Lesson Overview:

In this masterclass, Josh takes you through his language based approach to improvisation.

A short list of some of the musicians Josh mentions include Antoine Boyer, John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Chris Potter, Keith Jarret, Birelli Lagrene, Sylvian Luc, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Guthrie Govan, Shawn Lane, Pantera, Children of Bodom, Metallica, George Garzone

The Chris Potter Sax Solo Mentioned:

Summary on Learning Licks Licks (18:10)

• Figure out the chord progression
• Analyse the Intervals against the chords
• Relate it to a familiar scale shape/box (Normally Pentatonic)
• Practice incorporating it into your existing vocabulary
• See what other Harmonic Situations (Chords/Progressions) it will fit
• Put it in every Key and different positions/fingerings/scale shapes
• Write variations/alternate endings/alternate intros
• Write a Piece, Etude or Solo with the material
• Keep Exploring – Add Chromaticism, Rhythmic Variety, etc

Soundbites

02:35 “Every artist is a combination of their favourite musicians”

02:45 “Figure out who your favourtie artist is and learn as much from them”

03:20 “Every Player should have one master who they’ve studied the most”

14:00 “I would always learn a lick from a song I was playing”

18:10 Chris Potter ii-V-I Lick

29:00 Thomas Pusztai Lick

30:20 Frank Gambale Lick – Played with different Rhythms each time

35:45 “Audience Like it when there’s a bit of risk”

37:50 “One lick can inspire a whole solo”

37:55 “You have to put it inot practice, you can’t just think of the concept and hope for it to work”

51:05 Legato Lick

55:20: “A good aim is one new thing/lick a day”

01:04:20 “If you have to think about the changes, you haven’t learnt the tune well enough”

1:14:30 “I think pentatonics are the best way of playing outside”