Learning New Grooves

Are you looking for some fun ways to practice this summer? Check out Jonathan Wilson's website, Groove Window. You can learn to play a useful blues licks and funk grooves, like this one that my brother and I performed last year:

Check out this Groove Starter tutorial:

CD Review: Tricia Edward's Joy Spring

Calgary-based jazz pianist Tricia Edwards takes a handful of jazz standards and transforms them into a relaxing and playful set in her debut CD.

Tricia Edwards' musical journey has taken her down many paths, most recently, in local jazz bars and the recording studio. From classical piano to classic jazz, from soloist to collaborative artist and from student to teacher/performer. With Joy Spring, Edwards takes her audience on a cheerful yet relaxing, playful yet romantic ride.

The Journey From Classical to Jazz

Edwards' musical studies began in classical music. She earned her Masters' and Bachelors' degrees in classical piano performance at the University of Alberta. After graduation, Edwards worked as a teacher and collaborative pianist in Alberta and the Middle East.

In 2003, Edwards began studying jazz piano, studying with Derek Stoll, a prominent jazz pianist in Western Canada. In 2009, she was awarded the Richard Harold Cowie Scholarship by the Calgary Musician's Association and C-Jazz.

Since then, Edwards has been busy. She has formed her own trio and quartet, the Whisper Not Jazz Ensemble, Calgary Jazzwinds, the Wednesday Night Big Band, Wednesday Night Little Big Band and a new unnamed smooth jazz quartet. She has performed at popular jazz clubs such as the BeatNiq Jazz and Social Club and Koi Cafe.

Joy Spring Disc Information

Track Listing

1. One Note Samba (N. Mendonca/A.C. Jobim)

2. Sugar (S. Turrentine)

3. Sidewinder (L. Morgan)

4. On the Street Where You Live (A.J. Lerner/ F. Lowe)

5. There Will Never Be Another You (M. Gordon/H. Warren)

6. My Funny Valentine (L. Hart/R. Rodgers)

7. Cherokee (R. Noble)

8. Bluesette (J.B. Thielmans)

9. All the Things You Are (O. Hammerstein/J. Kern)

10. Well You Needn't (T. Monk)

11. Joy Spring (C. Brown)

12. Alone Together (H. Dietze/A. Schartz)

Musicians: Tricia Edwards (piano), Keith Smith (guitar), John Hyde (bass)

Arranger: Tricia Edwards

Label: None

Produced by: NRS Productions

Cover Art by: Alison Edwards

Release Date: March 9, 2009

Joy Spring Highlights

Joy Spring is a smooth jazz CD comprised of jazz standards; a little Latin jazz, a little swing and a little waltz. The first track, "One Note Samba", opens with a cheerful piano solo before being joined by the guitar and bass. The guitar solo teases us with a line that steps away from the "one note" but leisurely returns to that "one note". The piano matches the playful and unhurried tone set by the guitar. Gradually the line ebbs and flows.

"Sidewinder" displays the funky and frolicsome interplay between all the instruments. Each member of the trio takes ideas presented by another member and takes it to another level. Nothing is rushed, everything is smooth and relaxed.

"My Funny Valentine" begins with a piano solo, playing a simple ostinato over the descending bass. The guitar enters with a very melancholic saxophone-like line. The head is played simply with sparse accompaniment. Gradually, the harmonies become thicker. The solos do reach virtuosic proportions yet remain lazy, smoky and sultry.

The jazz waltz "Bluesette" begins with a dreamy piano intro that is soon joined by the bass. The piano solo is syncopated, unhurried and sprightly. The bass solo could have been louder.

The title track, "Joy Spring" is a playful Latin groove. The head wanders up and down at a laid back pace.

In the piano solo, Edwards plays with the rhythm, throwing in a couple of runs. The guitar solo is highly syncopated and melodic.

Lighthearted Relaxation Music

The interplay between the piano and guitar and piano is well done. It is clear that the members of this jazz trio listen to each other, lend support and build on each other's ideas. The bass gives subtle but strong support. Joy Spring as a debut CD presents Tricia Edward's joy of music and playful nature; making it a fun listen, whether you are curled up with a good book and a glass of wine, driving across the countryside or enjoying a romantic dinner.

To find out more about Tricia Edwards or to listen to sample tracks, visit her website. To learn buy Joy Spring, click on the icon below:

Originally published March 1, 2010. All rights reserved by Rhona-Mae Arca.

Jazz Music and Improvisation Guide Books

As I mentioned earlier, I recently presented to the Piano Pedagogy Group. The piano teachers in this group are currently working on their Grade 10 or their Piano Pedagogy certification through Royal Conservatory of Music, Conservatory Canada or London College of Music . They are all classically trained (translation: improvisation, lead sheets and chord charts are scary). This is a list of the "How To" books that I use whenever I teach and play contemporary music (e.g. pop, rock, Latin, jazz, ragtime) that I shared with them:

Conservatory Canada Contemporary Idioms Syllabus

look inside

How To Play From A Fake Book

By Blake Neely. For Guitar, Piano/Keyboard. Piano. Instructional. Instructional book. Standard notation and instructional text. 88 pages. Published by Hal Leonard (HL.220019)

look inside

Lead Lines and Chord Changes

By Ann Collins. For Piano. Piano Collection; Piano Supplemental. Early Advanced; Late Intermediate. Book. 80 pages. Published by Alfred Music Publishing (AP.199)

...more info

look inside

Volume 1 - How To Play Jazz & Improvise

By Jamey Aebersold. For any C, Eb, Bb, bass instrument or voice. Play-Along series with accompaniment CD. Jamey Aebersold Play-A-Long series. Beginner, intermediate. Book & CD. 104 pages. Published by Jamey Aebersold Jazz (JA.V01DS)

look inside

Volume 3 - The II/V7/I Progression

By Jamey Aebersold. For any C, Eb, Bb, bass instrument or voice. Play-Along series with accompaniment CD. Jamey Aebersold Play-A-Long series. Beginner, intermediate. Book & CD. 100 pages. Published by Jamey Aebersold Jazz (JA.V03DS)

(6)

...more info

look inside

Boogie Woogie for Beginners

Arranged by Frank Paparelli. For Piano/Keyboard. Keyboard Instruction. 48 pages. Published by Hal Leonard (HL.120517)

(2)

...more info

There are a few more in my "To Check Out" pile. I'll add them once I've had a chance to go through them a bit.

Sherry Kennedy "Little Secret" CD Release Party February 2013

If you're looking for something musical to enjoy next month, come on out to my vocal coach Sherry Kennedy's CD release party. Deets as follows:

Sherry is a Calgary-based singer, recording artist and vocal coach. Album review to come - stay tuned!

Here's a video of Sherry Kennedy in performance:

Practicing Piano Technique by the Root

This is more for the advanced students, music teachers and anyone who wants to learn jazz chords and scales. Instead of practicing your technical exercises by key, practice them by their shared root. For example, play through:

• C major Scale

• C major Modes

• C minor Scales (natural, harmonic, melodic, jazz minor)

• C minor Modes

• C Penatonic Scale

• C Blues Scale

• C Whole Tone Scale

• C Octatonic Scale

• C major tonic chord/triad

• C minor tonic chord/triad

• C7 (dominant 7th of F major)

• Cm7 (ii7 of B-flat major)

• Cm7(♭5) (viiø7 of D-flat major)

• Cdim7, A.K.A. B#dim (viio7 of D-flat/c# minor)

• and so on.

This was one of the first things I learned when I took jazz piano lessons with jazz pianist, clinician, adjudicator and examiner Derek Stoll.