This page contains my jazz improvisation recordings from 2022. As you'll hear below, these jazz recordings feature such highlights as cracked notes, poor note choice, unsteady rhythm, and meandering phrases! And that's why recording myself is so important. It's the best way to evaluate my playing and to chart my progress over time. I don't expect that I'll ever become a great jazz trumpet player, but I am anxious to hear how much better I can get with practice. As always, I welcome your comments and suggestions.
All of my jazz improvisation recordings: 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 - 2008 - 2009 - 2010 - 2011 - 2012 - 2014 - 2015 - 2016 - 2022
APRIL 16, 2022
It's been six years since the last time I shared any new recordings, and nearly three years since I started taking jazz improvisation lessons with Garry Dial. The material that I've learned in those lessons has already transformed my playing, but I still need more practice before I can truly pull off a "good" solo. Currently, I'll have an idea and I can't quite execute it, or I find that the idea doesn't quite connect to the next chord change as I intended. There's also some hesitation in my playing, as I'm trying to incorporate all of the concepts that I've learned. I'm fairly confident, though, that I'll overcome many of those issues with continued practice.
In this recording, you'll hear me play "Soon," by George Gershwin (my solo starts on the second "A" section). I wasn't familiar with this tune until yesterday, when it popped up in my daily randomization of Aebersold recordings. Despite some mistakes and the issues I mentioned above, I do think it demonstrates some of the progress I've made in my lessons with Garry. I also like how I pushed through, after the low C didn't come out as intended. In the past, that probably would have derailed the rest of my solo. Before you listen, I should mention that since I'm still learning how to put everything together, I am intentionally playing a note-heavy solo, in attempt to outline each chord change. As I get all of that under my fingers better, I will definitely focus more on musicality, leaving more space, holding some notes longer, etc.
iwasdoingallright - audio clip Soon, by George Gershwin
Outstanding playing! I mean really, really good. Melodic and singable lines. Also nailing the changes - I can hear the song form in your solo. Great job!!!
Thanks, Eric!
Amazing diary work.....thanks
A great reminder for all trumpeters to never give up on our journey with this magic instrument we play.
Cheers from Italy.
I've always used your ear training software over the years but didn't notice your improv clips until today. I checked out the 2016 recordings and the 2022 one. I would say it seems the biggest improvement to my ears is there is more space and better phrasing. You're actually saying something more meaningful musically by playing less. :) Keep up the good work!
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