This Friday - Jazz Soloing Masterclass with guest Theron Brown (RSVP)

Reader,

Okay, so now what? We've been so deep in blues soloing, phrasing best practices, and applying them to the blues. But how do we actually get the experience to use these things as creative musicians in our performances?

To get another perspective, I invited my friend Theron Brown to join our masterclass this Friday for a discussion about this with one of today's great touring pianists. Theron suggested we demonstrate this over a great Sonny Rollins blues tune, Sonnymoon for Two.

So, to prepare for Friday, listen to each of these versions of the song of Sonnymoon for Two.

• Sonny Rollins: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCzV9PxGS30​
• Emmet Cohen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2O2JG8fAZ1M​
• Joaquin Chacon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K66o83uCtA0​
• Terje Bjørklund: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17LB31nlnhE​

Pay attention to how different players approach it stylistically, how they treat the melody, and their solos. Then jump into the #im-listening-to room in the community, and share your observations.

Join the Masterclass is this Friday, March 27th.

1:00 pm Eastern Time on Zoom.

You are already on the list. See you Friday.

About Theron Brown:

​

Theron Brown is a jazz pianist, composer, and educator based in Akron, Ohio. Raised in a church family where his father was a pastor, he discovered music early on through drums, piano, and viola, later pursuing jazz studies at the University of Akron.

Brown has toured nationally and internationally, leads his own trio, and is best known locally as the founder and artistic director of the Rubber City Jazz & Blues Festival, created to celebrate and grow Akron’s jazz legacy. An in‑demand educator, he serves on the jazz faculty at the University of Akron and works as artist coordinator for the I Promise School through Curated Storefront, mentoring young musicians and engaging deeply with the community arts scene.

Beyond the bandstand and classroom, Brown portrayed a young Herbie Hancock in Don Cheadle’s Miles Davis biopic “Miles Ahead,” highlighting his range as both a performer and artist.

Happy practicing,