| First of all: LISTEN!!! The more Jazz you listen to, the more you will open your ears and begin to understand the concepts of improvisation:
Call and Response, Repitition.
Get Jamey Aebersold's "Major & Minor"and improvise diatonically with the tracks, this will allow you to develop improvisational sense and rythmic diversity utilizing scale tones. Learn solos by the greats: "Cornet Chop Suey" by Pops is a great place to begin. Follow up with Miles and Chet - Learn to sing the solos as well as play them on your horn. Also, check out Jim Snidero's improv series. Joe Magnarelli is the player on the trumpet version.
Above all, LISTEN!!!
A great tune to listen to and get improv "hints" is "Moanin'" -
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers (original version with Lee Morgan, Benny Golson, Bobby Timmons, Jymie Merritt). The Tune and the Solos all contain the basic elements: Call & Response, Repitition, a touch of the Blues. LISTEN!!! Improvise everyday and DON'T GET DISCOURAGED!!! The more you listen and the more you play the better it will get!!! |