Russ Nolan’s September 2014 DownBeat Magazine Woodshed Article

Russ Nolan’s September 2014 DownBeat Magazine Woodshed Article Featured in Keyboard School – DownBeat’s Guide to Learning Jazz Download the PDF:  NYC Saxophonist Russ Nolan Downbeat Magazine Woodshed September 2014   Russ Nolan | Jazz Educator and Clinician Bring Russ to your School for a Jazz Workshop and Concert

Read more

Book Review: Jazz Tactics by Chase Sanborn

  by Russ Nolan Jazz Tactics by Chase Sanborn Writing a ‘How To’ book that is both educational and entertaining is a monumental challenge. Most read like an appliance manual and are prescribed for insomnia. It is the genius who makes the complex simple and Chase Sanborn

Read more

John Ellis’ Tenor Sax Solo Transcription from ‘It’s You I Like’ — ‘You Are Special’

‘A Special’ John Ellis Solo  by Russ Nolan Note: it takes a minute before the manuscript focuses on YouTube. The PDF can be downloaded here. How many of you remember the classic children’s TV show, ‘Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood’? Well, even if some of you didn’t grow up watching

Read more

Bobby Stern’s Slick Licks That Stick!

Slick Licks That Stick! Book Review by Russ Nolan I recently purchased Tenor Saxophonist and Jazz Educator Bobby Stern’s e-book entitled Slick Licks That Stick! after discovering his B Natural jazz blog. Since digging in, I can’t put it down. It is now part of my daily practice.

Read more

“What’s So Funny?”

“What’s So Funny?” Joining in the Jazz Conversation by Russ Nolan Have you ever asked that question when observing a group of people who suddenly erupt in laughter? You want to be part of the party, not on the Outside looking In–don’t you? Attending a concert and

Read more

“Degree Not Required”

Do you need a Degree to Appreciate Jazz? by Russ Nolan (Continued from “I don’t get Jazz–and I WANT to”) Wouldn’t it be nice to see this phrase more often when looking for a new job? Besides, by the time one completes a degree in a certain field,

Read more

“I don’t get Jazz- and I WANT to!”

Understanding Jazz One of my fellow salsa dancers expressed this to me a few months back, and I believe it warrants a discussion. First of all, this person is honest with their feelings about the subject and has an open mind. They are ready to experience something

Read more

Playing Over the Bar Line using Pentatonics

by Russ Nolan Using Pentatonics to Connect the Chord Changes The phrase ‘Playing Over the Bar Line’ means starting a melodic/improvised line over one chord change and continuing it over into the next change (or more). It is the opposite of what many beginning improvisers (including myself

Read more

Teaching Jazz As A Language Part 3: Are You Relevant?

by Russ Nolan Teach Jazz Students to be Relevant Jazz as a Conversation Finally, as important as it is to give beginning improvisers the proper tools to build with, it’s equally important to reinforce the idea that these tools are only the means to the end, not the

Read more