Mulgrew Miller: Advice for Young Jazz Musicians
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- čas přidán 23. 08. 2024
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Pianist Mulgrew Miller has some advice for young Jazz musicians who want to learn how to improvise and play with other musicians.
Mr. Miller was a great musician and a true friend of mine... Thank you for sharing his teaching here.
He was a true gentleman and absolute master of jazz. I miss you Mulgrew.
I have a feeling not many kids raised their hand when he asked if they listen to "so and so"... kids don't listen to the music they are trying to play. All my students are itching to sound legit but don't know any of the albums or the players. I'm not an old man with wise advice or anything, I went through the jazz student phase in the 2000's and my main goal was to collect, collect, collect as many albums as possible. My goal was not just to know all the lead guys but to know all the different rhythm section players too (and to be able to differentiate them by their sound). I wanted to be able to sing back all the baddest solos. Eventually I learned that the bebop scale wasn't a scale but a rhythmic concept using all the non scale tones. Later while on the bandstand in KC playing with one of the baddest swing ear stride pianist I learned that swing isn't just a style but a feeling. Yes there is a large part of jazz history where the genera was called "swing" but the actual act of swinging is all about feeling. I dealt with many many many arrogant jazz musicians and eventually found out that the baddest dudes out there are sweethearts, full of humility. High-schoolers are competing for the best solo awards and then go into college thinking that jazz is a competition. Trust me, when you are competing with other players on where the downbeat is suddenly 'playing a gig' turns into 'working a gig'. If you want to really be a jazz musician you gotta be an anthropologist, learn all the players, read their biography's, know all the story's, sing back their solos... and do not be an asshole.
bearishwearish makes perfect sense. I'm a chuch pianist I can fly on certain songs. I don't consider them jazz it's mainly pentatonic , blues, some modes, arpegios in swing rhythms . I have150 videos or so..I also have a guitar site. I communicate with many people on jazz sites. Really interesting to see the pioneers of jazz. I don't know why it is but my guitar playing of jazz is pretty descent.. for some reason..it comes natural..so I decided to start playing around with licks on guitar and moving those to piano.
Oh your statement about the bebop scale intrigues me.. I've noticed that with all the variations it does seem random.. I a lot of jazz books.
bearishwearish i have to disagree. You dont need to do that to be a jazz player. Why do you have to listen to the “right guys”? To improve in a certain way. BUT you also improve exploring on your own. Study the greats because its fun, because they have different feels etc but its not the only way. THATS why jazz is jazz. Jazz is a way of music, of live, its you as a being. Jazz is not a guy that studies everything, everyone and know all. Jazz is someone who has a voice, feels out, has an opinion and outs it! Jazz is a cool guy. Enjoy jazz, if you dont love jazz for what it is, instead focus ONLY (i say only because ofcourse listen to some greats, if only for fun and motivation, inspiration) on transcription etc. jazz is a guy that has gone rogue doing what he loves, learning what he wants and being a loving person full of positivity and thoughts, philosophizing about life. Not a guy that studies his ass off all the time.... thats my opinion. Too many conservatory students are focussed on playing with great technique, licks and knowledge. They forget to have fun and appreciate where it all started; love for music........ ciao!
It is imperative to have knowledge of the most important people in the history of the music if you are going to play it. Jazz is not a way of life, it is a way of approaching music. That's where it starts and ends. This way is comprised of rhythmic and melodic rules that, when consolidated, can be summarised as a language. The study of Jazz music does not necessarily permeate your personality, how you treat others, your family, the cleanliness of your house, your life skills or any other matter. You can only form your own sentences and refine your personal way of speaking after you've learned the fundamental principles of your language. This is the way that the most accomplished jazz musicians perceive learning the language of music. Many of the best musicians can be heard giving statements similar to this, and you nor I nor anybody else is in a position to argue with that. Can you seriously bring yourself to dispute Mulgrew Miller after hearing what he has to say and play? Have you any idea of the extent to which the most important figures of the music studied? The amount of hours Charlie Parker put in? The time required to develop instrumental technique? To not realise the facts behind these considerations is effectively disrespectful. What you write implies that you are by no means a serious student of jazz and you ought not to comment on the matter of the study of the music unless you begin the journey and subsequently become enlightened to the depth of the requirements in order to become fully acquainted with playing Jazz music.
@@Digiquarium but apparently Parker didn't listened to louis, duke, or any of the cats around before he went famous. Surely he had to dig something out there, its said he loved lester young's tone, and obviously was curious and fed himself artistically but i think he just turned upside down the jazz scene by inspiration. Im not certain about it but seems like he just stepped in it. Said things like bop wasnt jazz. Bridging some of the avantgarde he liked, like Stravinsky or hindemith, with the blues. And of course his thousand hours on the horn.
Yet Stravinsky himself would tell you about the importance of digesting the tradition, food for the mind. And for sure Parker cared for educating himself, listening and learning all he wanted
Every student of jazz should watch this video. Smart advice from one of the best.
GOD BLESS THE MEMORY OF THIS GREAT MAN - MULGREW MILLAR!!!
As a Jazz (and other genres) pianist, I promise to live up to your legacy the best that I can!!!
Such wisdom in this video!
I hope your journey through playing the piano has only flourished.
"you want to play this music, you must listen to the right people." love that advice. so many of the young musicians today feel they do not need to listen to those old guys, because that is not the type of music they want to play. the thing is that what ever you want to play, you must listen to those who MASTERED their instruments.
So young, so talented. Sorely missed.
Thanks Jazz Video Guy
Piano players... have you heard Mulgrew Miller...
May you rest in peace Mulgrew. Your music and teaching will live on forever!
Miss you both bros 😢😢😢
This is a some heavy stuff. When you talk, you know what idea you want to share and how you are going to share it, from beginning to end. If I talked like I improvise, people would think I was an idiot. CZcamsrs, I just realized that all I'm communicating in my music is that i've learned my scales.... I'm going to take a nap now.
I don't think ANYONE can explain how to develop a good jazz vocabulary this well in 4 minutes like Mulgrew just did right here.
Great video!
Cmon jazz students, you gotta love the music to play it! I play drums, but even I've heard sonny stitt, hank mobley, lee morgan, and kai winding! Admittedly not that much each, sonny stitt with dizzy and sonny rollins, hank mobley - soul station, kai winding from some sort of all star album in the 70s, and lee morgan from Art Blakey's recordings
amazing... I wish this clip was 5 hours. Knowledge is POWER! Mulgrew is KNOWLEDGE..... Good job JazzVideoGuy!!!
Thank God, for Mulgrew Miller. And thank you, Bret, for sharing this. True words.
Great advice. The only thing that's wrong with this picture is that people interested in learning this music shouldn't need to spend tens of thousands of dollars per year to go to an expensive school to have someone impart this advice; it should be something that the student would know intuitively. It's obvious; listent to the masters, study their solos, learn things in different keys (12 ideally), learn harmony, study rhythm, and that's just the beginning...
Michael Hicks ikr too many people think going to a nice music school gives them a boost! And admittedly it does. They seem to take it for granted!
hey I'm not even that young anymore and these words still apply!
Mr.Mulgrew Miller has roots in Memphis
I was born in Memphis. I was so fortunate to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in Jazz and Cotemporary Music. However I couldn't find A Private Instructor who had Time in their Schedule to Teach me. My Greatest Influences are Donald Brown and Mulgrew Miller.These Two Conceptual Techniques in Analyzation of Melody sets the Origin of Super Improvisation Possibilities. .....Why Search the World looking for The Greatest....When The World's Finest are these two......I studied some of your embodiment of Linear Improvisation Techniques in College. It really is a Difference in real Jazz Theory as to opposed to Ear Musucians. You must know the real Jazz Theory. Not fake the lines . These Gentlemen are Masters of Jazz. Like Fine Brass.......Jan Briggs
.
Great advice for young musicians--remember him and these words...
Great advice! I have actually been doing exactly what he says.. I started in Bb MInor on the 1 then progressed to a 2-5 and back at 1..using the circle of 4ths/5ths I inserted a 6 after the 1 then went 2-5-1...The circle helps with having a logical place to go, but I imagine with jazz sometimes you don't necessarily go where expected.
I've heard them all . . . but I'm 80, and I've heard recordings of some of the guy that came before those mentioned. Some of the early females were outstanding too.
invaluable advice. thank you
Great guy Mulgrew ! Helluva player too, one of the best.
Couldn't agree more!
Great teacher.
Such powerful words
Good ole Mulgrew, a high school classmate in Greenwood, MS.
Good advice...Thanks for sharing.
The Countdown!!
Amazing Record!
Rest In Peace Sir Mulgrew Miller. I am mad I only got to see you play once and was going to come to the concert coming up. But wow a great legend
I miss Mulgrew.....best time of my life .......telling me whar NHOP would have done........
Worth watching!
RIP~ Mulgrew....Thank you!
The very same principle applies to anyone who wants to sing Jazz also. I don't hear vocal instruments addressed in these forums very often or many times not at all.
I never approached improvisation the way he does. This gives me relief because my improvisation sucks now I know what to do with my guitar.
Checking in ten years later: how's your improvising going?
I should have gone out more to have the chance to meet him...god bless him
genius of our time
WHILE IN MSU, I WANTED TO MAJOR IN MUSIC AND PIANO . BUT SINCE MY PASSION WAS IN ELECTRONICS, I STILL
KEEP MY MIND ON MUSIC AND PIANO. THEN, I MET MULGREW MILLER
MULGREW MILLER MET AT MEMPHIS STATE UNIVERSITY IN THE 1970'S
I WAS PURSUING A BACHELOR DEGREE IN ELECTRONIC ENGINEER
MULGREW MILLER TAUGHT ME MY 1ST PIANO LESSON "YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE".
WE WERE IN A PRACTICE PIANO ROOM. AT MEMPHIS STATE UNIVERSITY
AND MULGREW MILLER INVITED ME IN..
SO I STARTED COMING BY THE PRACTICE PIANO ROOM ON A REGULAR BASIS
I BOUGHT A STEVIE COMPOSITION "YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE".
I PUT THE MUSIC BEFORE HIM AND
WOW! HE PLAYED LIKE HE OWNED IT
I DIDN'T KNOW HOW MULGREW MILLER WOULD BECOME A GREAT JAZZ ARTIST
I WAS IN FORT WORTH AT A JAZZ CLUB AND MET BETTY CARTER
MULGREW MILLER PLAYED JAZZ FOR BETTY CARTER.
this guy has all the answers... seriously
Great video
wow this is so good!!! i am a 15 year old pianist and i am desperate to get into jazz- i just dont know how to get onto improv. thanks so much JazzVideoGuy!!!
hi
Great Advice!! : )
I liked the nap conclusion!
Master Teacher M.M 🕯 😢
He is missed, big time.
that's it. He mentioned sonny stitt for the altos though. And stitt played tenor too
All I can say is AMEN!
along with sadness that comes when you hear of the passing of such gifted musicians such as Mulgrew, Zawinul, Petterson, etc, is that all that talent is silenced and taken along with them.. not true, the gift of music is passed on, and never silenced, it is our responsibility to continue the creative stream begun by the almighty..sure, i want to hear zawinul play "a remark you made" live , but Horowitz wanted to hear Debussy play "Reverie""..this music lives or dies through us!
Great Miller!
A remarkable man. He is missed. Big time.
It certainly does.
Words of wisdom
yes, he was a remarkable man
Jazz Video Guy I got to hang with him Ron Carter and Russell Malone one night in California he signed my album for me great times
RIP MM
"play that you meant it"
Lovely man. Met him in Melbourne back in 1981.
R.I.P.
👏🏿👏🏿
@gospelkeys07 wow you don't know wat ur missing. millers a great pianist. i was kinda fortunate cause my dad was heavy into jazz so i heard a lotta the lesser known cats as well as the popular ones.
He said 'Hank Mobley' for tenor.
The name of the ALto guy is Sunny Stit?
Perfect example of how jazz became classical. The imitate, assimilate, innovate model manufactures clones
+Saxodude95 Hank Mobely
So sadly true
I was trying to hear what he was saying at 0:40, so i turned on captions, it said "well congress"
What are the odds? Today I bought the "incredible Winding trombones" :-)
Trombone and no Vic Dickenson reference? well since he mentioned Lee Morgan I will cut him some slack. : )
RIP Mulgrew
He is missed. Big time.
Sonny Stitt
2 people (dislikes) don't want to do the hard yards
Not true...this is for experienced students of jazz who have facility on their instruments and know theory, etc. This is about taking all those words you know and turning them into something that means something. Good advice for improvisers of ALL levels.
Im so sad, so many people dying lately. R.i.p
who dislikes this?
R.I.P. ;_;
ok.. thats whats he's talking is more like for begginers..
if you're not connected to the past in any regard , in a way , the work you produce is blasphemy
So true, so true.
Sonny Stitt