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Tune Deep Dive - Wave Pt. 1 by Behn Gillece

🚨 New Tune Deep Dive Series! 🚨
Pt. 1: “Wave” – Establishing Form & Groove

We’re kicking off a brand-new Tune Deep Dive with Antônio Carlos Jobim’s Wave—a bossa nova classic that’s as groovy as it is deceptively tricky. This tune has a 44-bar form (A – A – B – A, with 12-bar A sections and an 8-bar bridge), so memorizing the structure is step one.

Lionel Hampton recording of Stardust

Today, during the vibe hang with Mike Mainieri, we were discussing Lionel Hampton's solo on Stardust.   Mike was absolutely correct that Lioniel barely touched the damper pedal throughout, playing the instrument as if it were a drum.

Many years ago, Lionel had a fire in his apartment and lost many of his instruments.  His valet, on several occasions, would call me to bring an instrument to a gig in the Philly area so that he would have something to play on.   At one of those events, his valet gave me a copy of a transcription that a friend had done of that solo.

Beginner's Series - Soloing Through The Changes Pt. 8 by Behn Gillece

🚨 Soloing Through the Changes Pt. 8 – Soloing with the Altered Scale

In Part 8, we explore the altered scale (seventh mode of melodic minor) as a way to create tension over dominant chords before resolving back to the tonic or next chord. This scale contains altered chord tones—♭9, ♯9, ♯11, and ♭13—which provide a wide palette of colors for jazz soloing.

Beginner's Series - Soloing Through The Changes Pt. 7 by Behn Gillece

🚨 Soloing Through the Changes Pt. 7 – Soloing with the Diminished Scale

In Part 7, we explore the half-whole diminished scale as a tool for soloing over dominant chords in the blues. This symmetrical scale creates tension and color that can really open up your sound—especially when used sparingly and with intention.

Beginner's Series - Soloing Through The Changes Pt. 6 by Behn Gillece

🚨 Soloing Through the Changes Pt. 6 – Bebop Scale Variants on the Blues

In Part 6, we continue exploring scale-based soloing over the blues in F, this time using bebop dominant scale variants enriched with added chromatic passing tones. This lesson focuses on creating longer, more fluid lines that still clearly outline the changes—using the dominant bebop scale as a flexible framework, not a strict formula.