The Real Reason a Club Owner Hated Guitar Trios
During my time playing in South Korea, there was a jazz club owner who was notoriously hesitant to book one specific type of ensemble: the guitar trio. He confessed that guitar trios were bad for business, not due to lack of skill, but because they were failing at their most fundamental responsibility as performers.
Deconstructing John Scofield's Outside Lines: Chromatic Displacement & Functional Resolution
The 'outside' playing of a master like John Scofield is often misunderstood. It's not a random spray of dissonant notes but rather an artful and calculated act of 'Chromatic Displacement' followed by a 'Functional Resolution.' This advanced concept goes beyond simply shifting a scale up a half-step; it involves temporarily moving an entire harmonic structure into a non-tonic space before flawlessly returning it to the gravitational pull of the tonic center.
Mastering the George Benson 'Rest Stroke' for Jazz Guitar
For many intermediate jazz guitar players, the quest for the perfect tone can feel like an endless journey of buying new pedals, amps, and guitars. We chase the warmth of Wes Montgomery or the fluid drive of Pat Metheny, but often overlook the most crucial element: the pick. If you're accustomed to alternate picking, the technique of the legendary George Benson offers... a profound opportunity to transform your tone and rhythmic feel.
Jazz Guitar for Beginners: Stop Sounding Random with 'Form Playing'
Have you ever felt like your jazz guitar solos, despite hitting all the right chord tones, sound disconnected or awkward? You might be practicing scales and arpeggios diligently, yet your playing feels like it’s floating aimlessly on top of the music rather than being part of it.