The secret of improvisation

[BillF]

On this week's Live at Emmet's Place Eddie Henderson reveals that as a teenage trumpeter he asked Miles Davis how to improvise and was told (in husky whisper) "learn as many licks as you can, then scotch tape them together."

 

[Gheorghe]

Good answer by Miles, so hip, so quick. 

But take care where you scotch tape them together . Some starters leave holes, let´s say if it´s a 32 bar song form , I mean with a bridge. Take care how you play from the 16th bar into the bridge. No edges, no holes.... it has to flow .....

[Teasing the Korean]

1 hour ago, Gheorghe said:

But take care where you scotch tape them together . Some starters leave holes, let´s say if it´s a 32 bar song form , I mean with a bridge. Take care how you play from the 16th bar into the bridge. No edges, no holes.... it has to flow .....

Unless you want to differentiate the bridge from the rest of the tune, which is also a valid approach.  Bridges often have a different lyrical perspective, so there is nothing wrong with a different melodic perspective.

Edited May 19, 2022 by Teasing the Korean

[jlhoots]

2 hours ago, BillF said:

On this week's Live at Emmet's Place Eddie Henderson reveals that as a teenage trumpeter he asked Miles Davis how to improvise and was told (in husky whisper) "learn as many licks as you can, then scotch tape them together."

 

That was a good show.

[BillF]

1 hour ago, jlhoots said:

That was a good show.

Yes indeed!

And how Eddie's retained his chops at the age of 81!!

[jlhoots]

9 minutes ago, BillF said:

Yes indeed!

And how Eddie's retained his chops at the age of 81!!

Steve Davis was good too. Prompted me to pull out a couple of my old One For All CDs.