A Note From Bob


May, 2001


This month Id like to discuss some music that really moved me, as well as a technique that I discovered for making ones improvising a bit more concise.

Firstly, I was working down in Virginia last month at Old Dominion University, and was driving back to the hotel when an old Ray Charles track came on the radio. It was the song "Let the Good Times Roll". I cant imagine music being any funkier, more expressive or more emotional! This track swung so hard and was so powerful in its simplicity and message that I had to pull over! I urge you all to check out some old Ray Charles, and this track in particular. The arrangement was amazing, and Ray was in top form, as was the band. The music went right to my gut. I aspire to have this direct and powerful quality in my writing and playing.

On the subject of improvising, one of the things I have students do Is to find a short motif and use it in an improvisation on a standard or some other jazz Tune. The idea is to stick very closely to this motif, repeating it frequently in different Registers, transposed up or down, etc. The motif can have only 3 or 4 notes. The idea Here is to devise a system by which to construct an improvisation, rather than randomly Improvising whatever comes to mind. I've found that this discipline forces one to think melodically and motivically when soloing. Also it will enable the player to find a way to have his improvised material go through the changes rather than up and down the chords. Using this motif system also forces one to find common tones between the various chords. Check it out!

Hank Jones told me a funny story about a gig he was on in the '50s, where the band would play on a given night and then drive all night to the next location. I think he said they played in Cleveland on a Saturday night, finished the gig, packed up, and hit the road. They drove all night, and in the morning arrived back in Cleveland! As we like to say, playing the music is the fun part. Getting to the gig is the work. Strive for tone!



Peace,
Bob Mintzer