Hi and welcome to the blog for episode four of Music Space – to those that tuned in live – thank you! Joining us in the studio this week was acclaimed jazz guitarist, David Innocente. He spoke with Gary about his life and work as a professional musician, and also gave us a guitar lesson including guitar tricks on how to play guitar focusing on jazz guitar improvisation.
David’s Jazz Beginnings
Having played mainly rock ‘n’ roll for around five years, Dave, a self-taught guitarist, was initially inspired to explore jazz guitar improvisation when he heard a Herb Ellis album in his late teens. He would learn to play jazz guitar by listening to and ripping off the lines, which helped him better understand jazz harmony. He went on to learn jazz guitar at the University of Adelaide which catapulted him into the live-music scene, and from there into a career as a full time musician. One of his first recordings was with Hammond Eggs Trio, a Jimmy Smith inspired ensemble.
A Career Playing Jazz and More
The live music scene was a great proving ground and a place to meet other musicians. That network led to some wonderful career highlights including playing in the seventy-piece orchestra backing Olivia Newton John and John Farnham in The Main Event arena spectacular. His other major musical credits include FAME, Dusty, and Jesus Christ Superstar (alongside Music Space host, Gary Isaacs).
Jazz Guitar Improvisation
Improvisation is a form of musical expression in which musicians make up the melodies they play on the spot. The lines or phrases generally come from either the notes of the chords or the guitar scales and arpeggios that are suited to the guitar chords of the tune being played. It is common to use one scale throughout an entire rock, blues or pop song – however in jazz guitar improvisation it is more likely that guitar scales and arpeggios are specifically suited to the chords being used at the time. Many guitarists learn jazz guitar improvisation by copying lines and phrases from other guitar players, memorizing the concepts that they get from these melodies and then eventually coming up with ideas of their own.
What Dave’s Doing Now
David currently performs and records with his original jazz/fusion band, ‘Dirt’, which is a mix of jazz guitar improvisation over rock grooves where Dave’s two passions meet. Their first album, One Thing Led To Another, was released in 2003. While still writing for a new fusion trio project, Dave is currently teaching jazz guitar at Adelaide University and working as a freelance musician in local bands, including; ‘Lucifer’s Lounge’, ‘Flirt’ and ‘The Gunda Guys’ (also with Gary Isaacs).
About David Innocente
David Innocente has been playing guitar for 38 years and has a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance from the University of Adelaide. Specializing in jazz guitar but capable of playing many styles such as rock guitar, blues guitar and pop guitar, he teaches jazz guitar improvisation and how to play guitar at Salisbury TAFE and the University of Adelaide.
About Music Space
At LearnToPlayMusic.com, we know that that there’s more to learning to play music than can be found in any book – music is about people. Each week Music Space features great international music guests, who’ll be performing and discussing the hows and whys of their experiences in music and life. In the ‘Learn It’ segment of each show, your hosts will demonstrate and discuss a music topic of the week – and for those who tune in live, you’ll be able to interact by asking questions and commenting on the discussion as it’s in progress. Each videocast will be available from the LearnToPlayMusic.com YouTube page, and we’ll also be posting a feature article on this Blog expanding on the show’s music topic of the week. To keep up to date with all the latest ‘Music Space’ news and developments, you can follow us at Facebook, Google+ and Twitter, and if you feel like spreading the word, throw up a post or tweet with the hashtag #LTPMusicSpace.
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Nice event. Thanks Gary, Dave. Long, long time ago I was going to start with jazz guitar, someone on the radio suggested starting with classical so i did. Never regretted the decision but never got around to feeling jazzy either. Dave’s comments helped, mostly because of the kind of musician he is.
So far all the events here have featured good working professionals enjoying their music – the best kind to listen and learn from.
Now all I have to do is practice.
Oh! Some static on this broadcast during duets, make sure you fix that
Bob.
Hi Bob,
Thanks for the great feedback. It’s always good to hear that viewers are finding value in the guests we’re featuring on the show. Dave was terrific and we’re hoping to have him back on sometime in the future.
And good call on the ‘static’ – we’ve got out top tech working on it
Thanks,
The Music Space Team
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