Improvisation
Answering a question about Stranger in a Strange Land
After returning from vacation, I wrote an article showing the relationship to the treatment of language in Robert Heinlein’s masterpiece, “Stranger in a Strange Land.” It seemed to have made an impression on readers and attracted a lot of comments.
The magic of learning the language of jazz
I returned yesterday from two glorious weeks of eating, drinking, swimming, reading, photographing, drone flying, and sleeping in the Bahamas. One week
Michael Brecker on one’s individual sound
A friend sent me a link to a YouTube video with Michel Brecker talking about different topics as part of what looked
Frank Rosolino ‘sheds’ Round Midnight and Invitation with Lou Levy
This very rare recording is truly a treasure. It was shared with me by Barry Kierce who received it years ago from Rick
Musicians: getting over stage fright
Richie Beirach and I are about to release our new book called Teaching and Learning Jazz. As a promotion for the book’s
It’s all about your time
A LOT of you have taken advantage of my offer to sign up for Pocket Jazz for free. Some have come back
Quick and easy jazz improvisation?
A marketing email hit my inbox last Thursday. It was promising the benefits of their special way of memorizing and practicing licks,
Michael Lake
Jazz/latin trombone, author, multimedia artist, marketer
Getting out of the improvisation box harmonically
This is the final part of a six-part series on why and how to expand beyond the narrow ranges of dynamics, notes, articulations, rhythms, and
Get out of the improvisation box of articulation range Part 3 of 6
This is part three in the series I am referring to as getting out of the box. There are so many aspects of playing that
Getting out of the box of dynamic range Part 2 of 6
In part two of this six-part series of getting yourself out of the box in your improvisation, I want to discuss dynamic range. When I
