Comprovisation - The Missing Link

Jamie, "KNOCKED IT OUT THE PARK" with this Masterclass “Comprovisation” The missing Link, what a great introduction to playing patterns or melodic fragments as Jamie presents them. I am glad Jamie opens up the video explaining that Comprovisation is a word he made up. In short, it is condition (pattern) playing combined with spontaneous expression (improvisation). Jamie is quick to point out that these are not licks, but compositional elements borrowed from other sources. If you have the time, I suggest that you listen to the original source material to fully comprehend the potential of the pattern/fragment. Jamie borrows material for his patterns from the jazz repository: Strong melodic fragment from a well-known standard, melodic fragment(s) from a Jazz icon’s solo that he extended into a pattern(s), Scale fragments and arpeggios. To get the most out of the material, you should probably have a rudimental knowledge of chord progressions and harmony. The value of practicing patterns is understanding the musical situation the pattern fits in. In my opinion, practicing patterns in the wrong place or wrong key can be counter-productive. Jamie helps with this effort by listing the chords for most of the progressions and walks you through his thought process for applying the patterns to common progressions. Specifically, how to work your way into the pattern and how to work your way out of the pattern and resolving to the tonic of the key. This is an excellent way to absorb the jazz language. By continuously practicing this material and constantly adding to the patterns contained in this masterclass; hopefully, you will find that this material will integrate with sounds that you are already familiar with, and become a part of your muscle memory. And ultimately, be improvised and performed effortlessly in the moment. Good luck, and thank you Jamie for another great class.

"He did it again!"

Not every musician is a good teacher, but Jamie definitely is both. If you are (like myself) well informed, have practised hours, days and years, but your playing is still somehow just about average than I strongly recommend Jamies videos (all of them). He seems to know my questions, shows me exactly what to do or redo or makes me look at well known material from a new and more acessible point of view. I just love it.