notes to self

music projects, photo hobby, study notes

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About Me

Hello and welcome to this remote outpost. I'm a software developer and a musician. I also have a couple of degrees in math and one in engineering too. I guess I like learning stuff. To reach out use the contact form.

  • jazz,  music-o-mat,  Tribute

    The Avinger Projects

    June 11, 2021 / No Comments

    I call him the Avenger because he's a guitar super hero. A collection of tracks from Erich Avinger.

  • steinway-hand
    jazz,  jazz education,  transcriptions

    The Horrors of the Half-Diminished

    May 24, 2011 / No Comments

    The pesky root-tritone relationship in the half-diminished chord — min 7 (b5) — adds an annoying constraint to voicings options. Often chordal players will omit it entirely, particularly when…

  • steinway-hand
    jazz,  jazz education,  transcriptions

    Luscious Chord Fatness

    May 21, 2011 / No Comments

    In the spirit of the previous post, I thought I’d talk about a few more chord tricks. Here the focus is on creating the biggest sound possible, the type…

  • jazz,  jazz education,  transcriptions

    Ferrante Voicings

    May 19, 2011 / 2 Comments

    The great pianist/composer Russell Ferrante (of the Yellowjackets) has a unique brand of chordal harmony. While much of what he plays is as rich and complex as chocolate cake, it could be argued…

  • jazz,  review-o-matic

    Review: Gretchen Parlato “The Lost and Found”

    April 7, 2011 / 2 Comments

    Gretchen Parlato’s much anticipated third release, The Lost and Found, secures her position as the leading vocalist in New York’s under-40 jazz scene. On this 15-track program, Parlato and producer Robert Glasper…

  • steinway-hand
    classical,  jazz,  jazz education,  videos

    The Perils of a Jazz Pianist’s Left-Hand

    May 12, 2010 / No Comments

    For the modern jazz pianist, the risk of developing disparities between the right and left hand is well-known and rarely discussed. It’s our secret shame. To understand this, try…

  • jazz,  jazz education,  transcriptions

    Horace Silver Transcription, “Peace”

    April 7, 2010 / 12 Comments

    Horace Silver made his name working alongside Blakey, Rollins, and countless others. But later he would part ways with be-bop to explore the funkier aspects of jazz. His strong…

  • jazz,  jazz education,  transcriptions

    Phineas Newborn Transcription, Sugar Ray

    April 4, 2010 / 6 Comments

    Phineas Newborn was the pianist’s pianist. He died way too young and only recorded a few albums, all of them gems. I spent some time transcribing the “head” to…

  • jazz,  jazz education

    Monk Institute Audition Requirements

    March 19, 2010 / No Comments

    The audition recording requirements for The Thelonious Monk Institute. It's a good punch list to take home and practice, audition or no audition.

  • jazz,  jazz education,  music-o-mat,  transcriptions

    Benny Green Transcription, Cottontail

    March 5, 2010 / No Comments

    Benny Green trading choruses with a guitarist on the Ellington rhythm changes “Cottontail” from the Ray Brown CD Seven Steps To Heaven. Note the tempo — a scorching 300…

  • jazz,  jazz education,  music-o-mat,  transcriptions

    Benny Green Transcription, The Song Is You

    March 3, 2010 / 2 Comments

    This is the first chorus of a Benny Green solo on “The Song Is You” from his debut CD Prelude (1989, Criss Cross). The thing that’s impressive about this solo…

  • jazz,  jazz education,  music-o-mat,  transcriptions

    Mulgrew Miller Transcription

    February 28, 2010 / No Comments

    RIP Mulgrew. What a loss: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/30/arts/music/mulgrew-miller-jazz-pianist-dies-at-57.html Here are three choruses of a Mulgrew Miller piano solo on “If I Should Lose You,” from the album Getting To Know You.…

  • jazz,  review-o-matic

    Review: Cassandra Wilson Closer To You: The Pop Side

    April 1, 2009 / No Comments

    A review of Blue Note's upcoming compilation of Cassandra Wilson's pop covers, Closer To You: The Pop Side

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