Taking the Same Solo 20 Years Later

Taking the Same Solo 20 Years Later
In this video I talk about things I used to do as a soloist and how those have changed over the years. I had the unique opportunity of getting to play the SAME TUNE with the SAME BAND 20 years later. Check out the detailed Results in this video 👀
Want to learn how to become a better improviser? Subscribe to my email list for free resources and deals on my Educational Material TODAY:
www.stevekortyka.com
members-stevekortyka.com
Use the code 'SAXSTEVE' for a discount on the JL Woodwinds Artist Edition Tenor.
Use this link when purchasing all Boston Sax Products: www.bostonsaxs...?aff=4
Thanks for watching - Don't forget to 'like' and 'subscribe'!
Yamaha YTS62: sweetwater.sjv...
Yamaha Amber Lacquer YTS62 🔥: sweetwater.sjv...
All things Boston Sax: www.bostonsaxs...
The Apogee USB Microphone: sweetwater.sjv...
Key Leaves: sweetwater.sjv...
SaxLab Holder: sweetwater.sjv...

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

I'd love to see you take your original solo and change as little as possible to take it from a beginner's solo to a more mature improvisational piece...

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Wow great idea! Thankyou for this awesome suggestion - wheels are turning ⚙️⚙

[@Notamusicianfr]

This is really awesome to watch and listen. I didn’t start improvising till 17 and didn’t get lessons for improvisation till I was 20 I believe. Now I’m 25 and it’s good to remember that good things take time.

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Ey thanks so much for this comment! It definitely takes time but it’s possible for all ages to be continually improving - I’ve seen it many times 😎

[@maxhenderson7334]

This is really cool to see. You can definitely see a huge improvement. I started learning about improv and jazz in my senior year of high school and am still learning it in my sophomore year at Ohio State. It's cool to see someone at your level who also lived in the Cleveland area and went to Ohio State. Really motivating.

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Thanks Max! I have some more footage that I'm working on getting together - can't wait to share it :). In the meantime, I appreciate the encouragement and that you got some inspiration. All I can say about music is the more I learn, the more fun it gets :)

[@timobesamusca9332]

Thanks for this great video, and for being so open on your own development as a saxophonist! I really appreciated the insights on focusing on the 4 or 8 bar phrases as a complete sentence, rather than getting as much information out as possible during the solo. I guess that’s where the maturity and experience as a player kicks in, feeling so comfortable and confident that you focus on the coherence of your sentences. Excellent Steve, once again thanks! 🙏🏻

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Hey Timo - thanks so much for checking it out! Its been a joy to dive in and share my experiences and am happy to do it :) yes - phrasing is everything in my opinion when it comes to creating improvisations that people are going to be engaging 🙌

[@vladimirlopez7840]

I wish I could even do the solo you did as a kid. But I didn’t start sax until I was 48 I’m 50 now. I’ve kind of given up on the idea of improvising and just play Dexter transcriptions and some Lou Donaldson transcriptions.

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Ahhh thankyou i appreciate that! There’s a ton to learn from Dexter and he is the phrasing master! 2 years is not a very long time for an improviser, but I’m sure you sound a lot better now than you did then!

[@vladimirlopez7840]

@@SaxophoneSteveKortyka definitely sound much better. Thank you.

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

I think the personal joy in this artform can come from the realization that you are sounding better than a previous version of yourself. Some days are better for others for me, but I will say that practicing the rhythmic component really helps me to organize what I'm playing when improvising. Drumming using my hands or on an actual drum kit even for a 5 - 10 minutes during a practice session will help things flow a lot better. Awesome on joining the band! That is what makes this all worth it :) Meeting other players that are into it an especially into improvisation is so great and will keep you on the path to get to where you're going. Improv is definitely not EASY, but it doesnt have to be as confusing and mystic as some teachers present it. I saw that you left another comment on here but cant find it anymore. Let me know if you have any other questions - happy to talk :)

[@gryffonsi]

@@vladimirlopez7840 one of the musicians that came to my school told us, “every plateau has a field which you must walk in,” sometimes to move forward you have to stay on a seemingly-flat path for a while : )

[@kemigeorge6294]

Hey fellow jazz buddy! I'm 45, had my first trumpet lesson at 42. Please don't give up on the idea of improvising. I won't say I'm in any way good at it, but I've definitely learned a lot, and have notably gotten better. You can do it too. It is hard, and will take time, but you can absolutely learn to improvise, and man, it feels real good. Keep at it!

[@drkeithnewton]

@Steve Kortyka. I can't believe you have all of this old footage! Thanx for sharing. The new version definately does not sound as "harmonica"ly as the first clip :)

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Yeah man total blasts from the past !!! I wish I had some cab Calloway footage of the fastest tune ever written now that would be something!

[@pichipachu]

Awesome blues tone! Jr Walker!

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

The GOAT!

[@paulmcgovern9248]

Absolutely! And you keeping that tradition alive… a joy to hear!

[@LuanneFose]

Thanks for this video, Steve. It's very humbling to look back sometimes but also great to see where we continue to grow. I really appreciate your comments about phrasing... that is so important to remember and what I see and hear separating the newbie improvisers in comparison to the masters. I try to make it a practice not to memorize my improvised solos to play in concerts and force myself to work on the progressions beforehand but just let whatever happens happen. To me, that is what true improvisation is. Question: For this solo was it coming off the top of your head from years of patterns, chord understanding, etc. or were you truly improvising without memorized ideas in the solo 20 years later? Just curious! Nice job.

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Thanks Luanne :) I totally agree - its easy to forget where we came from, especially when you get lost in what somebody else is doing. I always try to find the joy in my personal development rather than worry about how I'm not measuring up to what somebody else is doing , although sometimes it can be difficult! True improvisation both times, but the second time a bit truer. It took years of practice to improvise like that but from that process I think I have come up with a system that will work for anybody 🚀 I think even the greatest improvisations have some level of memorized ideas and familiarity. I'm definitely playing things that I know but usually starting with an idea and seeing where the moment leads me depending on what is being played. Because of all the variables i.e. time, harmony, note choice, chord tones + substitutions over the years I have taught myself to be able to go to a lot of different places from the same starting points. Thanks for the line 🎷

[@LuanneFose]

@@SaxophoneSteveKortyka Thanks, Steve, for the thorough reply. That was what I was hoping you were doing. I have been learning licks in all kinds of keys and I do notice them floating into my muscle memory when I'm improvising so I guess that is working for me. It is exciting to REALLY improvise instead of memorizing what I will play when performing. Carry on with the great videos!

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

My pleasure@@LuanneFose ! Its so great to hear this and get a grand scale picture of how what you're practicing will lead to a more sophisticated improvisation. Keep on sheddin', it only gets better!

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

What was the first song you ever soloed on?

[@Notamusicianfr]

25 or 6 to 4 🤣

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

@@Notamusicianfr 🔥🔥🔥

[@davidphilipp16]

Mediterranean sundance

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Haven’t heard that one ! Gonna check it out 👀

[@matthewrayner571]

Jitterbug by Stepcat on clarinet. The whole thing was just me and the backing, but there were a whole bunch of bits in the middle where I needed to make up my own line (or just stand there looking pretty).

[@kezif]

Ah yes, fresh and jazzy dissonant notes. They doesn't sound bad at all

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Thanks cat!

[@nezkeys79]

The F on the C chord doesnt even sound bad lol 🤓

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

It was definitely played with confidence haha :) loud and proud!