different levels of performance, the key is whether they play at the top, or beyond, their usual level of performance. It is not about whether they are the best in the world.

COULD YOU PLAY BETTER?
Yes, if you practise. What will make you practise harder? Praise.

John
ps. Some individuals in our lovely band have often thanked me for putting in all the effort to get them gigs and organise things - Vic did the other day. They are really really nice. Thanks for that boys and girls.

But I have no idea of whether I'm playing ok, or whether I'm just tolerated. Ok, so a bit of moaning can't do much harm......but maybe they are trying to tell me something if I read between the lines.


Our guitar man Dave told me about this CD. Jim Hall's trio. The guitar and piano are exchanging fours at the end and copying/feeding each other. Really nice sound. You, know this other business of playing and repeating patterns - which is what this is - must have been post bebop. It is in the mid 50's jazz onwards.

Has anyone got any other CDs where they do this? Tell me?
Ps. Dave is as good as Jim Hall was. I mean it.

The Jazz Smugglers bands in Sussex
The Jazz Smugglers workshop, Bosham, Sussex

This site is to help the Jazz smugglers workshop group and provide information about the following weeks work. We will be working on widening our range of playing styles as individuals, working together in a band, and practising the more difficult things. You need to be able to read.

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In this blog we will produce tips for jazz piano, and jazz guitar together with jazz saxophone. We will cover jazz chords, jazz guitar chords, and we will deal with jazz scales. We will cover jazz songs. This site is all about jazz improvisation. you can sign up directly to this blog site as a FOLLOWER, bottom rh side panel, you'll get all the posts.