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Guitarist Pat Metheny is one of the brightest stars in the jazz firmament. The only person to win a Grammy in ten different categories, the ever-evolving artist is constantly experimenting with new technology and honing his improvisational skills and unique style. On this 2006 Piano Jazz, The Pat Metheny Trio, which includes bassist Christian McBri…

Grammy Award-winning pianist, composer, and bandleader Michel Camilo is one of the most fascinating jazz artists working today. A prodigy from the Dominican Republic, he began his professional career at sixteen, the youngest member of the National Symphony Orchestra. In his twenties he moved to New York City, where he took the jazz scene by storm w…

Long acknowledged as one of the world's leading sopranos, Eileen Farrell (1920 – 2002) was comfortable in the spotlight of opera, jazz, and the blues. She began her career as a classical and operatic singer, and in the 1980s began performing pop. Of the change, Farrell said, "In opera there is a certain person you have to be. Doing pop, I can be wh…

Pianist Gene Harris (1933 – 2000) was an integral part of the well-known group The Three Sounds trio, with bassist Andy Simpkins and drummer Bill Dowdy. After a brief hiatus in the 1970s, he teamed up with bassist Ray Brown to form a new group and also made his way as a solo act. An accomplished leader and sideman, Harris played with such greats as…

This week, Piano Jazz remembers Marlene VerPlanck (1933 – January 14, 2018), who died from cancer this year at age 84. One of the finest interpreters of American Popular Song, VerPlanck's artistic sensitivity made her a favorite of songwriters and listeners alike. As a studio singer, she was sought out by everyone from Frank Sinatra to KISS, and sh…

Vibraphonist Stefon Harris is one of the most innovative and impressive artists in jazz, blazing new trails on vibraphone and marimba. While much of his music is on the cutting edge, he has a strong sense of tradition and his technical facility knows no bounds. On this 2002 Piano Jazz, Harris shows off his fresh, clear sound on a number of duets wi…

This week's Piano Jazz presents an episode from the early years of the program with guest Jess Stacy (1904 – 1995), who came out of retirement to appear on the show in 1982. One of the leading pianists of the swing era, Stacy was best known for his work with the Benny Goodman Orchestra and had a prolific career before stepping back from the music w…

Pianist and composer Rachel Z grew up in Manhattan in a musical family. Her mother taught her classical voice and opera from a young age, but she found her own sound in the jazz and rock worlds. On the keys, she is lightning-quick and her percussive yet lyrical approach enhances her technique. In 2010, she formed a group called The Trio of Oz with …

Ever-popular song stylist Tony Bennett was McPartland's guest for the first time in 1990. Bennett vocalizes American popular songs like nobody else can. When he was starting out, a voice teacher, Miriam Spier, famously told him: "Don't imitate singers, imitate musicians." So, Bennett decided to emulate Art Tatum. He also credits his relaxed deliver…

Upon moving to New York from Vancouver, Canada, pianist and composer Renee Rosnes established a reputation as one of the premier jazz musicians on the scene. Over her 30-year career, Rosnes has collaborated with a diverse range of artists, from established masters such as Jack DeJohnette to younger giants such as Christian McBride and Melissa Aldan…

Hristo VitchevBy Mark Stevens

Nuance CrusadersBy Mark Stevens

Yoshio SuzukiBy Mark Stevens

Kurt RibakBy Mark Stevens

Tim BartonBy Mark Stevens

James ArmaniBy Mark Stevens

Kurt RibakBy Mark Stevens

My iTunes page Show Notes Howdy! Important! If you can see this box, you should make sure that you listen to the message starting at 37:03! I think you’ll be glad you did! On May 28, 2014, this episode will be adjusted, and this box will disappear! Today’s show notes are pretty brief. I’d like […]By James Dering

Trio VelocityBy Mark Stevens

Mike BardashBy Mark Stevens

Mikel PaulBy Mark Stevens

What is "reharmonization"? Find out in this content-packed interview with Dr. Dariusz Terefenko, who shares 6 techniques for reharmonizing for beginners through advanced players. Fun!By James Dering

My iTunes page Show Notes Do you know what a motive is? A motive is a small fragment of a melody, something akin to a commonly used phrase, in speech. Why should you care? Because motives are awesome. Motives are small “ingredients” that play an extremely important role in improvisation and composition. A lot of […]…

It's time for more fun with the blues scale! This time we hit it from the advanced player's point of view. As usual, there's lots to talk about. There wasn't nearly enough time to cover everything, but you'll still come away from this episode with lots of great ideas.By James Dering

This episode is loaded with some of my absolute best tips for using the blues scale. If you've found yourself saying "I know the notes, but what do I DO with this thing, exactly?" then you're in the right place!By James Dering

If you're a beginner interested in playing jazz, blues, pop, rock, gospel, country, funk, or R&B, one of the most important things on your to-do list should be to make sure you know the blues scale, inside and out! Here's an in-depth introduction to this awesome tool, complete with tips, some "philosophizing," and a great blues-scale lick for you t…

The Better Piano Podcast is back! Today we take a tour of my exciting new product, "Better Blues Progressions: 50 Fantastic Progressions and the Secrets Behind How They Work." We'll also discuss a new progression, some left-hand tips, and a special offer.By James Dering

Our journey through the 12-Bar Blues continues, this time at the advanced level. I take an in-depth look at three great techniques, and talk about how you can learn more.By James Dering

Here we continue our adventure through the 12-bar blues progression, this time taking up the conversation at the intermediate level. Check it out!By James Dering

In this episode we begin a tour of the 12-bar blues form. We start basically from scratch, and finish with at least five different ways that you can play! Fun, fun!By James Dering

Think major triads are just for beginners? This episode will showcase some intermediate and even advanced things that can be done with our good friend, the major triad.By James Dering

It's our first topical episode, and it's all about major triads, for ALL levels- beginners, intermediate players, and advanced players. And it's so packed that it's been split into two parts. This part goes through the end of the section for beginners. Check it out!By James Dering