Monthly Livestream #31!

Thanks for tuning in to yesterday's livestream! Here's the recording if you couldn't make it.

I started off with a few tunes, first was "Obession" by Dory Caymmi. This is one that I was playing with Cecile last month in Europe, so it was on my mind. Then I played a version of Benny Golson's "Stablemates" in 7, which was inspired by one the questions I had received.

Then had a lot of great questions! First was one about using triad pairs for improvising, and whether or not I though it was a good approach. Yes, I think it is! And actually the video coming out this month is about using triads to create lines, so this topic had been on my mind. Then into a question about playing in 7, about how to feel it more comfortably and to get over the barline. To me, this has a lot to do with really hearing an understanding the subdivisions, and a lot of this practice can be done away from the piano. Then a question about Barry Harris, and his idea of not thinking of "9th" or "11ths", but rather as part of the chord's V7 diminished sound. This is a lot of fun to get into and opens up new harmonic possibilities in a very free way. 

Then a question about Charlie Banacos and his teaching - although I never studied with him I had heard a bit about his methods from my brother, who studied with him, and demonstrated his famous ear training exercise (that I made a video about a few months ago). Then a question about how to play fast, and whether or not practicing scales can help with that. I actually find that this has a lot to do with hearing subdivisions clearly as well, and tied into our discussion of playing in 7 a bit as well. And also played Cherokee a bit to demonstrate some of those concepts. And then wrapped things up with a question about block chords, and how to decide when to use single notes or when harmonize the line.

We covered a lot! Great to see you all again, and looking forward to next month.

Bye for now, and Happy Halloween!

Glenn