Blue Bossa Cover

I downloaded the midi file of Doug McKenzie's improvisation (Blue Bossa version 2:
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=7k9ZRiJneBg ), and turned it into notation in Finale, with a bit of editing to get the swing rhythm notated correctly.

Then I turned the traditional notation (TN) into Express Stave (ES) and learnt it. ES avoids to confusion of many accidentals (sharp, flat and natural signs) on compact jazz chord voicings, by having the white and black keys simply shown as white and black noteheads.

In this video I play Doug's improvisation pretty much note for note, with his original bass and drum backing track.

Once again I offer to send the transcription to anyone who asks. (Include your email!) If you dont read TN too well and want to try learning ES, all the better. It is quite easy, especially if you know bass clef. For some clues, see my video on the white key letternames ABCDEFG.

Learning to play jazz is largely a matter of listening to other players and learning their licks. I find that reading from a transcription is the easiest way to do this, as opposed to listening to (and watching) small sections and picking them out by ear then having to memorise as you go.

Many thanks to Doug McKenzie for his excellent jazz pedagogy videos.

Cheers, John

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Blue
• Bossa
• jazz
• improvisation
• piano
• transcription
• swing
• Express
• Stave
• notation
• Finale
• NotePad
• John
• Keller

[dennisvdt]

nice played, but do u use sheet music? blue bossa is jazz, improvising is more difficult, but its better

[ExpressStaveNotation]

Yes this was a project to transcribe and learn another players improvisation (Doug McKenzie). And thereby learn some different licks and tricks. I have also improvised a lot on this piece and i might make a video ...

[chocolategalaxy]

@naturalsmind aw thanks. I really need motivation i guess. The thing is...i asked 2 professional jazz musicians (who've been playing for more than 30years) for tips on playing jazz and how they got to where they are.

But both of them were very unhelpful. They told me that i cant really learn jazz now.. that it is not something u learn, but something u are born with!

[naturalsmind]

@chocolategalaxy don't listen to those fools ... you ask anyone that can play jazz and they will tell you they spent hours and hours and hours and hours practicing to get as good as they are ... anyone can do it

[chocolategalaxy]

Wow, that was brilliant!

I really wanna learn to play jazz... I've been classically trained, & been playing for years. but lately jazz has really caught my interest. I'm finding it really difficult though :(

People tell me 'u cant learn jazz...it just has to be in your blood..' Its frustrating.

Can u please send me your transcription of this?

[Geeorgiaa7]

I play this on drums in our school jazz band, thats sounding good!

[dennisvdt]

ok, nice :) i like the blue bossa very much too, especially to improvise.. keep on playing ;)

[tommylammy]

great job on this piece! thanks also for the fast response and sending the sheet music. look forward to more of your work

[SLcrumpet]

Another good one Johny:D