I spent about 15 hours practicing a tune I wrote, 'Song For Meg'. I've always had trouble playing it solo. So I decided to really work through it and here it is.

I did most of the things I say here on the site, which then made me want to talk about it here. I separated the melody, worked on the chords, worked on my lines.

I spent a lot of time weaving the chords together and finding ways of being as melodic as I could be.

MSN's - Mandatory Strike Notes! :-) Sorry about the dumb name!!

This is all about MSN's. In other words moving from chords to chords there are notes that just HAVE TO be played. If they're not in your line then they have to be somewhere EVEN IF YOU JUST HIT THEM. They're needed to make the harmony move. When you really know what are the important notes of a tune then you can comp easier and play lines easier.

And if you target those notes in your lines, they'll help really make it all clear!

i was able to throw a disc recorder into record when i heard this interview was coming on the radio in 1999. (always be prepared!)
more thoughts from milt jackson on his art and the mjq. we'll learn more about his approach to the instrument and what a talented academic student he was in high school - allowing him to finish his courses early and focus on music - as he says "to keep me occupied"

right on

Thought part of this email might be useful to others:

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