A jazz piano lesson to help you learn the jazz standard “Invitation.”
Take your LH playing to the next level with my free ebook: Jazz Piano Left Hand Techniques:
Going through each tune in the 6th Edition of the Real Book 0:00
Learning jazz standards in a complete way 0:33
How I originally learned to play “Invitation” 0:45
How we heard jazz standards in the pre-internet age 1:18
Playing “Invitation” as a bossa nova 2:07
A medium swing interpretation of “Invitation” 2:17
Using a bossa nova groove 2:28
The latin-jazz connection of the 1950s though 1960s 3:37
Quincy Jones’ evocative recording of “Invitation” 3:49
Trying various approaches to a jazz standard 4:36
Planning out my piano arrangement 5:00
Starting with a “misty” latin texture 5:20
Letting the melody emerge from the background sound 5:42
An atmospheric fill 6:00
A more distinct latin rhythmic fill 6:08
Giving the left hand something to do! 6:18
Hinting at a swing feel 6:22
Alternating between latin and swing grooves 6:30
Canonic imitation between the 2 hands 6:59
Leaving lots of space at the beginning of the improvised solo 7:36
Motivic development 7:52
Bitonality 9:02
Swinging! 9:26
Getting a little bluesy 10:04
Ab/D7 10:24
A new chorus 10:41
Playing the melody with the left hand 11:19
An orchestral right hand-texture 11:24
Big band-style block chords 11:54
Embellishing and varying the melody 12:28
Rallentando-ing for a big finish 12:57
Diminuendo to evoke the opening again 13:07
Being inspired by Duke Ellington’s “Caravan” 13:21
The melodic and harmonic “richness” of “Invitation” 14:07
Here are some more Free Jazz Piano Lessons for you at the KeyboardImprov website:
If you’d like some fun jazz rhythm and ear training exercises, you’ll enjoy this ebook I created: Essential Training For Jazz Pianists
Thanks for joining me on this musical adventure, and please LIKE, COMMENT and SHARE this video with your musical friends.
If you’d like to start my full video course, you’ll find it here:
For Zoom and Skype lessons, please email me at rondrotos@keyboardimprov.com.
Enjoy the journey, and “let the music flow!”
Ron
