Jazz Lesson #11: Play Free

#jazz #lesson #tutorial #freejazz #avantgarde #playout #paulthompson
This week's video is about playing "free" in jazz music, my personal story about discovering it's truth, and some of my favorite music encompassing the genre. Free music...is still MUSIC!
Many thanks to my dear friend and brilliant musician Ben Opie. His blog can be found here: benopie.blogspo...
Website: paulthompson.us/
Instagram @pauldavid74
Podcast: anchor.fm/paul-...
Ending music is "101 Degrees" by THOTH Trio (Ben Opie, Dave Throckmorton, Paul Thompson)

[@henryfclarkakahankmcnamee7249]

My favorite bass teacher John Neves told me; "Don't get too fancy; let the song be a song." and, "Even if you're just practicing scales, make it sound musical." He also told me that "Music is everywhere, if you just listen for it: in the sound of people conversating, birds chirping, even in the din of city car horns honking."

[@bobrowlette9913]

pdbass... My new favorite KZbin channel!

[@pdbass]

Thank you, Bob!

[@alexandreguerra9047]

Few videos I've seen on Free Jazz were capable of being so honest and open about it. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and experience! Greetings from Brazil 👏👏✌️

[@pdbass]

Obrigado!

[@bassocanario]

Oh...hell...YES! LOVE your playing on this one, as well as your stories about learning how to play "free" and your explanation of your concept of playing "free". This one of the most honest, down-to-earth, easily-understood explanations of this kind of playing that I have heard...A teacher once suggested to me that I play at least one short, free improvisation per day and record/video it. After doing it for a while, he suggested randomly picking different areas to focus on: timbre, melodic cells, particular rhythms, dynamics, limiting the range of the instrument improvised within, right hand technigues, left-hand slurs and pull-offs, etc. It's a cool exercise that not only stimulates the imagination, but expands one's sense of what's musically possible with even the simplest, most repetitive musical material....Anyway, thank you so much for continuing to post inspiring and stimulating and educational content; compared to the stuff I have seen/am aware of on KZbin, yours is unique and deserves wider recognition. For any regulars here, please spread the word about/share this YT channel with your friends and musical associates( and not just bassists! ). 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽✌🏾Cheers!🤗

[@pdbass]

My man. I thank you SO MUCH for your words and support. Makes me wanna keep doing this!

[@bassocanario]

@@pdbass Please continue posting!😎🤗

[@Sonnylovesphotography]

Best explanation of free jazz I’ve ever heard

[@pdbass]

Thank you! Thanks for watching.

[@jameseeyor8594]

That's a nice Pöllman bass, with a fat sound and a diggin player!

[@user-ve7xj7fj9n]

It’s Wonderful music

[@johnnichols1249]

Thank you! That's one of the best and most validating descriptions of free jazz I've ever heard, and I've been playing this music since "New thing at Newport" came out.

[@BAZZMAN800]

Thanks for sharing your experiences . I really love your stories , wisdom and your playing.

[@jeffsarsfield3811]

Great segment. It's exactly the same deal in the audition room as an actor. For example, many TV commercial auditions you'll be asked to improve. We can identify the inexperienced actors because they try too hard. They over compensate by saying too much, trying to be too witty. They're all over the place not honoring the authenticity of the piece, the overall theme of the scene. The good actors may even spend more time in the scene listening, taking in and feeling their scene partner.

[@lundsweden]

Playing free is great, as long as you get paid!

[@georgeheidiii]

Yeah PT ❤️

[@javierpresa8914]

Love your videos!! Thank you

[@pdbass]

Thanks for watching!

[@hughmanetti1908]

I get so much from your vids! Don't know why your view numbers are low at this moment. I'm telling everyone I know to check you out.

[@pdbass]

🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@insidejazzguitar8112]

Awesome video!

[@lizardguy7624]

how much crossover do you think there is with free jazz and spiritual jazz, like pharaoh sanders and later ‘trane? i definitely hear a lot of similar ideas, and the basses role in them is interesting too, but i cant quite describe it

[@pdbass]

Wow. I think it was the natural progression of the music, really. Lots of crossover but almost like a sub-genre. It’s deep!

[@carlosmacmartin4205]

“Playing free”. Sounds like being at a very high level of proficiency on your instrument and being let out of a cage like a bird. 😁

[@pdbass]

🤣 something like that

[@carlosmacmartin4205]

@@pdbass Your playing demonstration actually reminded me of Jimmy Garrison too.

[@explosivegaming5221]

Amazing video man thank you for the great advice! I have my first free jazz gig this weekend wondering if you have any tips on how to practice free jazz? I am a sax player. Cheers

[@pdbass]

Look at the audience and just JUMP IN, man. Have fun and don’t judge!

[@cameronsteuart1197]

what does that term "deep pocket" mean?

[@kenmorley2339]

You are not the greatest double bass player but your electric bass skills are impressive . I always enjoy your lectures and would love to hear a talk about John Ore . Now , you know what is coming , if Free Jazz is so good that sometimes it sounds as if the musicians are playing over changes , why dont they play over the bloody changes and stop bullshitting ?

[@pdbass]

You're not listening hard enough

[@AllseeingEwe]

Found you by accident. I love you. Can we please get married now?