I spend a fair amount of time with my students on modes. Modes are a system of seven scales dating back to the mathematician Pythagoras of ancient Greece. The modes are named Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian and Ionian. The modal system was in use before our present major and minor key system was …

Chuck Anderson is part of an elite group: world-class jazz musicians who focused their careers not on performing, but on passing the baton to others. Like the late Dennis Sandole and Charlie Banacos before him, Chuck spent his career focused on educating and mentoring students, many of whom went onto illustrious careers. Now at 62, Chuck Anderson has returned to his …

Both Chuck Anderson, the jazz guitarist, and Elli Fordyce, the jazz vocalist, once told me something similar. They each said, separately: “People tell me they love my music even though they don’t like jazz.” Since Both Chuck and Elli are jazz musicians, these fans apparently do like jazz! What they don’t realize is that jazz …

There is no need to “understand” jazz to enjoy it. This misunderstanding stops many people from listening to and enjoying this American art form. Jazz doesn’t have to be intellectual any more than a painting has to be intellectual to be appreciated. As in language, there are many dialects in jazz – the same language …

Over the past week or so, a couple of women guitar players have joined the Music After 50 forum. I was thrilled to see them there, as there are too few women guitar players – both amateur and professional. One of the women didn’t take up the guitar until mid-life; it’s a great story. It’s …

Chord voicings are the arrangement of notes in a chord (ie, which notes are on the top or in the middle). Piano and guitar are the instruments that play chords and are, therefore, the instruments concerned with voicings. Every style of music has to deal with chords just as every style of music has to deal …

Elli Fordyce’s first CD, “Something STILL Cool” came out when she was 70 – to rave reviews. At 72, the New York-based jazz singer has released her second and latest CD, “Songs Spun of Gold.” Like anyone who has reached their 70s, Fordyce doesn’t just have a story – she has thousands of them! There’s …

Jacques Chanier, a jazz pianist with an innovative sound, both exciting and emotive, died peacefully at his home early this morning, October 18, 2009, surrounded by loved ones. Jacques was my brother-in-law, and the love of my sister Ruth’s life.   Jacques was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, CNS lymphoma, more than 4 …

When anyone starts to play the guitar, they learn open chords like G, D, E, A, C, etc. In many cases, guitar players never get past simple open major, minor and 7th chords. At the next level comes Barre chords. That seems to be the next great dividing line. The world of Jazz Guitar opens …

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 …