“...Every note you play is important! No filler. Respect the rhythm section. If you can't say it in two or three choruses...keep it in the case.”
Video courtesy of iRock Jazz .
“We would have better rhythm section players during jam sessions if horn owners were a bit more courteous. No more than three per song and fewer choruses. This will give the congregation room to breathe and thrive with positive energy.”
- Roy Hargrove
“When I show up at a jam session, I don't want to listen to cats practicing. Every note you play is important! No filler. Respect the rhythm section. If you can't say it in two or three choruses…keep it in the case.”
- Roy Hargrove
Young musicians: Get these records
Clifford Jordan - mosaic
Kenny Dorham - live at the Cafe Bohemia
Eric Dolphy - out to lunch!
Art Blakey - soul finger
Duke Pearson - honeybuns
- Roy Hargrove
“Here's what I don't get: it's clearly the end of your solo, but something tells you to take not another, but three or more choruses extra. STOP YOURSELF! Humility goes a long way.”
- Roy Hargrove
Young musicians: Get these records
Shirley Horn - travelin light
Nat King Cole - live at the Sands
Dexter Gordon - biting the Apple
Dizzy Gillespie - the Champ
Miles Davis - bags groove
Roy Hargrove
Full playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2JD2DctkNWfbLw2LziuBFL?si=072d8be5abfc4168
“I asked Clifford Jordan why he tapped his foot on one and three. He replied ‘If you tap your foot on two and four then where do you clap your hands?’”
- Roy Hargrove
It’s that time. Higher Learning Playlist Part 2:
Listening recommendations from Roy.
If you missed the first one you can catch up below, we reposted it.
Note: Clifford Brown Three Giants and Sonny Rollins Plus 4 are the same album - so either one will do :)
Higher Learning Playlist I (Repost):
Young musicians, pay attention. This is the first of eight playlists Roy made in 2018 with listening recommendations with you in mind.
Start listening 🎧 #higherlearning
“You have to love this thing man. You have to love it. And breathe it. It’s your morning coffee. It’s your food. That’s why you become an artist.”
- Roy Hargrove
“Bebop, man. Don’t ignore bebop. Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Thelonius Monk, Bud Powell. Don’t ignore that, ‘cause that’s the basic language that you’re gonna have to learn to learn how to play. Lot of cats right now are ignoring that, because it’s such a vast world and you get intimidated. But the thing you have to realize going in is that it’s never ending (...)"
- Roy Hargrove
Video courtesy of iRock Jazz.