The Russell Ferrante Lesson - Creating Harmony by Stacking Chords | The Jazz Video Guy

www.russellferr... presents a piano lesson by Yellowjackets co-founder Russ Ferrante. Born in San Jose, California in 1952, Russell began studying piano at the age of 9 years old. His early musical experiences revolved around the church where his father was the choir master. His interest in jazz and improvisation was kindled in high school and shortly thereafter he began performing with various R&B and jazz groups in the San Francisco Bay Area. The bay area was an exciting place to be in the early 70s with musicians freely combining musical styles. This exposure to seemingly every kind of music helped prepare Russell for his professional career which began in 1973. It was then that he met guitarist, Robben Ford and toured the U.S. and Europe as part of legendary blues singer, Jimmy Witherspoon's band. "Much to my parent's displeasure, my gig with Jimmy Witherspoon necessitated my dropping out of college. I like to say though that navigating the musical and non-musical hazards of the road with "Spoon" was an education I could never have gotten in college". Russell moved to San Francisco in 1975 where he continued to be active on the vibrant local music scene and landed his first teaching job at the Community Music Center in the Mission District.
In 1977 Russell moved to Los Angeles in order to continue working with Robben Ford. Within a short time, he was recording and touring with a variety of musicians including Robben, Joe Farrell, Tom Scott, and Joni Mitchell. It was during this period that, Russell, Robben, and Jimmy Haslip co-founded the jazz group, Yellowjackets. It was also during this time that he began working as a freelance writer, arranger, and producer for numerous recordings including those by Bobby McFerrin, Michael Franks, Al Jarreau, and many others. Presently, Russell continues his 25-year association with Yellowjackets who concertize and conduct clinics worldwide. From their inception in 1980, Yellowjackets have recorded sixteen albums, receiving thirteen Grammy nominations and winning two awards, Best R&B Instrumental Performance in 1986 and Best Contemporary Jazz Performance in1989. They also wrote and performed music for the motion picture Star Trek IV, The Voyage Home.
Over the last 30 years Russell has recorded and performed with:
Art Blakey Lee Ritenour Rita Coolidge
Larry Carlton Kevyn Letteau Brenda Russell
Randy Crawford Eric Marienthal Wayne Shorter
Joe Farrell Bobby McFerrin Tom Scott
Robben Ford George Michael Marilyn Scott
Julia Fordham Marcus Miller Take 6
Michael Franks Joni Mitchell Sadao Watanabe
GRP All-Star Big Band Art Pepper Ernie Watts
Dave Grusin Jim Pepper JimmyWitherspoon
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#RussellFerranteLesson #HarmonybyStackingChords #JazzVideoGuy #russellferrante #stackingchords #harmony #yellowjackets #jazzmusic #russellferranteharmony #classicalmusic
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[@pierrejpiscitelli]

This is my favorite video on all of KZbin.

[@daveaustin4538]

you can play and work at music for decades, and then someone comes along and opens a new idea, and once again you are a beginning student.

[@cosmikdebris4950]

So very true, an evidence that music is a God's gift, so to speak.

[@xydex99]

would you have it any other way?

[@michaellavelle9943]

What a brilliant musician and a wonderful chap as well. I will never forget meeting him in London and I asked him where I could get the chart for "Love and Paris Rain" for my daughter to sing. He took my address and when he got back to the USA he sent me a copy of the manuscript!

[@TiteTrax]

THAT'S the kind of person that he is!! Truly giving and NEVER one to hoard his tremendous knowledge. Once, at a winery in Temecula playing with his band the Yellowjackets and Stanley Jordan, he let me get on the stage and mess around with his setup WHILE PEOPLE WERE COMING IN AND GETTING SEATED. WHO tf else would do that? And I was a beginning-intermediate player back then but it was more important to him to INSPIRE me than to have a "professionally run" stage show. I'll ALWAYS love that man for giving me the confidence to follow my musical dreams not to mention the actual theoretical stuff he broke down for me on MANY occasions.

[@grxengine6188]

Unless you are a musician you can never know the very personal emotional language we speak to each other. Its impossible to describe. Thanks for sharing this story.

[@its_james88perry51]

Oh wow. My heart is crying happy tears for the both of you to have had these experiences. I’ve loved him and the yellowjackets since the early 90s but have never been to a show. 😔

[@moggpiano8043]

@@grxengine6188 I know it's 2 years on from your comment, but I sat in and played in band while on holiday in Paris (France) some years ago. The bass player was the only Frenchman, the drummer was Iranian and the sax player was from Japan, (I'm English). When we started to play (Jobim's "Desifinado" as I remember, a Brazilian tune) we were all speaking the same language. 🙂 Ain't musicthe best! (Just wanted to share... ❤.)

[@smaklilu90]

I might say this is the gateway to their authentic 'yellow jacket' sound. I will consider this like sharing a secret recipe.

[@msgflava]

+sami aklilu The first jacket's tune I thought of where I can hear Russ use these ideas was "Spirit of the West". Great secret recipe.

[@shuaduah]

+sami aklilu I was thinking the same thing. Russ is giving up the goods here! But I guess it comes down to execution. I know i could play these chords, but not like him. AT ALL!

[@possumkeys]

sami aklilu Growing is sharing. This is insider information! Such value! All I want now is the brecker brother sound.

[@GlennMichaelThompson]

There's a great book by Wayne J. Naus called Beyond Functional Harmony which has a lot of interesting approaches to harmonic concepts. The book happens to have many examples based on music from The Yellowjackets. It's published by Advance Music.

[@GlennMichaelThompson]

There's a great book by Wayne J. Naus called Beyond Functional Harmony which has a lot of interesting approaches to harmonic concepts. The book happens to have many examples based on music from The Yellowjackets. It's published by Advance Music. It is REALLY worth checking out. Comes with a CD as well.

[@WynMills1]

Russ is simply a jazz giant. 30 plus years and still making brilliant brilliant albums with the Yellowjackets. Such charm, grace and humility. Latest album Cohearance is just stunning.

[@thomasmonroy1307]

Russell is fantastic. I learned more in the past 8 minutes than I had in 2 years. Such a beautiful man with a humble heart.

[@bazindy1551]

Russell has one of the most brilliant minds in modern music. True genius.

[@JamesScottGuitar]

Amen.

[@MrNyansapo]

I love this brother, his spirit comes out through his playing!

[@benthjort]

What a unbelievable volume of love and ongoing believe in the simple things, that can become great achievement. Hugh thanks ❤

[@HardWorkingKat]

Russ is simply a freakin' genius..... hands down. What a gift he has been to us all.

[@JerryT21]

I met Russell at Birdland in NYC 2 years ago and he was the nicest most humble musician and person i have ever met ... A true genius ...thank you RF ★★★

[@GabrielSantiago]

My Hero!! Ferrante forever!

[@genekelly3961]

Harmonic colors that are beautiful and just what I needed to hear on this cloudy day, lol.

[@JazzVideoGuy]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@chickle77]

incredible. The Yellowjackets sound made to sound so easy (it isn't by the way) but to understand the theory behind it is a revelation (no pun intended)

[@elovesmika]

ha ha ha.... excellent!

[@jaydabliu]

I LOVE Russ... And he seems like such a humble human being... God bless him for this!

[@chrissailer2609]

Russell, you have inspired me as a musician and as a human being in my everyday life since i heard your playing. It has helped me through some hard times. Thank you for doing what you love and being able to share it with all of us. most importantly staying true to music and yourself. Can't say enough, Russ.

[@grxengine6188]

I favorited this video 7 years ago and only now am I truly understanding just the first 3 minutes of it. I am in such awe of this guy....still!! YellowJackets Forever!

[@michaelkarns5330]

A master of the keyboard. Appreciate his willingness to share.

[@dastrn]

This is FANTASTIC! Thank you for posting this. It will honestly change my songwriting ability. I've been in a rut, and this is exactly the help I need to climb out and expand what I do.

[@joeschmo1332]

Russel is a monster musician, very talented and plays with such good taste, met him in Germany a few years ago, it was a delight, love this guy.

[@JamesScottGuitar]

The sound of Bill Evans.

[@UkuleleAversion]

Absolutely, he loves cluster voicings

[@fenix9885]

This is an awesome video. I like how he breaks it down and it doesn't get too complicated

[@tuxsax]

this guy is amazing! the peace, humbleness and joy that come out of his shy smile is so comforting! so is his music! I love you Russ!

[@DesmondMason]

I'm going to practice these voicings.......they have a crystalline sound! Just beautiful...

[@gregjohnsonjazz]

What a beautiful mind! Russ is such a unique and brilliant musician.

[@hahabass]

Russell, you're genius! Love everything this guy does.

[@AntKneeLeafEllipse]

This is such an incredible lesson! Can't emphasize how much value I got.

[@cbro777]

Big smiles....the Russell Ferrante sound man! Love it.

[@lunaisgreenwood]

My older brother introduced me to Yellow Jackets when I was a kid. I can´t count the many times i have listened to especially the Politics, Four Corners and Greenhouse albums growing up. I was immediately mesmerized by Ferrante´s approach harmony, voicing and melody. He is just brilliant!

[@MrScogmo]

That really opens some doors beyond classic jazz

[@steviemusic1]

Fantastic! Superb! Amazing! Lovely sounds! Ok, I'll stop now

[@elovesmika]

I keep coming back to this video! It's a wealth of math, love and information beyond any other 9 minutes on the planet! Thank you SO MUCH. Russell! YOU ARE THE MAN!!!!!

[@Lucidaydreamer]

What a great teacher-- it comes across so clearly! Cant wait to try this idea with vocal arpeggios tomorrow... Subscribed!

[@hztan1263]

This is by far the best jazz content creator, so much information and wisdom shared! I don't even know these wisdom exists! Thank you so much!

[@kaixo7]

Humility is a source of wisdom...

[@JazzVideoGuy]

Well said.

[@stuartdryer1352]

Along with Lyle Mays, one of the most interesting composers in jazz harmony. Not to mention the ways both of them are able to take a melodic motif and completely explore it, in an almost symphonic way. Thank you for this!!!!!!!!

[@Gerrond]

THIS IS MY DUDE! One of The Greats...

[@TrevorWesleyOfficial]

So amazing! I learned this technique in all keys and since I have seen a huge development in my playing.... It's great because it allows a complex kind of sound amungs also a purity if provides.... This can be applied in so many ways... Simple pop tunes as well! Thanks Rus. and Shout out to Ruslan Sirota for bringing me to you years ago. He has helped me through out the years.

[@christianveyret5238]

What a great video, amaizing sound and colour! Big Thanks

[@ThePianojazzman1]

Beautiful pianist, beautiful musician and just a beautiful human being!

[@waltbas]

I play bass, but always wanted to play piano. I've listened to the these guys for years. This is a good start....

[@closetome]

What a lovely, lovely man...I'm a fan!

[@nuancemusic]

@3.57 so yellowjackets!!! I love it!!!

[@ssake1_IAL_Research]

Lovely to finally see Russell "in person." I'm just a beginner so this is too advanced for me, but it's interesting that I was experimenting with the sound of the fifth over (i.e., after) the root, just as he started with.

[@panavisionnot7180]

Genius.. simply genius..

[@alarytube]

Great musician and a wonderful person.

[@playbackmidi9399]

Humildade total...que honra pra mim desfrutar da atenção de um grande musico como esse.. (sorry I dont speak english)

[@jazzsecrets]

What I like about this is you are using both hands alike and it creates such an open sound. It's similar to endings in jazz standards, keeping the same top note, etc.

[@jackjenkins485]

Love this video. Simple, but you can dive as deep as you want to

[@JazzVideoGuy]

Absolutely!

[@michaelprosperity3420]

OK this guy lost me from go. Love,love,love your music. This music is pure genius and good for mind travels and soothing to the heart.

[@2005rosebud]

beautiful sounds

[@t3wells]

Thirty people downvoted this amazing share from Russell. I feel such sorrow for each of them. I fear they have holes in their souls.....

[@ericgcastile]

Classic Yellow Jackets sound!

[@doctorgarbonzo2525]

Musicians Musician! Avid Fan & followed since the The Inside Story

[@shanephilen]

Russ never ceases to amaze me. I can't wait to apply this!

[@alibey7013]

love this guy, his concept on jazz harmonies is just A one.

[@byronwalton4459]

I think the YJ recording that really introduced stacked chords is Like a River!

[@JazzVideoGuy]

Amen.

[@chrisjarden7620]

Amazing video! Thanks so much for sharing.

[@timreyes58]

This is simply awesome.

[@dlneto]

Thank you, Mr. Ferrante. I am a big fan of you! God bless you

[@claryscat]

Thanks Brett and thanks Russell! The good news is that we just got the $100 lesson for free... the bad news is that now I'm tripping on this with obsession. I can see years worth of work here for me. It's like peeling the cosmic onion, never ending. I stumbled on a tritone pair this morning and got a small glimpse of what you are saying. Perfect explanation... perfect lesson for me! It was like getting a ton of compositional building blocks dumped on me all at once.

[@bcctrombonesl]

the movement at 6:23 is simply beautiful... this guy is a master.

[@thomashood252003]

@ 6:23 I hear some Gretchen Parlato..Winter Wind?

[@AndreasHertelJazzpiano]

This is beautiful! Thank you, Sir!

[@JazzVideoGuy]

Thanks for listening

[@IllusionSector]

Wow! So deceptively simple and yet so potent.

[@taylorfusion]

What a generous lesson. Thanks Russell and jazz video guy

[@Nikyb1]

Thanks for that Russell. Caught the jackets at the Blue Note NYC. May 2015. They were awesome.

[@mxfxdlg]

Russell is a giant. And obviously, a gentle giant, at that.

[@alvinfrazierTV]

Beautiful...

[@fernandocarneiro7797]

Brilliant! Thanks for sharing!

[@JazzVideoGuy]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@LuizOliveira-wx2zr]

AMAZING CLASS!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! CREATING RIGHT NOW!!!

[@carlosnagy]

Russel is on of the genius of the Jazz history..

[@jimjennings7623]

You just explained Copland to me. This is almost exactly how he composed progressions for Applachian Spring. Thank you!

[@williamlarson2759]

Great idea and sounds!

[@deetgeluid]

Still learning as a drummer. This is so inspirational.

[@JazzVideoGuy]

He's that kind of guy.

[@dannomagnanno]

wow super pretty sounds ❤

[@freesalute]

beautiful

[@dldl43b]

What a good direct way to teach this skill. Very nice

[@HotRodSixString]

Simply Brilliant

[@MrMrsalo]

Ya me había espantado, ¡pensé que no servía una de mis bocinas! Maestro Russ!

[@zamplify]

brilliant lesson

[@Kennypeagler]

I've been such a fan of his writing. Lesson wasn't too insightful for me but his writing perspective is amazing; I love hearing him speak.

[@grxengine]

I AM a musician and THIS guy makes ME swoon. Russ is a special guy. I wished he and YellowJackets would consider venturing into film score.

[@Clementine_left_me]

+grxengine You say that as if being a "musician" means you should never be impressed (also as if the fact that YOU being impressed carries any more significance than another person being impressed, but the egotistical aspect is for another day). Any musician who thinks he is no longer a student of the subject is not a musician at all.

[@grxengine]

@@Clementine_left_me don't make YOUR thing about ME, please.

[@sertacbass]

U made my day again Rus! Thanks for being such an inspiration ★★★★★

[@MrJoshuasihombing]

Russ is my hero of all time!

[@drumstudio2000]

Awsome idea and really thanks for your contribution to the Jackets!

[@ElhermanoCristian]

Russel is a present of God for us

[@jeroenvrolijk7610]

Amazing❤

[@rudyzulkarnaen1633]

Beautiful

[@Saxmus6Dflats]

This is just great! Thank you for sharing!

[@AndersMossberg]

Of course you are right. This is more IMHO another angle. By identifying the inner or stacked chords I open my mind to, for example melody based on the top chord or another stacked chord. If I play a C and take away the third and stack a Eb on it I have basically a Cminor7 now stack a F on that and it starts to sound interesting, granted the F adds 11 and 13 to the Cminor7 but could also be defined as F and of course with the Eb note in there we´re talking a dominant 7 (F) to Bb and so on. :-)

[@willshakeyou]

Wow Bret this is awesome! thank you so much for the wonderful information and for introducing me to Russell!

[@vanessachallis2159]

Very inspiring! and I will certainly look forward to experimenting! :) Thank you very much.

[@JohnHorneGuitar]

Can't like this enough!

[@markgray1109]

One of the more beautiful sounds

[@IMunoz_momentum]

Thank you for this wonderful upload. This video has so much value

[@asd21141]

Godly feeling Russell, Thanks 11000 times. JVG.

[@bekagigauri1799]

This is a real treasure, thanks maestro !!

[@JazzVideoGuy]

Russ is a wonderfully talented fellow

[@EduardoGomez-rp7gg]

Rusell is increíble!!!

[@eddieburke3816]

Thanks for sharing, Russell. Great stuff!