Exploding the Myths of Jazz Improvisation | Ken Avis

Exploding the Myths of Jazz Improvisation | Ken Avis | TEDxTysonsSalon

Рет қаралды 19,756

7 жыл бұрын

There's an image of the jazz improvizer taking inspiration from the gods and inventing a new music of the soul in the moment. Only those with the spiritual connection have their antenna tuned to receive the divine message. What about the rest of us? How do we develop our sage-like qualities to hang with the cool kids and create in the moment? Let's democratize the idea of improvisation to transform it into an everyday frame-of-mind which we can all use in our daily activities.
Ken Avis is a jazz guitarist, and vocalist with international world-jazz quartet Veronneau. The band tours in Europe and the US and have had Top 10 CD's in the Jazz and World music categories. They have received WAMMIE Awards for Best Jazz Group, Vocals and Recordings, as well as performing live on BBC radio, and performing regularly at DC venues such as The Kennedy Center, Strathmore, Blues Alley, Twins Jazz, DC Jazz Festival and many more.
In 2014 Ken proposed and co-curated Strathmore Jazz Samba Project Festival, a week-long festival of Brazilian music, workshops, and film which earned a National Endowment for the Arts award. He co-produced a documentary, Bossa Nova, and is currently working on a movie, Anacostia Delta, for release in 2016, which spotlights the impact of DC guitarists Danny Gatton and Roy Buchanan.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

Пікірлер: 32

@kevinhornbuckle 9 ай бұрын

The recording with the vocalist is very special. True musical artistry.

@SonicDreamMusic Жыл бұрын

Good content and delivery. Way to start by quoting Homer Simpson! I think he should modify and say that some of the musicians he mentioned had no "formal" education. They still had an education, it was off records, off the radio and TV, off watching the bands/musicians in their town or that came thru, off jamming with others, maybe they had a teacher or two share some techniques and concepts. They had an education, it was just informal.

@jeniblessman 6 жыл бұрын

Great talk! LOVED the video at the end!

@craighoyer6543 3 жыл бұрын

Solfege is not theory. It is singing the pitches, not their deep connection. I notice presenter's German Polka roots come out at the end of the clap-along. I love this talk for it is inspired from personal growth. As an experienced jazzer, I find young players defeated in their own minds long before they take the stage. To quote ASSASSIN'S CREED IV: "everything is permitted." John McLaughlin is the epitome of 20th century guitar. Gypsy guitar is limited to swing feel. McLaughlin plays all styles, multicultural, unmatched feel and depth. I love Django but McLaughlin contains Rheinhardt. Elliott Carter's music was contemporaneous to Beatles and Stones. He does not use blues-based rock-style singing at all, ever, while sharping a fourth or flatting a third is the extent of "adventure" in pop vocal music.. Musical intentions are almost as important as content. I like pop music, but I know what it is after a lifetime of study and performance.

@VegasCyclingFreak 6 жыл бұрын

Great message, and performance at the end

@dragonfyre1589 4 жыл бұрын

To everyone saying he doesn't have the qualifications: Read the description. This guy obviously has experience and knows what he's talking about. Yeah he messed up the solfege thing, but give him a break. He knows a lot more than anyone in these comments.

@dcp8nts 2 жыл бұрын

And the claps are on 1 and 3. lol

@storagehead 6 жыл бұрын

And thank you, too.

@uwemuller1013 5 жыл бұрын

gotta love how all the jazz snobs in the comments get riled up because of this vid:)

@craighoyer6543 3 жыл бұрын

Ex-wife and I saw Getz play live three times. First two times Getz tried to pick up the ex. Last time he tried to pick us both up. Beautiful tone. I always felt him intentionally holding back, too much for my taste, but I am a jazz pro.. It's OK. I loved Coltrane and Coltrane loved Getz.

@farrellcityking1 4 жыл бұрын

Anything to cover for why you can’t do something.

@davidkelly831 Жыл бұрын

Ken should give dating advice too 😂

@sergej100qca4 2 жыл бұрын

Interesting talk, but I had a couple problems with his thoughts on how people view jazz and jazz musicians. Also, he is not really a jazz musician. All of his language comes pretty strictly from the blues. If you compare his performance to something like Chris Potter, Mark Turner or Sonny Stitt, you'll be pressed to find anything similar.

@markrossi5703 5 жыл бұрын

You've made some inaccurate generalizations that served to expose your shortsightedness rather than 'exploding' any myths.

@JohnJohn-ir5hw 5 жыл бұрын

You must be referring to the speaker in the video. And, you're correct. It's simply bizarre that he would attempt to discourage "Solfeg" - pass it off as unnecessary - then, attempt to stress the importance of singing. Have your beginner guitar students learn Solfeg as they learn to play the guitar. That would have been a valuable suggestion, and not destructive like the anti-solfeg, "how much great music has come from France..." idiotic attempt to try to present himself as a rational and witty improviser. Too bad... he seems like an alright human.

@jerryli821 5 жыл бұрын

I agree with you. I love music theory and I try to teach the love of it.. But ... the reality is I play with a lot of musicians who have a hard time with it. They can't seem to connect their joy of music with music theory. How about you? same thing?

@juleslefumiste9204 4 жыл бұрын

Dunno, after having watched this vid I'm feeling both bored and triggered. Are you a wizard, Ken Avis?

@rossfromhonolulu Жыл бұрын

You lost me when you started to play.... sorry

@SIVA6619 5 жыл бұрын

SOLFEGE DOESN'T EQUAL THEORY. Clearly, this guy should not talk about jazz improvisation. What's up with the quality, Ted ?

@poppaboppa6000 5 жыл бұрын

TheMylesky shut up, nerd

@Izar_Sirius 9 ай бұрын

So close to the truth, yet so wrong 😂

@nonamed_9407 6 жыл бұрын

watch a different video, and save your time... you're welcome.

@dawsonredenius2359 6 жыл бұрын

nonamed _ send me the link to your ted talk please hurry

@nonamed_9407 6 жыл бұрын

real experts do not make ted speeches, as you already should know.

@jerryli821 5 жыл бұрын

It had a nice ending performance with his wife. Did you get that far?

@stringqi 5 жыл бұрын

I'm open to hearing someone sincerely sharing their knowledge. "Expert" or not.

@dylanmcgaharn5676 4 жыл бұрын

this man has no idea what he’s talking about or doing in general. Those blues lines were painfully basic and uninteresting

@tomford1376 9 ай бұрын

A lot of half-truths and over-simplifications. Ted can get weird every once in a while.

@dharmabam 4 жыл бұрын

i’m not sure this chap is very well qualified to talk on this subject. he seems nice though. but yknow. wrong

@arlarl5122 6 жыл бұрын

Improve jazz is the worst.

@dawsonredenius2359 6 жыл бұрын

Lorita Alanzo Innovative speller.

@arlarl5122 6 жыл бұрын

Dawson Redenius lol. *Improv.