Donna Lee has always been.one of my favorite bebop tunes. I always practice with a metronome. Always! And always painfully slow until I learn a tune. Great lesson Ken!
You got me onto diminished minor scales a while back. Still s beginner but advanced technique jumps in when basics are hammered home first. The reason for learning any art form is to then be able to impoverise freely, emotionally. Thank you.
This was a video I made back in 2015, and I just updated it. This was before I started using backing tracks. However your point, Marilyn, is well taken, because it's good to learn solo piano techniques as well as trio, and backing in a 4 piece, or other combinations.
Hey KenTheWitt, Informative video, as usual. Nice compact lesson I can absorb entirely at one sitting. Best kind! I dont know what a contracture is, but Im sorry to see you struggle with it. I might have one too. (Mine's from a bike accident, leaving me a bum bent pinkie somewhat like yours.) If youve got plans to get yours fixed, let me/us know. I may follow. Best of luck with that! Dave Nash
Great videos Kent! I really enjoy your teaching and playing. One thing that struck me is how relaxed your playing seemed, with really great time. I know from your videos that you love Bill Evans. I wonder, how about Oscar Peterson? I’m sure Everyone loves OP.
Amazing! Would love to see a "beginner's essential licks for improvisation" whenever I improvise it mostly sounds incoherent. Thank you for sharing your knowledge :)
Nice, and great playing. Why Donna Lee specifically though? Because it sounds so quintessentially bebop and is therefore just a very good starting point to getting 'the sound'?
Donna Lee has a very rich harmonic structure, and the melody is chock full of jazz “language” (arpeggios, chromaticism, upper structures, and the dopped 8th note endings that gives the genre its name). It’s also just really flipping cool.
@@jonglassmusic5813 It sure is! I reckon I'll find it pretty challenging, particularly at speed, but I think it's the perfect time to try. Starting to improvise much more freely/naturally but it's not sounding very 'jazz' yet. Bit too 'inside' rather than 'outside'
It's one of the better bebop tunes in my opinion,. But you really should learn all the bebop style tunes in the repertoire to become very adept at improv. Of course there's a lot more to improv. then just bebop...it's kind of a foundation. Check out my playlists on Improvisation. ruclips.net/user/KentHewittpiano88playlists?view_as=subscriber
HEY KENT LOVE THE CHANNEL SO MUCH !!! My favourite you tube channel hands down !!! I’m really interested as to what was your thought process for the block chords at 6:15
Thanks so much! I use a variety of techniques in the left hand, so you can't ever rule out block chords. It depends on the situation and what's happening in the right hand and its position on the keyboard. Rootless chords have a very compact space but block chords have more range, and open voicings (shells) have a wider range and 10ths and 7ths have even a wider range ...so you can use all of them mixed into a particular arrangement. Also the left hand may just be reduced to one or two notes w/ more of the harmony played in the right hand.
Fun fact, according to Miles Davis's autobiography, he himself apparently wrote "Donna Lee" but the record label credited Bird as the composer. Miles said he didn't care, so there you go! Now who wrote "Nardis" again??
That was great, Kent. I listened to Bill Charlap’s version and I liked it very much too, but I think that he may have taken liberties with when he starts the melody. Maybe not. After hearing you do it against the metronome, I need to go back and listen to his again too.
@@KentHewittpiano88 I am envious! I would not want to play Chess with that guy. He would have all scenarios used thus far memorized and if he encountered one that hadn’t been used, he would still be able to decipher it in real time and instantly be mentally twelve moves ahead. That certainly applies to Bill Evans too. I’ve been listening to Fred Hersh a lot lately too. He has some wonderful ideas. I love the way that he breaks up the chords into very wide intervals and disperses them between both hands. That would be difficult enough for me to practice it and memorize it but to improvise it...
Here's a MIDI file link for those of us struggling with reading. bitmidi.com/c-parker-donna-lee-mid I load it into a sequencer and slow it waaaay down and repeat it in small sections. Just like you'd eat an elephant....one bite at a time.
hello kent i'm your student of the beaujolais yves desjardins (gardens in English !) your exercice with donna lee is excellent and the improvisation marvelous i'm going to try it ! When will you come in France ? I can try to organize you a concert biggest)
Yeah, learning bebop songs, especially one that's pretty much a charlie parker solo, to improve chops is obvious. Good and coherent video, but still... I need something else
Thanks for the comments, guys, this obviously is just one exercise. Since you want more, I'm here to help. You should learn all the bebop repertoire. Go to my Playlists and there's 14 videos on bebop, (solos and tunes), 37 videos on Improvisation, and many other categories. Get a bebop fakebook and go through it and practice the tunes you like and listen to the original recordings. Also learn by listening to the masters and imitating. Click on words VIEW FULL PLAYLIST first to see list. Hope this helps and you'll tell me. Playlists here: ruclips.net/user/KentHewittpiano88playlists?view_as=subscriber
I enjoy Mr Hewitt's videos as much for the jazz lessons as I do for the mini-concerts. Thank you for both sir.
That's great...much appreciated!
I'm still a beginner but you're the only guy on youtube to actually get me to understand so many concepts. You're a great teacher, thanks bud!
Thanks, cool cat....welcome to the elite club at the Jazz Ranch!!
@@KentHewittpiano88 best and to the point videos. Thnx a lot
"Fingering is a very personal thing"
- Kent Hewitt
Lol love you brother don't ever stop! 😎
Kent you da man! Coming from a freshman jazz student at university some of these videos are life savers...
I was there....I loved my years as a freshman...both business and music. swing loose, you are a brother!
I really admire how you play. Your comping and lines are masterful.
Thank you very much, Rich...your kind words help to keep me going!
Man, as a beginner in music, i feel really cool after watching a jazz video... Am i one of the cool kids now?
You are a cool kid....the groovy chicks will dig you....don't ever change!
@@KentHewittpiano88 Eyyyy we cool
Donna Lee has always been.one of my favorite bebop tunes. I always practice with a metronome. Always! And always painfully slow until I learn a tune.
Great lesson Ken!
That's great discipline, and a good way to improve.
You got me onto diminished minor scales a while back. Still s beginner but advanced technique jumps in when basics are hammered home first. The reason for learning any art form is to then be able to impoverise freely, emotionally.
Thank you.
Great point, thanks for sharing!
A lovely feel you have there sir! Really nice playing and improvising!!!
Thank you kindly!
Great stuff as always from you Kent.
Glad you enjoyed it...thanks!
I love that you're mixing it up between playing with GarageBand and just swingin' along with the metronome! 💕As always !! 💕
This was a video I made back in 2015, and I just updated it. This was before I started using backing tracks. However your point, Marilyn, is well taken, because it's good to learn solo piano techniques as well as trio, and backing in a 4 piece, or other combinations.
Hey KenTheWitt,
Informative video, as usual. Nice compact lesson I can absorb entirely at one sitting. Best kind!
I dont know what a contracture is, but Im sorry to see you struggle with it. I might have one too. (Mine's from a bike accident, leaving me a bum bent pinkie somewhat like yours.) If youve got plans to get yours fixed, let me/us know. I may follow.
Best of luck with that!
Dave Nash
I had surgery, but it didn't work. This is inherited, Eastern European condition, it's not from an accident
Really tasty performance and improv! You even threw in some block chords in the improv chorus! Nice. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks a lot!
Thanks Kent. Appreciate your help with fingering
I talk more about fingering on my Joy Spring video. Thanks!
Great videos Kent! I really enjoy your teaching and playing. One thing that struck me is how relaxed your playing seemed, with really great time.
I know from your videos that you love Bill Evans. I wonder, how about Oscar Peterson? I’m sure Everyone loves OP.
Of course, OP. When I heard him at Newport the first time...I thought I'd better quit playing. Get his Trio in Chicago album...his best.
I love the way you drive. I want me and you and SirValorSax too to get in the passing lane here in saratoga
Hey Mike!! Are you in Saratoga? I have a Porsche!!
Thanks for this exercise suggestion! I will give it a go. :). -Ken
Hope you like it!
Amazing! Would love to see a "beginner's essential licks for improvisation" whenever I improvise it mostly sounds incoherent. Thank you for sharing your knowledge :)
Go to my playlists and look for the category Improvisation. Start with 101. ruclips.net/user/KentHewittpiano88playlists?view_as=subscriber
@@KentHewittpiano88 thanks a lot for the videos
Absolutely brilliant playing and instructional!!! Thank you Kent!
A million thanks!
Thank you so much for sharing this, is valuable, Thanks again MAESTRO!!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Nice, and great playing. Why Donna Lee specifically though? Because it sounds so quintessentially bebop and is therefore just a very good starting point to getting 'the sound'?
Donna Lee has a very rich harmonic structure, and the melody is chock full of jazz “language” (arpeggios, chromaticism, upper structures, and the dopped 8th note endings that gives the genre its name). It’s also just really flipping cool.
@@jonglassmusic5813 It sure is! I reckon I'll find it pretty challenging, particularly at speed, but I think it's the perfect time to try. Starting to improvise much more freely/naturally but it's not sounding very 'jazz' yet. Bit too 'inside' rather than 'outside'
It's one of the better bebop tunes in my opinion,. But you really should learn all the bebop style tunes in the repertoire to become very adept at improv. Of course there's a lot more to improv. then just bebop...it's kind of a foundation. Check out my playlists on Improvisation. ruclips.net/user/KentHewittpiano88playlists?view_as=subscriber
thank you! I always learn so much from these
I'm so glad!
This is great, thank you Mr. Hewitt!
You're very welcome!
HEY KENT LOVE THE CHANNEL SO MUCH !!! My favourite you tube channel hands down !!! I’m really interested as to what was your thought process for the block chords at 6:15
I loved em !!!
Thanks so much! I use a variety of techniques in the left hand, so you can't ever rule out block chords. It depends on the situation and what's happening in the right hand and its position on the keyboard. Rootless chords have a very compact space but block chords have more range, and open voicings (shells) have a wider range and 10ths and 7ths have even a wider range ...so you can use all of them mixed into a particular arrangement. Also the left hand may just be reduced to one or two notes w/ more of the harmony played in the right hand.
Amazing!
Thank you! Cheers!
Fun fact, according to Miles Davis's autobiography, he himself apparently wrote "Donna Lee" but the record label credited Bird as the composer. Miles said he didn't care, so there you go! Now who wrote "Nardis" again??
That’s what he gets for stealing Blue in Green from Bill Evans haha
It sounds to me more like a Charlie Parker concept than Miles.
@@KentHewittpiano88 Agreed! Miles was obsessed with Bird in the late 40s, I'm sure he wrote it whole-heartedly with Bird's voice in mind.
@Matt Holzmacher ... Thanks for reminding me of Nardis. I had forgotten that Miles stole two tunes from Bill. By the way, you have a great surname !
@@Gerard_2024 Miles definitely wrote Nardis. Bill Evans even says it in a live show on youtube right before he plays it.
God Bless you my brother
I wish you the same!
That was great, Kent. I listened to Bill Charlap’s version and I liked it very much too, but I think that he may have taken liberties with when he starts the melody. Maybe not. After hearing you do it against the metronome, I need to go back and listen to his again too.
Thanks, Jack. I've seen Bill a couple times, and he really is a master, as well as a great accompanist to singers. Admire him much!
@@KentHewittpiano88 I am envious! I would not want to play Chess with that guy. He would have all scenarios used thus far memorized and if he encountered one that hadn’t been used, he would still be able to decipher it in real time and instantly be mentally twelve moves ahead. That certainly applies to Bill Evans too. I’ve been listening to Fred Hersh a lot lately too. He has some wonderful ideas. I love the way that he breaks up the chords into very wide intervals and disperses them between both hands. That would be difficult enough for me to practice it and memorize it but to improvise it...
Nice !
Thanks!
Thanks!
Welcome!
Thanx, Maestro.
Welcome!
Here's a MIDI file link for those of us struggling with reading. bitmidi.com/c-parker-donna-lee-mid I load it into a sequencer and slow it waaaay down and repeat it in small sections. Just like you'd eat an elephant....one bite at a time.
hello kent i'm your student of the beaujolais yves desjardins (gardens in English !) your exercice with
donna lee is excellent and the improvisation marvelous i'm going to try it ! When will you come in France ? I can try to organize you a concert biggest)
Thanks for the nice note. Do you have connections? I'll come to France anytime. I've been to Paris twice (but not enough).
Kent, is this something you would practice in all 12 keys, like that circle of 5hs lick you posted a few weeks ago? Thanks for the video.
That would be more ambitious than I would be. But it certainly would be beneficial , if your are that motivated.
Wow!
Cool!!
intro song anyone????????
I'll Remember April......the Ahmad Jamal version...played by my trio.
Playing Donna Lee with a metronome is an "exercise for developing bebop technique"? Who would have thought.
Yeah, learning bebop songs, especially one that's pretty much a charlie parker solo, to improve chops is obvious. Good and coherent video, but still... I need something else
Thanks for the comments, guys, this obviously is just one exercise. Since you want more, I'm here to help. You should learn all the bebop repertoire. Go to my Playlists and there's 14 videos on bebop, (solos and tunes), 37 videos on Improvisation, and many other categories. Get a bebop fakebook and go through it and practice the tunes you like and listen to the original recordings. Also learn by listening to the masters and imitating. Click on words VIEW FULL PLAYLIST first to see list. Hope this helps and you'll tell me. Playlists here:
ruclips.net/user/KentHewittpiano88playlists?view_as=subscriber
I'm just being a punk and giving you shit about the click-bait title. Playing standards is of course a great way to learn standards.
@@timheil5682 Nah, you're good man, the title says "exercises," so that's what people expected
Hip stuff here
Cool, I dig you!