Tag: jazz repertoire

Playing without the dots

  Why you should memorise tunes Sheet music is just information, it’s not the music itself. The more you read what’s in front of you the less head room you’ll have for creativity. Playing without the dots opens up your ears! Which tunes should  I learn? This, of course, is very much up to you.… Read more »

essential jazz standards part 3

Here’s my final list of suggestions for your jazz repertoire. These are all essential jazz standards that you should become familiar with. Although I’ve listed 14 tunes, I suggest you at least learn What Is This Thing Called Love, Softly As In A Morning Sunrise and Yesterdays. For more of a challenge, take a look… Read more »

Building a Jazz Repertoire part 1: The Blues

Building a Jazz Repertoire part 1:17 essential blues tunes. When building a jazz repertoire there’s no better place to start than with the blues. Notice that blues compositions are not confined to the jazz musicians that we associate  with the genre. We have everyone here from Miles Davis and Charlie Parker to Mingus and Monk. The… Read more »