How To Tell A Story In Your Jazz Solos

[@nickmainella]

What is one solo that you think tells an incredible story???

[@neocolors]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/f2HbkoJpf7Gqerc Joel Ross' Solo! It's incredible interesting, so musical and well structured!

[@DaMonster]

Mark Turner on Moment's Notice with Billy Hart Quartet

[@KFF-k2i]

Coltrane on My shining hour

[@pickinstone]

Wardell Gray's "Twisted" was so story like it helped start the vocalese tradition for jazz vocalists. Can't leave Dexter Gordon and Sonny Rollins off that list either. Miles and Art Farmer knew how to weave stories on their brass instruments. A KEY to story telling, all pun intended, is to practice hearing on a much wider level. Focus on holding onto the key of the tune--especially if there are a ton of tonicizations. Focus on holding onto melodic ideas in your inner ear. Keep track of the highest and lowest note in the melodic contour. Keep track of the contour in general. As Peter Martin and Adam Maness always say, "LISTEN!"

[@JavierRamirezLive]

Everything on Saxophone Colossus. EVERY GOD DAMNED NOTE!!!!

[@jimkangas4176]

Thanks Nick. One thing you might add is "how" you make the arc go up and down. One of my mentors used to talk about this. He often had a 4 stage arc: the first chorus was lots of space, longer tones, little dissonance, very matter of fact tone. The second+ stage was all the fancy stuff that you've been shedding; heavy syncopation, altered tones. Third chorus, sell it like a torch singer! Lots of bluesy stuff like you're singing your heart out. Then, resolution. I agree it's a lot harder to do than say, but so many players just have the same monotone stuff throughout their solo and I think ths really helps to animate it.

[@nickmainella]

Great comment! Absolutely agree with everything you said. Thanks for this!

[@jojo-fj7lw]

This sound like a song

[@kooky74]

I think the last one in a 2 twelves blues solo in a jam is the best. That is what I use. (at a lower level for the moment 😂). Thx for the video

[@lesharris9560]

Nick,i think you did it!

[@nickmainella]

Hey Les!! Thanks for watching, man! 🥁

[@gib321]

Beautiful tone.I wonder what mouthpiece Nick is using. Great video.

[@sac7575]

GREAT! Do you offer some more material to work on this? Thank you!

[@ScottAllenFinance]

Metheny's solo on the Like Minds "Windows" is the solo that stands out to me instantly as a solo that tells a story. All the solos on that tune (and the whole album) are freakin' great! And so are most of Metheny's on everything he does. But that "Windows" solo is like reading a John Steinbeck short short. Amazing.

[@nickmainella]

That is a GREAT solo. Thanks for commenting!

[@pickinstone]

Can't talk about Metheny without talking about HIS favorite jazz guitar solo: Wes Montgomery's "No Blues" solo on his "Smokin' at the Half Note" album. Come to think of it, many top level jazz guitarists cite that solo as their favorite. Barry Greene said the same. Wes was a master story teller on the guitar, no doubt. Maybe that's why even horn players love his phrases and his tunes.

[@francofrenco6250]

Great solos, Man! really enjoyed🎶

[@marktowers1836]

Great subject.......thanks young Nick

[@ArnoldMontgomery]

Great video man! You have an awesome tone!

[@mikeselbie]

Hi Nick great video and playing, as always. Please could you let me know what backing you use as it sounds better than iReal Pro? Thanks.

[@GerryLSmith]

Sounding great. Which m/p are you using there Nick?

[@nickmainella]

Thanks Gerry! It's a mouthpiece Cafe espresso

[@GerryLSmith]

Ah cool, I remember liking your review, just rewatched it.

[@sergej100qca4]

"It seems like, recently, especially in the last fifteen years, there’s the Golden Mean arc. Which I feel like Trane began: start more or less kind of slow… come to the huge, “Go to the top of the mountain! I’m exploring every possibility! Hero, sax player, trumpet player!” And a little after two-thirds, you come down. And that’s considered the perfect solo. I totally disagree with that. I think it’s a good one, sometimes, on certain songs, with certain kinds of forms, with certain rhythm sections. But don’t do it on every goddamn fucking solo. " - Mark Turner

[@nickmainella]

Totally agree with Mark. I think this is a great way to consider the value and start exploring a story arc. Then you can be as creative as you like