Improv Concepts By Ed Saindon

This was a short clinic presentation at Berklee College of Music on Friday, July 8th. The clinic focused on improv concepts and was presented to the faculty of the Summer Performance Program. Topics covered in the clinic: Tension Resolution, Four Note Groupings and Major 7th #5 Superimposition.

Here Ed is playing three solos he wrote over the changes of three different standards. Each focuses on a specific improv technique. 

The first and second solos use Ed's "Tension Resolution" concept, and are based on the standards "All The Things You Are" & "Stella By Starlight". 

The third solo uses Ed's "Four Note Groupings" concept, and is based on the standard "I Love You".

The fourth solo uses Ed's "Major 7 #5 Superimposition" concept, and is based on the standard "Stella By Starlight".

Here are the written solos:

Improv Concepts

Satellite - Joe Locke

A few days ago I went back to a video clip Joe sent Ed & I over a year ago and transcribed the first two choruses. This is one of Joe's practice sessions over Coltrane's tune "Satellite", which is based on the standard "How High The Moon". Joe was incredibly kind to let us share this treasure with you. I also thought this would be a nice "segue" to Ed's great solo over Coltrane's tune "GiantSteps", which we posted earlier this month. The connection being that on "Satellite"Coltrane also used the "three tonic system" as re-harmonization technique.

Click link below for the transcription and analysis.

Satellite (Transcription)

Giant Steps Solo - Ed Saindon

Here's a one chorus solo over Coltrane's Giant Steps. 

The composition is based upon the three tonic system which divides the octave into three equidistant parts. As a start, we can solo only using the three major scales of the three tonal areas of B, G and Eb. Another possibility is to use a major pentatonic scale (1, 2, 3, 5 & 6) a 5th above each of those keys.

This solo uses the major pentatonic scale a 5th above the major chords. (The pentatonic over the Maj chord omits the root and the 4rth, which can be good notes to leave out). However, on the V7s and II-7 V7s, I'm using a symmetrical diminished scale (H/W from the root of the Dom7th chord). The Sym Dim scale used over the II-7 V7 may sound a little out but it can create interesting lines in the context of the II-7 V7.  How "out" it sounds depends on the specific notes in the Sym Dim scale that are chosen and emphasized.

(Text continues in the downloadable pdf file below)

"Giant Steps" Solo

Harmonic Practices - Ed Saindon

Here's an article that addresses harmonic concepts for improvisation. Harmonic Practices is the last chapter in The Complete Guide To Improvisation. The guide includes musical examples that illustrate all of the harmonic concepts. There's a lot of condensed information in these two pages. With this topic, a little goes a long way. 

You can view & download the article here:


Harmonic Practices (Article)

You Don't Know What Love Is - Joe Locke

An old transcription of mine of "You Don't Know What Love Is" played by the great Joe Locke. This is from Joe's 1994 trio recording "Very Early" with bassist Ron McClure and drummer Adam Nussbaum. Joe's playing has evolved immensely since then, yet he was playing at an incredibly high level. Gustavo

Here is the transcription:
You Don't Know What Love Is (Transcription)

Michael Brecker on "Practicing"

Valuable example and information from a humble master. Joe Locke hipped Gustavo and me to this clip of Michael. Inspiring. The quest for growth never ends. At least it shouldn't. Ed

Margot - Keith Jarrett

Here's a transcription of Keith Jarrett playing his composition Margot from the recording "Life Between the Exit Signs" (with Haden, Motian - one of favorite Jarrett recordings). Everyone should listen to this track. The solo is filled with motivic ideas, rhythmic variety, pentatonic scale fragments, use of approach notes, over-the-bar line phrasing, etc. Ed

Margot (Transcription)

If I Should Lose You - Mulgrew Miller

Hey guys, here's a link to a transcription of a solo by pianist Mulgrew Miller on the standard "If I Should Lose You" from "Gettin' To Know You". There's a lot of techniques that Mulgrew is using in this solo. Here are a few: nice use of approach notes, use of symmetrical diminished scale, four note groupings, anticipating the harmony, etc. We can discuss some of the techniques in the solo.



Here's the transcription:
If I Should Lose You - Gettin' To Know You


Take a look at this other transcribed solo of Mulgrew playing another version of "If I Should Lose You" from "Live At Kennedy Center". It's neat to compare both versions.



Here's the transcription:
If I Should Lose You - Live At Kennedy Center

Four Note Groupings On Rhythm Changes - Ed Saindon

Think of Four Note Groupings as an improv technique that can generate interesting lines which sound rich colorful notes over the underlying harmony. I just heard a Kenny Kirkland solo yesterday and it was burning. He was using a lot of four note groupings among other things.  

Ed 


(Click on the link below to visualize the solo and comments)

Four Note Groupings Solo On Rhythm Changes

The Sorcerer - Herbie Hancock

Great example and exclusive use of the Four Note Grouping technique in the opening of Herbie's solo on "The Sorcerer", from the 1968 album,"Speak Like A Child". Herbie's harmonic and melodic depth was stunning. Some other nice techniques present in this solo are Pentatonics, Upper Structure Triads along with Approach & Passing Notes and great motivic playing throughout. Gustavo

Here is the transcription:

The Sorcerer - Transcription

Stella By Starlight - John Scofield

Here's the lastest post from an excellent site run by saxist David Valdez (davidvaldez.blogspot.com). The site covers concepts dealing with improvisation. This post's topic was from a clinic by guitarist John Scofield and addresses playing arpeggios over the changes to Stella. John plays some nice lines via the use of approach notes, harmonic anticipation, tension resolution, ...Ed


Stella By Starlight (Transcription)

Four Note Groupings on "Stella By Starlight"

Here is a nice video clip of the great Joe Locke playing two written out solo choruses on Stella By Starlight using the improvisational concept of Four Note Groupings (FNG). The technique is concisely explained and exemplified in one of five chapters of "The Complete Guide To Improvisation".

The link below contains a downloadable excerpt from the book with an explanation of the technique, the FNG chart the solo is based on, and the written out solo.

Four Note Groupings (book excerpt/written out solo)

The Complete Guide To Improvisation - Table Of Contents

www.edsaindon.com
Vibist Ed Saindon's Home Page which includes information on recordings, lessons, concerts, and multimedia.

Chord Scale Theory - Ed Saindon

Here's an article on chord scale theory. We can use this page as a format for discussing issues related to jazz improvisation. This article might be a good starting point. If anyone has a comment or question related to this article, they can post here.

Chord Scale Theory Article

One thing I'd like to mention is the altered scales listed under the Dom 7th section. There are two altered scales listed. One with the #11 and one with natural 4 & 5. In many situations, I like to use the altered with the 4 & 5 versus the one with the #11. Sometimes, the #11 can be a tough note to use in a melodic phrase. Most often, it needs to be resolved to the 5th. Ed

Jazz Studies

Here's a link to a nice site that features a wide variety of sax transcriptions along with the accompanying mp3 audio clips. I was just checking out John Coltrane's solo on All The Things You Are from a Johhny Griffin Blue Note recording. Incredible playing. Ed
Jazz Studies