I have asked myself what it is about jazz guitar that captures me? I love abstraction in painting, in sculpture, and in music. Instrumental music speaks to me in a unique way that vocal music does not. To me, interpretation of mood, attitude, and feel are what I enjoy in music. Improvisation, the cornerstone of …

I recently came across a criticism of the formal study of jazz. The objection was that formal study inhibits creativity and personal growth. This is my response: We probably need to differentiate between “ivory tower academic institutions” and private jazz study. The private mentoring of jazz is a form of education long cherished by the …

Improvisation at its simplest is spontaneous playing. If you can make notes on your instrument or with your voice, you have the raw tools for improvisation. Most of us lead a very structured life: Work at this time. Appointments at that time, etc., etc. This lifestyle is not spontaneous. Imagine a different lifestyle. One in …

Today, I’d like to talk about improvisation. What is improvisation? Put very simply, it’s the spontaneous creation of music. Composition and improvisation have many elements in common but the big distinction is the time element. Composition is the premeditated act of creating music. Improvisation creates as it goes. It is the single most important characteristic …