Great video! And featuring an accurate history lesson about Van Bluescalsen, no less! Thanks! The last part about all 12 notes being valid if well used really resonated with me.
Playing blues scale solos in jazz band concerts is what I miss about high school. It’s so fun to just have a nice background beat and solo to it completely freestyle with the blues scale.
I'll have 4 weeks of sax in my body tomorrow. If I go a long way it will be in part because of you and the fun you bring to it! If I adandon, it will only be my fault...
True Words of wisdom Wally .. it always unnerves me how music theorists focus every little piece of theory into separate entities when you can’t really always look at it that way to get to the point of understanding and being able to play; you always have to be aware of the wider angle of view of what is actually happening in context.
Two of my favourite saxophone blues solos are by Johnny Hodges and Charlie Parker on the track ‘Funky Blues’ from the Norman Granz Jam Session. Perfect playing.
Dr. Wally, I'm diggin in on your approach to navigating what I'm hearing, singing and playing. Not to mention my 56 mouthpiece in black (but now I'm name dropping)! I've been listening lately to Sonny Stitt (album Stitt plays Bird) the tune Hootie Blues! That song takes me way back to BBQ, potato salad and domino's! Then there is the after hours Stitt blowing "Down Home Blues" on the album New York Jazz (Sonny Stitt Quartet) or killing it on Blues for Lester!!! Stitt is the blues master for my ears for feeling, rhythm and blues/bop language! Now back to practice! Thanks Doc
Wow! Dr Wally! Thanks for the clear and fun explanation of the blues scale! Man, you're keeping us busy these days! Still struggling to keep up, but that's the challenge! ... and so hilarious the new Henri's job... LOL... A HUGE THANK YOU!
Dr Wally! Great lesson. I got all these down and tried them all in a few other keys. The concept of sweet and sour really hit the mark for me. My favorite blues solo would have to be Miles on Bag's Groove. BTW, I saw Van Bluescalsen open for B.B. King once, and by the third song, people were throwing bottles at the stage.
Amazing lesson as usual! My first comment, and I’m not following the instructions because I am going to say almost any blues by Sonny Stitt. He seems like both an encyclopedia of blues licks as well as oozing real blues feel. Thanks for all the hard work love you channel!
Yeah that’s the crazy stuff, he almost makes it sound easy! Thanks for that, when you said “I got rhythm” I was thinking tenor at first, forgot how amazing that track is. He has so many recordings. It actually took me a while, for some reason, as a listener to warm up to his alto playing, I loved his tenor, but now I love both.
Eine schoene Geschichte von Heinrich! Nice licks for call & response! I like the steak analogy. Favorite blues solos (off the top of my head): Charlie Rouse on Blue Monk, Johnny Hodges on Funky Blues, "Stolen Moments" Freddie Hubbard, Eric Dolphy and Oliver Nelson. --- I was very happy to see your comments on Jamie Anderson's "Get Your Sax Together". I get a lot of good input from you and Jamie (as well as a few others, but you 2 are my main source of sax progress -- Thanks.)
Now I have a new bed time story for my future kids, thanks! I hope Heinrich is still fine (heard about some problems at Volkswagen, maybe just rumors). My favorite blues song is Blue Lester by the great Lester young.
My favorite blues solo; was listening to a public radio station in the car one Saturday afternoon. A recording by Louis Armstrong was played. Sadly I didn't get the title of the recording and have yet to find it. Louis blew an entire 12 bars on ONE note. His rhythmic ideas carried the solo. I had a "OH, YEAH!" fist pump reaction after listening to it. p.s. Do the wife and kids get involved in helping you get into costume and character for these videos? I sure hope so!
Louis for sure!!!! As for the family: my wife opens the amazon package and rolls her eyes. "Wally....your ""WORK" stuff came in..." My daughter was beyond excited to meet Ollie in person. :)
Thanks Wally. Very helpful. You provide the big picture better than most. And has anyone ever told you, you look s lot like Heinrich Van Bluescalsen? Uncanny, isn't it?
I’m getting off the fence and answering the question properly. Blues up and Down from Boss Tenors one of my favourites albums. There’s a lot of honking on there but Sonny’s solo is blue and “bebopy” and a great contrast to Mr. Ammons’.
Yeah, in blues there is no such thing as wrong note. The whole chromatic scale in order can work, but is a bit of a bold move that should not be done often. The old trick is: if you accidentally play a note that sounds bad, keep your cool and repeat it two more times. I like these jam sessions. I just started sax (after 44 years of guitar) and not quite at this level yet, but I get the easier ones.
I am really living that cautionary tale! I’m in the faculty’s teacher band this year and get to vamp on Mary J. Bilge’s ‘Good Morning Gorgeous’. I can finally feel the G blues scale getting stale after a few months of practice. But the places I’ve thrown in the A and E feel off. Performance tomorrow and Saturday…then the following Friday. Thoughts?
I had a bis revelation earlier today when practising your call and response Beebop exercises. Phrase 5 lent itself well to bis use; found that little pivot from Bb to B helped some cool articulation.
The way he mixes the "blue" notes over major key areas (and MODAL tunes as well) is just perfection. Everything he plays has a tint of blues and it's just amazing. There's a lifetime of study in his solos to be had for sure!
@@drwallysax It is rumored that the Vandoren AL-4 is a replica of the old McGregory mouthpiece that Paul Desmond played for most of his career. Whether true or not, it's an excellent mpc and definitely can help to get you in the right ball park if you wanna go for that sound.
Absolutely. For me, it's like playing Bach. I keep revisiting it at different times of my life, and continually learn and grow with them. Both are lifelong studies.
Great video! And featuring an accurate history lesson about Van Bluescalsen, no less! Thanks! The last part about all 12 notes being valid if well used really resonated with me.
Thanks Javier! I just sent you an email (hotmail account). Please let me know if you don't receive it. Hope you're well my friend.
@@drwallysax got it. Classy, as everything you do.
Playing blues scale solos in jazz band concerts is what I miss about high school.
It’s so fun to just have a nice background beat and solo to it completely freestyle with the blues scale.
I'll have 4 weeks of sax in my body tomorrow. If I go a long way it will be in part because of you and the fun you bring to it! If I adandon, it will only be my fault...
True Words of wisdom Wally .. it always unnerves me how music theorists focus every little piece of theory into separate entities when you can’t really always look at it that way to get to the point of understanding and being able to play; you always have to be aware of the wider angle of view of what is actually happening in context.
Very, VERY well put my friend.
Two of my favourite saxophone blues solos are by Johnny Hodges and Charlie Parker on the track ‘Funky Blues’ from the Norman Granz Jam Session. Perfect playing.
Two excellent examples!
25 years old here, been playing guitar and studying music for 10 years. Getting my first sax in a week. I strive to achieve your tone
Just wanted to say I've watched a lot of your videos, and this is my favorite. I'm pretty sure it's because of the entertainment value. Good work!
Such a great channel, feels illegal to be seeing this for free hahhaha, keep it up man!
Wait, someone posted my paid course on RUclips!! I'm calling the cops!!! (thank my friend, much appreciated - plenty more good stuff to come) :)
Champion lesson. Never heard a teacher explain it better. Go you good thing!!!
Daniel, that my my day. Thanks my friend, and happy practicing!
When I saw the Lederhosen it was obvious this was gonna be good. I was not disappointed.
My wife opened the package from Amazon, pulled out Lederhosen: "*sigh* Wally, I'm assuming this is for "work""
@@drwallysax Those awkward Lederhosen moments...always worth it though. ;-)
Excellent instruction, drama, history, edge of your seat story telling, this video has it all! Thank you Dr.
Thanks my friend! Hope you have a great weekend, and happy practicing! Saxophone, I mean practicing saxophone, not basketball...obviously.
as a fellow german learning the blues scale one alto sax doing qualitiy control at volkswagen, I can relate
Dr. Wally, I'm diggin in on your approach to navigating what I'm hearing, singing and playing. Not to mention my 56 mouthpiece in black (but now I'm name dropping)! I've been listening lately to Sonny Stitt (album Stitt plays Bird) the tune Hootie Blues! That song takes me way back to BBQ, potato salad and domino's! Then there is the after hours Stitt blowing "Down Home Blues" on the album New York Jazz (Sonny Stitt Quartet) or killing it on Blues for Lester!!! Stitt is the blues master for my ears for feeling, rhythm and blues/bop language! Now back to practice! Thanks Doc
Love the humor!!!! I hope to be as knowledgeable and funny while teaching like you!!!!!
Thanks ShadowSpartan9x! That name is a mouthful! Have a great week and happy practicing!
Wow! Dr Wally! Thanks for the clear and fun explanation of the blues scale! Man, you're keeping us busy these days! Still struggling to keep up, but that's the challenge! ... and so hilarious the new Henri's job... LOL... A HUGE THANK YOU!
Thanks, Edwardo! It's my absolute pleaser my friend!
QC, Emissions and Fuel Consumption - a stroke a genius!!!
Luckily, Heinrich has an excellent attorney.....he's hit a rough spot recently...
@@drwallysax He was calculating all the wrong numbers.
I see a pattern.
Dr. Wally Wallace back at it again!
When the fake mustaches arrive via UPS, you gotta get to work, right?
@@drwallysax I have no idea how to respond to that but yeah
@@mrbari8396 Ha! Neither does my wife :)
keep doing those call and response exercises! it gives me something to challenge myself and i really enjoy them
Will do! (I'm also building a GIANT course with toooons of them)
Excellent teaching
Don Wilkerson's solo on Hallelujah I love Her So is a very short, but tasty blues appetizer
I use these lessons for my students. All students like these lessons very much. Thank you for your great work.
Mr. Wally, thank you very much 🎷👍🏻
That makes me incredibly happy and proud, thank you Oleg.
Dr Wally! Great lesson. I got all these down and tried them all in a few other keys. The concept of sweet and sour really hit the mark for me. My favorite blues solo would have to be Miles on Bag's Groove. BTW, I saw Van Bluescalsen open for B.B. King once, and by the third song, people were throwing bottles at the stage.
Poor Heinrich....he never had a chance....
Tenor madness especially Sonny Rollins solo is PERFECT to learn blues vocabulary that's melodic and simple.
Agreed William! My mentor used to tell me, if you can't think of something melodic to play, play the &%$^ing melody. That stuck with me.
Great work again, Doc! This is making a lot of sense.
Fantastic!!!! That makes me very happy, Chris!
have always loved the Champion Jack Dupree - Live from Montreux 1971
I'm not familiar with that, but I'lll check it out this weekend!
Amazing lesson as usual! My first comment, and I’m not following the instructions because I am going to say almost any blues by Sonny Stitt. He seems like both an encyclopedia of blues licks as well as oozing real blues feel.
Thanks for all the hard work love you channel!
Thanks my friend! I love Stitt as well! Have you heard his "I got Rhythm" form the Verve sessions? It's my grail bop recording!
Pretty sure I have, but not in a while, going to go check it out right now!
Yeah that’s the crazy stuff, he almost makes it sound easy! Thanks for that, when you said “I got rhythm” I was thinking tenor at first, forgot how amazing that track is. He has so many recordings. It actually took me a while, for some reason, as a listener to warm up to his alto playing, I loved his tenor, but now I love both.
Love your teaching - and your amazing tone - sooooooo good!
That's incredibly kind Thank you my friend!
Great lesson! Thank you so much, Dr. Wallace!
Thanks Roberto! Have a great weekend my friend (and happy practicing)!
Congrats on 20k
Thanks! I can't believe 20,000 people can stand my goofy humor!
Good to see you in your every-day attire for a change Dr Wally @ 2:37
Genovian Casual Wear. My new line will be coming out this fall. Earth Tones and brass accents. Mostly wool.
Excellent lesson! I enjoyed it a lot. Keep them coming!
Thanks Nestor....muuuuch more to come!
Eine schoene Geschichte von Heinrich! Nice licks for call & response! I like the steak analogy. Favorite blues solos (off the top of my head): Charlie Rouse on Blue Monk, Johnny Hodges on Funky Blues, "Stolen Moments" Freddie Hubbard, Eric Dolphy and Oliver Nelson. --- I was very happy to see your comments on Jamie Anderson's "Get Your Sax Together". I get a lot of good input from you and Jamie (as well as a few others, but you 2 are my main source of sax progress -- Thanks.)
Stolen Moments! What a great track on such a great album! Hope you're having a great week, Rob!
@@drwallysax The whole album, "Blues and the Abstract Truth" is fantastic.
@@robstevens9590 It's one of my favorites! All of the players are great, but none are my favorites - but TOGETHER, such a great sound.
Jamie is my RUclips buddy! We had a nice Zoom chat a few weeks back. He's a great musician and teacher - and just a great human. He's great guy.
Dr. Wally IS the Master of Disguise !! 👍. 😉. 👏. 👨🏻
Whaaaa? I was just myself? I'll ask Heinrich if he knows what you're on about...
Big announcement?!? I can’t wait!
I've been hard at work!
Now I have a new bed time story for my future kids, thanks! I hope Heinrich is still fine (heard about some problems at Volkswagen, maybe just rumors). My favorite blues song is Blue Lester by the great Lester young.
Lester is the start to so many great things. So many of my heroes can be traced back to his approach!
Time to use this scale exclusively in every context while only running up and down the scale
Lol, that’s for heavy metal guitarists to work on 🤣
Have you learned NOTHING from the Apocryphal tale of Heinrich Van Bluescalsen?????
My favorite blues solo; was listening to a public radio station in the car one Saturday afternoon. A recording by Louis Armstrong was played. Sadly I didn't get the title of the recording and have yet to find it. Louis blew an entire 12 bars on ONE note. His rhythmic ideas carried the solo. I had a "OH, YEAH!" fist pump reaction after listening to it.
p.s. Do the wife and kids get involved in helping you get into costume and character for these videos? I sure hope so!
Louis for sure!!!! As for the family: my wife opens the amazon package and rolls her eyes. "Wally....your ""WORK" stuff came in..." My daughter was beyond excited to meet Ollie in person. :)
@@drwallysax 🤣 Good for your daughter!! The other part, I understand all too well.
wow ~thankk you so much !!!! a great video!! a great teacher!!
Thank so very much :)
What are you recording next?!
@@drwallysax haha ^^ i think ~~ next would record sing a song ^^ ***
i really like ur all contents ~!!! your so amazing !
That sounds utterly stinking ….love it
thank? I think? I take a shower every other Tuesday?
Thanks Wally. Very helpful. You provide the big picture better than most. And has anyone ever told you, you look s lot like Heinrich Van Bluescalsen? Uncanny, isn't it?
Thanks Alan! Wait, do all people wearing glasses just look alike to you? Ridiculous...
I’m getting off the fence and answering the question properly. Blues up and Down from Boss Tenors one of my favourites albums. There’s a lot of honking on there but Sonny’s solo is blue and “bebopy” and a great contrast to Mr. Ammons’.
Yes!!!
Yeah, in blues there is no such thing as wrong note. The whole chromatic scale in order can work, but is a bit of a bold move that should not be done often. The old trick is: if you accidentally play a note that sounds bad, keep your cool and repeat it two more times. I like these jam sessions. I just started sax (after 44 years of guitar) and not quite at this level yet, but I get the easier ones.
Good work Dr. You are as mad as a frog but a great teacher!
Wait, how mad is a frog?
@@drwallysax Just a saying we have here in the north of England - it means you are nuts in a really funny agreeable way. Great teacher too!
Você é uma figura, cara! Obrigado pelas dicas. Abraço.
Obrigado meu amigo. Boa prática!
Fabulous sir
I am really living that cautionary tale! I’m in the faculty’s teacher band this year and get to vamp on Mary J. Bilge’s ‘Good Morning Gorgeous’. I can finally feel the G blues scale getting stale after a few months of practice. But the places I’ve thrown in the A and E feel off.
Performance tomorrow and Saturday…then the following Friday. Thoughts?
Thanks for this
Most welcome, Joshua! Happy practicing my friend!
These call and response sections are so helpful, thanks.
Do you have some tips on when and how to use the bis key?
Thanks Francis! Bis is a loong conversation. And I break the rules I set, constantly. I'll make a video!
@@drwallysax As a clarinetist that little fork key is utterly useless, so I'm a side-Bb guy!
I had a bis revelation earlier today when practising your call and response Beebop exercises. Phrase 5 lent itself well to bis use; found that little pivot from Bb to B helped some cool articulation.
That’s a good explanation
Thanks Felix, happy practicing!
Great video Dr. Wallace. Seeing as how Heinrich Van Bluescalsen is taken, I'll have to think of a different name for my first born.
I mean...Wally Van Communications is probably available?
@@drwallysax 😆👍
My favorite: Medium rare, with a chimichuri sauce
Ohhhhh, I'mma try that this weekend!
Oh yes! Best steaks I've had were in DC back in 2014.
Wow superb
Thanks Nester, hope you're having a great week my friend!
Love it 👍
Thanks Samersaxman! Have a great weekend my friend!
Wait!… a Phd with personality and humor? This must be a parallel Universe.
Ha! I got so bored in academics, bunch of humorless dorks. Now I get to wear fake mustaches and have fun ;)
The best use of the bluesscale I ever expierienst is by Cannonball Adderley.
The way he mixes the "blue" notes over major key areas (and MODAL tunes as well) is just perfection. Everything he plays has a tint of blues and it's just amazing. There's a lifetime of study in his solos to be had for sure!
Fantastico grazie!
Thank you my friend. Have a wonderful weekend!
Tradition states that one must move thine eyes and eyebrows vigorously for proper blues playing, as demonstrated by our friend Heinrich
If I ever get botox, it will render me mute.
Yessssssssssssssssssss sirrrrrrrrreeeeeeereeerrede newwwww vid 🌅🌅
Pollo!!!!!!! happy weekend my friend!
Hello, Dr. Wally! Do you know the British band “The Tiger Lillies”? They have a song called Heinrich!! 🤓
I like the Tiger Lillies, I'll check out that track! How's practice going, Leo?
Maceo parker baby
That is an alto sound!!!
Hey! Which mouthpiece is this and where is the WCW?
It IS the 56! It's just the black version. I'm such a VIP they sent me both versions :)
@@drwallysax but of course!!
Trying to figure out your favorite blues solo is like trying to figure out Which is your favorite kid LOL
So, super easy! ;)
Mom always liked me best!!!
...locked away in his shedenhausen hahaha
Would you believe that came to my on the fly. I improvise bedtime stories for my kids. The Tale of Heinrich was actually easier.
Van Bluescalsen's history sounds like my time in college
Ha!
Is it weird that when Dr.Wally said Volkswagen I got a Volkswagen ad?
Shhhhhhh, they're listening to us right now, Vincent. This chat box is not safe....
My favorito solo is Take Five. Please develop a comment about it, Dr. Wally. Thanks.
We should talk about that for sure!
Jazz
Indeed Rummy Boi. Indeed.
Now I am scared...and unable to sleep...that story was scary...
Some say, if you listen closely at night, you can still hear Heinrich playing the scale.....
@@drwallysax fing great...now I need alcohol..and practice.
@@madyeti3224 😂
Billie's Bounce.
So. Good. So good!
Paul Desmond solo on blue rondo a la turk
That sound. It's just divine. I need to go listen to that album again....
@@drwallysax It is rumored that the Vandoren AL-4 is a replica of the old McGregory mouthpiece that Paul Desmond played for most of his career. Whether true or not, it's an excellent mpc and definitely can help to get you in the right ball park if you wanna go for that sound.
Parker's Mood
Take the Pebble from my hand Grasshopper
Kung Fu reference for the win!!!! And now, we should both feel old :)
@@drwallysax Jazz keeps you young (just look at Benny Carter) he never put Ketchup on Top Sirloin
It's harder then it sounds to play blues.
Absolutely. For me, it's like playing Bach. I keep revisiting it at different times of my life, and continually learn and grow with them. Both are lifelong studies.
Everything in moderation even moderation.
Don't try to moderate my moderation, DANIEL!
I hear a lot of Indiana Bebop in this...
You mean David baker "How to Play Bebop"?
I just called Volkswagen's HR department. They are denying any existence of a Heinrich Van Bluescalsen. You sure he didn't go to Mercedes?
I heard he was hired by an American auto company. Tesla, I think? In charge of battery integrity. Shouldn't be a problem.
I feel sorry for Heinrich
No worries, Oliver! He wrote me last week, he's out on bail and has an excellent attorney!
The worst video