A transcription and break down of Miles Davis' solo on the Sonny Rollins tune, "Doxy," recorded in 1954 on the "Bags' Groove" album.

When the local Episcopalian priest asked me to do a podcast interview, he may have gotten more than he bargained for. His show is called “Crossroads — where faith and every day life converge.” Guests are asked to share how their faith shapes and impacts their lives. This topic was right up my alley. Over…

Interpreting melodies is an essential, yet often overlooked skill for young jazz players and arrangers. This is understandable. How could we expect anything different when instrumentalists are exclusively taught and expected to play music exactly as it is presented to them in lessons and band class? But, within a jazz quartet, it would sound ludicrous…

A quote from Clark, the autobiography of trumpeter Clark Terry: “Emulate, assimilate, and innovate.” (Clark Terry) Clark Terry’s formula for success is prominently displayed at the top of all my jazz improvisation course syllabi. A more succinct and accurate summary of the process for learning jazz doesn’t exist. I just finished the Clark Terry autobiography and…

Where Are We? How Did We Get Here? And Where Are We Headed? Why do most jazz history textbooks (not to mention the infamous Ken Burns jazz documentary) end around 1970 and/or give only fleeting mentions of truly contemporary jazz? Is thirty or forty years still too recent to comment reflectively? Has nothing of artistic…