The internet has drawn the jazz community closer together, bringing opportunities anyone can exploit to get their music heard by the world: making it more difficult in the same process. For any of us, the breadth of information that we can find from our mentors and teachers offer us an endless supply of material we can take to the practice room, the internet only adds and solidifies these resources.
With so much information out there, it’s hard to source the good from the bad: here are a few resources that have sparked interest into my practice routine. By no means is this meant to act as an exhaustive list, please do get in touch if you have come across anything worth sharing!
Adam Larson’s 365 JAZZ:
A relatively new addition to the online world, Adam is a Manhattan based saxophonist who’s latest venture sees him posting daily exercises covering a whole host of topics to Facebook. Starting on the 1st January 2017, Adam’s page has already offered a fair few exercises of which I’ve spent time pursuing and engaging in “happy shedding” a phrase he closes with. Each clip lasts around 1 minute, giving plenty of time to understand each principle and is accompanied by a demonstration that reaffirms his spoken concept.
“In a time where a sense of community, not only in jazz but in the world as a whole is needed, it is my hope that this page helps to spread positive and thought provoking dialogue amongst people from all parts of the world and skill level.”
Posting daily is a huge commitment but we’re thankful for Adam’s dedication to the community and providing a platform, perfect for those of us always on the look out to add something new to our daily routine.
Kevin Sun’s A HORIZONTAL SEARCH:
Kevin’s blog was one of the primary inspirations for this blog and having had the opportunity to speak with Kevin last year via Skype, he has made a huge impact on my musical journey: a great example of how the internet can bring the global jazz community together! Kevin is currently based out of Brooklyn and started A Horizontal Search as a public practice log.
“I was busy doing schoolwork most of the time and wasn’t practicing as much as I wanted to or thought I should, so I thought the guilt of not regularly updating the blog would provide just enough of a push to practice more regularly. Since then, it’s gotten a bit more serious, but everything you see here is still basically a work of love.”
You’ll find over 100 transcriptions and a whole host of other thoughts on music. I’d also encourage you to check out Kevin’s latest release on Endectomorph with his band Earprint, it deservingly tied for #1 debut in the 2016 NPR Music Critics Poll.
Jazz Advice:
Set up by Forrest Wernick and Eric O’Donnell who both received a Masters in Jazz Studies from William Paterson University, Jazz Advice offers a stellar collection of resources for creative individuals and musicians looking to continue their development.
“We’re sharing with you concepts, ideas, and tactics that we’ve picked up over the years. Much of the advice we have was passed down to us directly from outstanding and in some cases, legendary players. It is our sincere hope that the information on this site propels you to new heights and encourages you on your journey.”
The format of the website is very friendly and I particularly like how relatable some of the headings are: one of the latest entries, The Ultimate Guide To Overcoming Frustration in Jazz Improvisation, something I’m sure we can all relate to. There is also talk about the need to get uncomfortable and the fact that by leaving your comfort zone, facing your weaknesses and fears, you obtain a new perspective on where you stand musically and what is required to be a musician: surely the most beneficial practice is practicing just that?
Jazz at Lincoln Centre’s JAZZ ACADEMY:
Jazz at Lincoln Centre have a number of educational programs running and their efforts outside the concert hall are contributing to the community in a very encouraging way. Acting as a media library for a wealth of educational videos, their YouTube Channel is a great place to absorb knowledge and get close to some of the Jazz at Lincoln Centre’s players.
“Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Jazz Academy is the world’s largest free library of jazz lessons.”
“Jazz at Lincoln Center’s jazz education programs drive our organization’s efforts to advance the appreciation, understanding, and performance of jazz.”
There’s such an abundance of resources available here that I’ve barely scraped the surface of what they have to offer. From connecting the Bass and Drums, to Lip Calisthenics for Trumpet Players, a lot of bases are covered. The channel is be beneficial to musicians of all abilities and I’m sure there’s something for everybody to be found.
The Jazz Gospel 