Berkeley Jazz Workshop

I got to play with her one time here in the Bay Area. She lived in Sacramento, she was legendary. If you haven't heard recordings of her, do yourself a favor. Jessica Williams wrote an arrangement for the Bay Area Jazz Composers Orchestra, an outfit I started with Paul Nash and kept going for a number of years. Jessica was astonishing.

Some guitar players frighten me.

It's so sweet when I hear from students from years past. And even sweeter when they send me superb music they are are making!

Mike Greensill. I used to play out, on bass, with him and Wesla Whitfield, back when you could go out to hear jazz in San Francisco. You know, back in the Middle Ages. Mike's been brightening my afternoons for some months now: he may do the same for you.

John R. Burr, an extraordinary Bay Area talent, plays a stride piano rendition of a luminous Chick Corea tune.

Here's "Part Three" of this three part approach I have been championing for gaining facility and freedom on a tune. In this case we're working on Stella by Starlight. Part Three is about being able to assert your musical thought or gesture, whatever it may be, through a set of chords. No longer limiting it to a narrow range, we're now free to expand over a wide range. Any access issues? Let me know.

Hi! Here's another example of the "limited range" exercise, this time on Stella by Starlight. Let me know if you have any trouble accessing this. btw, this is a good exploration on any instrument, not just the bass. ... Clark

After some controversy about this, it seems Gary Peacock has passed away at age 85. I made a memorable trip to Seattle years back, as a younger man, to take a lesson with him. And I got to see him play on at least one occasion (at the old Yoshi's, in Oakland, with Marc Copland). I learned from him, and I'll make a video soon sharing what I can about that. For right now hats off to a one-of-a-kind inspirational force, a powerful musical spirit, a beautiful guy.

The best! A bit bashed but the price was right and I haven't had a vinyl copy in 30 years....

I'm told this is Ralph Towner's favorite of the various versions of "Nardis" he recorded over the years with Gary Peacock.

The esteemed Chris Dave

Chick Corea's book "A Work in Progress... On Being a Musician" is available for purchase online. Discover how Chick thinks about, organizes, and does his work a...s a musician. "I’ve written these chapters as a general answer to the questions posed to me: 'How do you do this and that?' 'How do you think about this and that?'... I hope it can be of some help or interest to you." - CC Purchase your copy here and start unlocking your talent as a musician -> shop.chickcorea.com/products/a-work-in-progress With respect, Chick Corea Academy Team

August 27, Clark Suprynowicz gives a bass lesson, offering tips and strategies for becoming fluent as an improviser. The tune we're working on here is "Star Eyes," from the 1943 film with Jimmy Dorsey's orchestra. Charlie Parker recorded "Star Eyes" in 1951 for Verve, and it's since become a jazz standard. Thanks to my student Christian Stratton for making the recording available. You can read about me at berkeleyjazz.com... In ordinary times, I'm coaching 8 weekly ensembles: the Berkeley Jazz Workshops. Teaching the double bass is something I've done for quite awhile, and as you can probably tell I enjoy it (ordinarily, I don't spend quite as much time gabbing as I do here. This is the last 15 min's of my hour with Christian, summing what we'd been working on) Looking for lessons? At a first lesson, I'll spend time dialing in what makes sense for you, given where you are as a player, your goals and musical preferences. From there, we can proceed with a personalized lesson plan. I can get you to a high-functioning place without time wasted. If you'd like to have a call to discuss, or to set up a series, glad to do that. CREDENTIALS: I studied with Dave Holland, Michael Moore, and Gary Peacock. I've recorded with Tom Waits, and with Bill Frisell. My music has been premiered by the Oakland Symphony, by West Edge Opera, by the Crucible, and has been used on NPR. I've taught at the Crowden School, at SF School of the Arts (SOTA), and at the SF Conservatory. As people often ask about the Tom Waits connection, here's a link. We recorded the soundtrack to "A Night On Earth" (a film by Jim Jarmusch) over two weekends, at Prairie Sun Studios. I played the bass throughout. It's a great band on this recording, and we had a really good time. http://famousbrandmusic.com//1.Back%20In%20the%20Good%20Ol COST: It depends. I've been seeing my jazz workshop students online twice a month. Some people are looking for weekly lessons. If you're interested in what I'm offering, drop me a line! We can likely work something out that you can afford. CONTACT: [email protected]

Mini lesson #7 ...get comfortable playing in "odd' meters by creating simple attractive melodies.

Thanks to my student Christian Stratton for hipping me to the Eddie Harris recording of Freedom Jazz Dance. Besides being the original version, and a beautiful, swinging track, the melody is played differently than on the Miles version (what you see in the Real Book). I LOVE what Miles did with this, reflecting the Wayne Shorter tunes of the same period, with wide open spaces. I'm reminded how much the Real Book has codified and frozen in place some of the classic tunes, wh...en the reality is they can be and have been played in a myriad of creative ways. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOn1VFMOMeU

Can someone PLEASE explain this!! Unbelievable