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a higher plain, or just damn good soloing?

so i have the pleasure of working with some of the top players at my college in some of the jazz groups i play for.

this past tuesday i was asked to take a solo on "moanin'" what a hell of a tune. anyway i played and decided not to hold back because it was just a bad day and i needed some kind of release, so my turn came to solo and for about 4 choruses i played my ass off, and didn't hold back. normally when i play i try to keep some taste in it, but when i was done i felt almost euphoric. some kind of  musical orgasm lol. does this ever happen to anyone?

my best,
nate

by nate_smith on 10/31/2007, 22:13

There are 7 comments, leave a comment.

4 choruses?

i start ''vanilla'' for the first chorus. no chromatic.

2nd chorus, bebop scales...

3rd chorus, i go for the diminished and altered scales and aim for the musical orgasm at the end of the chorus...

4th chorus, i release the tension by playing ''vanilla'' again with eight, quarter notes...

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by Bud on 10/31/2007, 23:33

wow- i never think about theory while i'm playing. that's for the practice room. that's a dead end, nobody likes listening to theory. people like music because of the sounds. i only think about sounds.

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by tomwrush on 11/01/2007, 00:05

i agree with tom

lambone

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by Lambone on 11/05/2007, 02:24

nate- nice job, you did reach a higher plane. the more you can get the feeling, the more you'll be addicted to it. there's always another level to go when you're a jazz musician and sounds like you're knocking on the door to one of them.

If I'm not back in 24 hours, call the president.

Scot is available for skype jazz piano lessons (and google hangouts, phone call, etc...)
Use the contact link at the top of the page.

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by Scot Ranney on 11/05/2007, 10:07

"but when i was done i felt almost euphoric. some kind of  musical orgasm"

yes! this can happen.  happened to me last summer on a live gig.
i went to an outdoor party not expecting to play and ended up improvising on a yamaha portasound that someone brought.
the band took a break and two women started playing congas in free form.  i picked up on the rhytmm and was able to squeeze 32 bars out of that little keyboard.  couldn't sleep the rest of the night i was so high!

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by jmkarns on 11/06/2007, 08:16

i've always called that "playing in the zone". i think it comes from "not holding back" it's as if your playing becomes a conduit for a non-earthly source of creativity and expression - very cosmic and very cool! some folks know how to tap into it on a regular basis - i unfortunately have struggled my entire life to figure that one out:)

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by Dr. Whack on 11/06/2007, 08:48

i believe this is the same "zone" that athletes talk off. i have felt in during basketball and anyone that does anything that demands absolute presence in the moment (both music and athletics do) might bring this feeling. it is simply that you can do no wrong and everything you try works effortlessly. i have even felt it a few times at the keyboard so it�s really not skill related but rather something internal that opens up the very best in you, no matter where that best may lie on a skills continuum. these times are wonderful little gifts!

oh, and i think they _may_ show you the next step too.

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by sdm on 11/06/2007, 14:27

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a higher plain, or just damn good soloing?

There are 7 comments, leave a comment.

by Bud on 10/31/2007, 23:33

by tomwrush on 11/01/2007, 00:05

by Lambone on 11/05/2007, 02:24

by Scot Ranney on 11/05/2007, 10:07

by jmkarns on 11/06/2007, 08:16

by Dr. Whack on 11/06/2007, 08:48

by sdm on 11/06/2007, 14:27

Reply to Thread

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a higher plain, or just damn good soloing?

There are 7 comments, leave a comment.

by Bud on 10/31/2007, 23:33

by tomwrush on 11/01/2007, 00:05

by Lambone on 11/05/2007, 02:24

by Scot Ranney on 11/05/2007, 10:07

by jmkarns on 11/06/2007, 08:16

by Dr. Whack on 11/06/2007, 08:48

by sdm on 11/06/2007, 14:27

Reply to Thread

Jazz Piano Notebook Series

"Latinesque"

LJP Jazz Piano Blogs

Most Recent Discussions

Articles

Top Sheetmusic Picks

Jazz piano education is cool.

Rock on. Follow your passion.

Sign In