Practicing phrasing at home - Donna Lee, Cherokee

**kolio_k** · 02-14-2012, 05:27 PM

I am not so much of a jazz player(didn't play seriously stuff like that since I finished school), but I like to practice some standards at home, mostly because trying to improve my swing. I would appreciate any criticism on my playing. Thanks in advance!!

Cheers!

**Jazz_175** · 02-14-2012, 05:53 PM

You've got great fluidity at your phrasing.
It's a pleasure to listen.

**FatJeff** · 02-14-2012, 06:07 PM

Sounds really good to my ears.

**paynow** · 02-14-2012, 07:51 PM

You're an excellent player. I'd love to hear you with a live band.

**Jazzpunk** · 02-15-2012, 04:40 AM

I really enjoyed your take over Donna Lee. Good stuff!

**kolio_k** · 02-15-2012, 05:27 AM

Thanks a lot guys, I really appreciate your comments!!

@Richb
I don't have a recording of really slow swing, I know is hard to make it groove though. I am going to try to record something like that this days. Check if you want this video of mine

Its not really slow, more middle tempo and there are some spots I am not happy with(groove). I would appreciate comments!

@paynow
Thanks a lot!!! Unfortunately, lately I don't have the opportunity to play this type of music with a live band, I am mostly playing pop/rock/rock-jazz connected stuff

**pingu** · 02-15-2012, 12:57 PM

Great playing man !
Also you got a great sound

That doesn't help much I know .......

**JakeAcci** · 02-15-2012, 01:32 PM

Wow, sounds great, thanks for sharing! You have a lot of vocabulary together.

**Stevebol** · 02-15-2012, 02:14 PM

What's wrong with your swing? It's there! Whatever you're doing, just keep doing it. Learn as many songs as you can and get out there and play.

**kolio_k** · 02-15-2012, 03:10 PM

@JakeAcci, Pingu
Thanks a lot !!!

@Stevebol
Thanks a lot man!! Glad you like it (bow), I use to have a lot of issues with it once and I am never really happy with my playing anyway!

I use to know quite a few standards once , most of them are somewhere there I hope :-)). But lately (last years) I really don't have the opportunity to play stuff like that live.

**JakeAcci** · 02-15-2012, 03:34 PM

Originally Posted by Stevebol

Learn as many songs as you can and get out there and play.

Hehe, seems like he's getting out plenty...

**fep** · 02-15-2012, 03:52 PM

whew,

Right on, all those videos sounded awesome. Thanks for posting

**AmundLauritzen** · 02-15-2012, 06:34 PM

Originally Posted by Richb

Kolio, you're an excellent player. Here's a real test if you're interested in working on swinging:

Play a slow swing tempo. The brisker tempos you take above are easy to sound swinging on. Try a real slow swing (not ballad - slow swing), and see how that works.
Post if you like!

This. The slower the tempo, the harder it is to swing.

Kolio, you underestimate your abilitites. You say you don't play jazz much nowadays, but really: nobody can tell. You swing already, but we can all improve no matter how good we play.

I'd have to second what Richb said. But I'd also love to hear a real slow ballad by you. How about Naima or Round Midnight? I really enjoyed what you posted so far and I'd love to hear more of your playing. Keep it up!

**whatswisdom** · 02-15-2012, 08:20 PM

Originally Posted by kolio_k

I am not so much of a jazz player

You've got me fooled. I am impressed with your confident command of the instrument. Lovely turn on Cherokee (around 1:30.) Insert a chord or 2 once in a while for contrast... It's happenin' ...

**EddieLastra** · 02-16-2012, 02:12 AM

Originally Posted by kolio_k

I am not so much of a jazz player(didn't play seriously stuff like that since I finished school), but I like to practice some standards at home, mostly because trying to improve my swing. I would appreciate any criticism on my playing. Thanks in advance!!

Cheers!

Wow! I think you're being very modest. Some really fine playing there. Would love to hear more. Can't add anymore to all the advice that's already been given. Keep up the great work.

**kolio_k** · 02-16-2012, 05:50 AM

JakeAcci AmundLauritzen Fep whatswisdom EddieLastra
Thanks one more time for taking time to listen and comment. I really appreciate it!!

@AmundLauritzen
I will try to record a ballad this days. Thanks a lot for the inputs and for the kind words!!

BTW, I really don't think I am much of a jazz player :-) (or any other kind for that matter :-)) I always try to learn different types of music and never got so deep into something to really say - its what I do! How I understand it, good jazz playing is a bit more than few scales and licks+ decent time. Its about aesthetic, I hope to get there some day:-)

**cpike** · 02-19-2012, 02:11 AM

I've seen your Dolomite vid before, maybe on TGP. Everything you've posted is excellent. Really enjoyed the Cherokee vid, so that is the one I will critique: it's too fast! The playing is fine, but at some point, everything that makes the music work becomes diluted when the tempo is too high. IMO, applies to any kind of music, from jazz to thrash. Of course, I'd never have said that 20 years ago, so maybe I'm just old. The dolomite vid kills, but you should be playing more jazz!

**drobniuch** · 02-19-2012, 05:59 AM

nice

**kolio_k** · 02-22-2012, 11:06 AM

Thanks one more time!!!
@cpike
I totally agree, its to fast and musically could be much better, but I make recordings like that just to work on certain things(up-tempo in this case) . I would like to play more jazz and hope I could do it soon!
Thanks!!

**jazzguyfromnc** · 02-22-2012, 04:45 PM

Hey man I really dug your playing. Great phrasing, not too notesy. Play more jazz!

**princeplanet** · 02-23-2012, 01:28 AM

Hey Kolio, impressed with your playing, you do the dirty rock/blues thing ok too! But I'd like to see you explain a little about your thinking in your jazz improvs in Confirmation and Cherokee. Are these your licks and devices? Or are they influenced by certain players more than others. For instance, I thought I heard similar lines in Oberg's Cherokee.

Care to share? I feel as though some of us could learn a lot from you, as one of the more impressive "burners" in the showcase forum....

**mrblues** · 02-23-2012, 10:03 AM

You are an amazing player, Kolio! Congratulations! I think you have been working hard to get on this level of playing. I saw many people who are pros when playing alone but not in bands (maybe they are too selfish and dont let others unfold themselves in music I dunnow really...). BUT You are that kinda special too, situations are more than different in solo, big band-like, and combo situations, and You made them all more than very well! Besides, Your technique, and musical lines are outstanding...

Thanks for sharing Your work here!

cheers,

laci

**Double 07** · 02-23-2012, 02:01 PM

Very nice playing man. You're too modest I think your a much better player than you give yourself credit for. I genuinely enjoyed listening to you play. All I would say is, keep going with your jazz playing get out there and play. Your a better player right now than you think you are and you'll get where you want to be with your playing if you stick with it

.

EL84 tube amps eh? I'm hip, nice tone nice guitar

**kolio_k** · 02-24-2012, 06:28 AM

@Double 07
Thanks a lot man! I hope, you are right! I would love to play more jazz, didnt do it really long time, last 5 years I am playing with pop/rock projects (need to pay my bills :-)), but I am playing to change that soon enough!

@mrblues

Very kind of you (bow)

@princeplanet

Thanks a lot!!!! I admire a lot players like Scofield, Metheny, Rosenwinkel, Adam Rogers, and even though I am not trying to imitate them directly, one probably can here some strong influences in my playing. I have very few real licks (use to have more once, but don't remember most of them anymore :-)) and when I play; I am just trying to play as musical as possible (not when I play fast phrases, then I use mostly autopilot and the result is far from from musical normally :-)). Last years I was working to rectify some serious flaws in my groove (dragging in up tempos, not being able to play what I would like to and so on) and now I intend to concentrate on more musical stuff

**sylvain54000** · 02-24-2012, 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by kolio_k

I am not so much of a jazz player(didn't play seriously stuff like that since I finished school), but I like to practice some standards at home, mostly because trying to improve my swing. I would appreciate any criticism on my playing. Thanks in advance!!

Cheers!

Ha ha! you're swinging hard man ! you're a great player for sure.
Great phrasing on donna lee
best,
Sylvain