I managed to get through high school barely being able to play any scale other than the Bb major. I remember a trombone player telling me how key signatures could tell you what scale you could use to improvise with for a song...and I found that just too hard to understand. Chord symbols were a complete mystery to me. I played trumpet...but unlike most of the other trumpet players I knew, I really didnt care to play high notes. I just wanted to play cool melodies, and I managed to obtain a flugel horn that had the beautiful sound of smooth chocolate...so much nicer that the trumpet. I loved to improvise and took as many of the solos as I could in the jazz band...and I think I was pretty good. I just played the notes that I heard in my head, but at age 18 I could not have even told you what key I was playing. When I got to Cuesta College, I could not wait to play in Warren Balfours Jazz Band. I came to practice early...and stayed late and loved it. One day after rehearsal I was practicing some of the melodies I was hearing in my head, and Balfour walked by and said I sounded like some dude named Chet Baker. He leant me this record to listen to (see/hear link below). I could not believe what I was hearing. It was so good. So, so good. I listened to this album over and over, learned the all the solos and got deep into a Chet Baker vibe for many years. Eventually I learnt my scales and theory, and got heavy into Freddie Hubbard, Wallace Roney, Tom Harrell and other greats...but I still find my way back to digging on some Chet now and then. This morning Ill be talking and playing Chet Baker on Nick Rheinbergers show on 97.3 ABC Illawarra at 10-10:30am if you want to tune in and hear some cool jazz.
Posted on: Wed, 08 Oct 2014 13:37:27 +0000
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