What Do Marsalis, Potter, Maestro, and Asato Have in Common? Musical Truth Nuggets.
A Saxophonist from South Carolina and a Pianist from Israel Step Onto a Stage
Even though I talk about and teach jazz just about every day, I've taken a break from listening to it lately.
But the other day, a YouTube video caught my eye: Shai Maestro & Chris Potter performing "All The Things You Are."
Shai Maestro? We were at Berklee's jazz camp together. Even then, he was a monster on the keys. And Chris Potter? He's one of the best saxophonists of all time. Absolutely blows my mind every time I hear him.
But "All The Things You Are?"
Really?
It's one of those jazz standards that's so common, it's practically a cliché.
Call it at a jam session and you're bound to hear someone on the bandstand groan, "Not againnnn."
But if there's anyone, ANYONE, who could turn that tune into something fresh, it's a duo performance by Chris Potter and Shai Maestro.
And, spoiler alert, they did. Truth is, "fresh" doesn't even begin to cut it. It's an extraordinary performance.
The video is 10 minutes and four seconds. Listen to the whole thing. It will give you goosebumps:
How to Make Music That People Want to Listen to over and over Again
I fell down another YouTube rabbit hole this week (I know, it happens more often than I'd like to admit).
This time, it wasn't even a video about music. It was about writing. But the gold nugget I found resonated with my core teaching on music, and I just had to share it with you:
“And that’s when you really start to get power as a writer – when you understand the fundamentals and then you begin to play off of readers’ expectations.”
What's the takeaway here?
Learn the rules first so you can break them later.
What are we talking about?
Theme and variation
Functional harmony
Tension and Release
And so on.
Now, you might think, "Hey, if I play by these rules, won't my music sound like every other tune out there?" Well, friend, that's the starting line, not the finish. You have to make it predictable first, so you can then "play off the readers' (the listeners') expectations."
Here's the truth bomb: You need to practice the fundamentals WAY longer than you think. It's not just about understanding them; it's about making them part of your DNA. Then, and only then, can you weave in the unexpected and keep your listeners hooked.
I go deep into this in my course The Soloing System, which you can learn more about here:
How to Swing in 90 Seconds
Speaking of fundamentals, trumpeter Wynton Marsalis has dedicated his life to keeping the fundamentals of jazz alive.
In 2011, Marsalis took the stage at Harvard University, not just to perform, but to teach. His message? Swing isn't a solo; it's a team effort. It's not just about one player; it's about every player, knowing their role and taking responsibility.
Some pretty good life advice, too, eh?
I'll bring it back to music here: the amateur musician thinks the drummer is responsible for the time. The professional knows everyone is responsible for it.
It's Not About Chops
Have you heard of Mateus Asato?
The guy's got chops for days. Even John Mayer said he's "one of the best guitar players around." But in the video below, Asato is not shredding. Not even a little. He's using his world-class technique to squeeze every inch of musicality out of his guitar and into the song.
Pay attention to Asato's feel. His use of dynamics. His inflections. And, of course, his incredibly clean technique.
And if you want to hear some more gospely goodness, here's a video of me reharmonizing the hymn "Great is Thy Faithfulness" using two techniques I call "The Formula" and "Waterfall Bass."
Want to learn how to play chords like that? Check out my course, Chord Theory for R&B Piano:
Alright! That's it for this week's newsletter edition of Musical Truth Nuggets. Until next time...
Happy shedding,
Jeff