Innovative and inclusive music and arts in Cumbria and NE
Contact Us
Monday 7.40-8.40pm and Wednesday 7-8pm every week. Email bluejamarts@gmail.com for Zoom passcode

Jazz Online Practice Sessions

Welcome to my sessions!
In these sessions I sit at the keyboard and sing and play my way through warm-up, ear-training and jazz theory exercises then work on a tune.
This might sound advanced and a bit dry, but although anyone can join in on any instrument I am approaching the sessions as though teaching vocalists who have learned mainly through listening to their favourite singers and using that as a way in.
In these sessions, I introduce things like how to listen to the bassline and allow it to help you know where you are in the song while improvising. 
How to recognise common chord progressions like II V I’s.
How to use your ear to make it easier to sing over complicated chords – eg sing all on one note and only change it when the dissonance is too much to bear!
 
The sessions are fun and feedback is welcomed.
For people who would like to share their singing, they can join our Soundtrap community (please donate minimum of £10 for a year-long contribution to our costs). Just email us to ask to join. 
 
NOTES:
To use Soundtrap usefully you need a computer or iPad/tablet, Google Chrome and headphones, and if possible a USB keyboard, though you can also input midi stuff using the onboard keys or your computer keyboard. You don’t need to get the software as it is in the cloud and you can work collaboratively almost in real time with the BlueJam tutors or each other.

Scores and mp3s

NB Please try our Lockdown Jazz Video series for further singing ideas. We’ve had really good feedback so far – more feedback welcomed plus ideas for further videos.

In 2020 we did a massive 56 online jazz sessions – so starting the numbering from scratch for 2021.

I won’t be posting up the scores here in 2021 – please join our WhatsApp group or I can email them to you once you join the jazz sessions. Scores & lyrics in Concert, Bb and Eb provided. Go to our contact page and email us to enrol.

SONGS IN 2021

Week 6: She Moved Through The Fair – Irish traditional with various composers

Week 4: Confirmation by Charlie Parker

Week 4: Memphis In June by Hoagy Carnichael

Week 3: Can’t Take You Nowhere by Kahn & Cohn

Week 2: All the Things You Are by Jerome Kern

Week 1: It Don’t Mean A Thing by Duke Ellington

SONGS IN 2020

Week Twenty-Eight: look back through previous tunes and CAROLS!

Week Twenty-Seven: Evil Ways by Santana – version by Cal Tjader and Carmen McRae

Week TwentySix: Moondance by Jimmy Cox 

Week TwentyFive: Lullaby of Birdland George Shearing

Week TwentyFour: Just In Time by Jule Styne, lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green

Week TwentyThree: One Note Samba Antonio Carlos Jobim

Week TwentyTwo: Revisit Green Dolphin Street and carry on with Alice in Wonderland:

Week TwentyOne: Revisit BlueMonk (Week Seventeen) and start Alice In Wonderland:

Week Twenty: “Damn Your Eyes” by Steve Bogard and Barbra Wyrick. 

Week Nineteen: “Skylark” by Hoagy Carmichael

Week Eighteen: “All Of Me” by Gerald Marks and Seymour Simons

Week Seventeen: Blue Monk by Thelonius Monk

Week Sixteen: “Angel Eyes” by Matt Dennis|

Week Fifteen: “Black Orpheus” by Luis Bonfa

Week Fourteen: “Gentle Rain” by Luis Bonfa

Week Thirteen: “A Foggy Day” by George and Ira Gershwin

Week Twelve: “Ole Baby” by BlueJam, over riff by Mocean Worker

Week Eleven: “I’m Beginning To See The Light” by Duke Ellington

Week Ten: “They Can’t Take That Away From Me” by George and Ira Gershwin

Week Nine: Night and Day by Cole Porter (email if you want Eb and Bb copies)

Week Eight: Darn That Dream by Van Heusen, De Lange 1939

Week Seven: Lester Leaps In; Lester Young

Week Six: Stormy Weather: Koehler and Arlen

Week Five: Lullaby, Jilly Jarman. (download whole song)

Week Four Equinox: John Coltrane Words: Sheila Jordan

Week Three Bud’s Bubble: Bud Powell

Week Two Four On Six: Wes Montgomery

Week One: Green Dolphin Street: Kaper/Washington