Lazy Bird: Journey Through The Real Book

A jazz piano lesson to help you learn John Coltrane’s jazz standard “Lazy Bird.”
Take your LH playing to the next level with my free ebook: Jazz Piano Left Hand Techniques: keyboardimprov.com/jazz-left-...
You'll find my book, The Inner World of Piano Improvisation, on Amazon.
Understanding the context of John Coltrane’s “Lazy Bird” 0:00
Bringing our individual approach to the jazz tunes we play 0:44
The futility of comparing ourselves to Coltrane or other jazz musicians 0:49
John Coltrane’s 1958 album Blue Train 1:48
1959 as a landmark year for jazz 2:02
Seeing Coltrane’s “difficult chord progression” style in the context of his whole career 2:35
Our initial attempts at playing “Lazy Bird” 2:46
Disjunct tonal centers 3:03
Struggling for a long time 3:20
Eureka - it’s becoming easier to play! 4:02
Improvising melodic sequences, a la Gerry Mulligan 4:07
The difficult chord changes eventually inspire us with our improvising 4:58
Finding the right tempo for us 5:52
“Lazy Bird” as inspired by Tadd Dameron’s “Lady Bird” 6:51
Going for it! 7:53
Starting with the melody, right away 8:07
LH countermelodies on the bridge 8:27
The last ‘A’ section 8:37
Starting with simple, melodic improv 8:45
The Bill Evans influence shining through! 8:54
A 2-note motif 9:00
Continuous development, a la Keith Jarrett 9:02
Post-bop soloing over the bridge 9:05
Going “outside” the changes 9:17
Simplifying again, at the start of a new chorus 9:24
“Telling a story” 9:34
Pure bebop 10:02
Increasing the rhythmic intensity10:13
Rootless LH voicings 10:18
LH shell voicings 10:37
Rhythmic interplay between the two hands 10:42
A McCoy Tyner lick 10:51
A lick I made up in my 20s 10:57
Melodic lines based on arpeggios 11:01
Playful motifs and rhythms 11:07
Walking bass lines and chordal comping 11:19
Relaxing the groove upon the melody’s return 11:30
Walking bass during the bridge 11:39
Returning to the original feel 11:51
The Coda 11:59
Rallentando with arpeggios 12:05
Birdsong? 12:13
A surprising Duke Ellington influence 12:21
How to learn to play “Lazy Bird” 13:37
Here are some more Free Jazz Piano Lessons for you at the KeyboardImprov website: keyboardimprov.com/free-begin...
Thanks for joining me on this musical adventure, and please LIKE, COMMENT and SHARE this video with your musical friends.
If you'd like to start my full video course, you'll find it here: keyboardimprov.com/get-starte...
For Zoom and Skype lessons, please email me at [e-mail].
Enjoy the journey, and "let the music flow!"
Ron

[@jeffreydelisle7337]

Awesome Ron.thanks !

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Thanks Jeffrey - much appreciated :)

[@richbergeron7224]

Watching you play amazes me every time. It’s like your improving freely with both hands the whole time. No extended vamp/walking bass (although I know your great at that too)to solo over. Just freedom.

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Thanks Rich, that's a very nice thing to say! Good luck playing it yourself!

[@mikeratledgeguy]

i had no idea people thought it was hard! i’ve been gliding over the changes

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

You're one of the lucky ones!

[@prolificmedia01]

This is incredible! It will go down as a go-to collection for years to come. Thanks Ron

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Thank you, Michael - that's my goal!

[@steveha2865]

Great playing and insightful comments about a very challenging tune. Thanks for sharing with us.

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Thanks Steve - this was a fun one!

[@Libertariun]

08:07 Love your attitude. Great way to teach.

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Thanks Jonathan!

[@jeromemeltzermusic1493]

Nice lesson and great tune. Some very cool things happening here.

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Thanks Jerome - much appreciated!

[@brendaboykin3281]

Hi, Ron. Thank you 🌹🌹🌹

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Hi Brenda, I hope you're doing well :)

[@ajbarrowboy]

I love these videos, so helpful and inspires me to keep playing!

[@rondrotos5285]

That's inspiring to hear, Andy! Thanks for letting me know and good luck with your playing :)

[@song4night]

wow! such beautiful playing, love the technicalities too. Simply great!

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Thanks!!!

[@AFSoar01]

A+

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Thanks John!!!

[@brendaboykin3281]

Lazy Afternoon(recorded by pianist/vocalist Shirley Horn). 😉

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Thanks - that's another great "Lazy" song, Brenda! I thought of that right after I made the video!

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

There's also a Cole Porter song called "The Laziest Gal In Town."

[@brendaboykin3281]

@@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453 Love it. Thanx. 🌹🌹🌹

[@LocoMarioPL]

Wow ! Sounds nice ! Too difficult for me...