Your Brain on Jazz.

"Scientists have discovered that when jazz musicians improvise, areas of their brains associated with inhibition quiet down, and those involved with self-expression heat up."

While this isn't a major shock to jazz musicians, the way this was discovered was quite interesting.  Check out how they put together the experiment HERE. and even better, check it out HERE, there are pictures and everything!

Spiraling out of here

Steve Coleman is a NYC based alto saxophonist and the founder/leader of a method of improvisation known as M-Base. M-base is an acronym for "Macro - Basic Array of Structured Extemporizations." The wording is a perhaps a little heavy, and can make your eyes water if you stare at it long enough. Simply put, it's a way to express musical experiences through improvisation and rhythm.

I've included THIS LINK to show you that there are more ways to improvise than knowing chords, scales and patterns. In it Steve describes how to play with a Symmetrical Movement Concept. It's a pretty deep read, but makes sense. If you get good at this, you'll be one of about 5 people on earth who know how to play like that. Steve posts most of his music online for free distribution. You definitely should check it out. HERE is a good example of his playing, it's about as dark and funky as saxophone playing gets. Give it about 15 seconds, to go from solo to band. This album changed the way I make music. Always, always, always be receptive to new ideas!