16 Leadership Lessons from the Jazz Greats
© 2008 by Mike Bell Copyright holder is licensing this under the Creative Commons License, Attribution 3.0. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/
I'm immensely grateful to Meg of SaxAppeal for the Jazz Improv Tips http://www.saxappeal.us/ And to the following artists for permission to use their work: Debra Hurd – Oscar Peterson - http://www.debrahurd.com/index.htm Marcos Schmitt – Charles Mingus - http://www.haroldrigaud.net/westwing.htm Steven Geeter – Billie Holiday http://www.creativityexplored.org/art/studio_artists/steven_geeter/ Will Enns – Dizzie Gillespie - http://members.shaw.ca/willenns/art/jazz.htm Wouter Tulp – Wynton Marsalis - http://www.woutertulp.nl/
Please feel free to post this on your blog or email it to whomever you believe would benefit from reading it.
Thank you.
JazzLEADERSHIP – 16 leadership lessons from the jazz greats
MIKE BELL
Introduction JAZZ IMPROV “You don't have to sound like Charlie Parker but every serious jazz musician needs to be able to improvise. I have just begun to seriously practice improvising and my goal here is to share tips that have helped me. I do not plan to go in depth on the theory involved; you can research that for yourself.”
LEADERSHIP Maybe we’re not all going to be a Jack Welch, Mary Robinson or Richard Branson. But if we’re going to develop our talent for leadership then we sure need to practice.
“Some people try to get very philosophical and cerebral about what they're trying to say with jazz. You don't need any prologues, you just play. If you have something to say of any worth then people will listen to you.” - Oscar Peterson
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JazzLEADERSHIP – 16 leadership lessons from the jazz greats
MIKE BELL
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Listen JAZZ IMPROV “I can't stress this enough. Go out and buy/copy all the jazz music you can and really listen to it.“
LEADERSHIP Walk around your office, department or organisation and listen; listen to what your people are telling you about what’s working well and not so well. You've got two ears and one mouth, use them in that ratio!
“The most important thing I look for in a musician is whether he knows how to listen.” Duke Ellington
JazzLEADERSHIP – 16 leadership lessons from the jazz greats
MIKE BELL
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Sing JAZZ IMPROV “Sing instrumental parts along with recorded music and absorb the different patterns into your memory. Sing a phrase you hear or of your own and then try to play it on your horn.“
LEADERSHIP ‘Sing’ your own vision. Create a 10 word ‘song’ that expresses the meaning and the future potential of your organisation and repeat it as often as you can, every chance you get.
"Well, if you find a note tonight that sounds good, play the same damn note every night." Count Basie
JazzLEADERSHIP – 16 leadership lessons from the jazz greats
MIKE BELL
Make It Groovy JAZZ IMPROV “You can play all the "right" notes and not sound good. Or, you can play "wrong" notes and sound great. It isn't about the notes. It is about making whatever notes you play groovy. What makes your playing groovy. I can't tell you. You have to find it for yourself because it is whatever works for you. To quote a popular cliche, "It's not what you say, it's how you say it". Experiment till you find your grooviness.“
LEADERSHIP We all respond well to sincerity and to passion. We have amazingly powerful ‘sincerity monitors’. You can say all the right words but people know if you are being sincere or not. If you are sincere and passionate about what you are saying, it does not matter if you are ‘word perfect’. Take the risk of making mistakes. Let people see you are human.
“As it enters the ear, does it come in like broken glass, or does it come in like honey?” Eddie Condon
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JazzLEADERSHIP – 16 leadership lessons from the jazz greats
MIKE BELL
Familiarize Yourself with Theory JAZZ IMPROV “You don't have to become a professor of theory to sound good, but it might help. At least memorize basic chords and the blues scales for popular keys. But remember, theory doesn't tell you what will sound right or wrong. It only attempts to explain why it sounds right or wrong. So, use theory as a foundation to build upon with your own ideas.“
LEADERSHIP Maybe you are a natural intuitive leader and that’s great. For the rest of us it helps to have some understanding of what seems to work or not work when leading others. There is value in knowing how motivation, commitment, trust, integrity and similar qualities are developed.
“It's like a language. You learn the alphabet, which are the scales. You learn sentences, which are the chords. And then you talk extemporaneously with the horn. It's a wonderful thing to speak extemporaneously, which is something I've never gotten the hang of. But musically I love to talk just off the top of my head. And that's what jazz music is all about.” Stan Getz
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JazzLEADERSHIP – 16 leadership lessons from the jazz greats
MIKE BELL
The ½ Step Rule JAZZ IMPROV “A general rule of thumb is that you are always ½ a step away from the "right" note. If you don't like the note, lower or raise it a half step quickly and it sounds great because you are creating suspense then resolving it.“
LEADERSHIP When you’re improvising it’s not about being word perfect. But if your heart is in it, you’ll be close enough to make adjustments on the hoof and the message will get across.
“One of the things I like about jazz, kid, is I don't know what's going to happen next. Do you?” - Bix Beiderbecke
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JazzLEADERSHIP – 16 leadership lessons from the jazz greats
MIKE BELL
Break the Rules JAZZ IMPROV “Once you know the rules, break them. You'll be called a genius. However, there are few rules if any that have remained unbroken thanks to previous geniuses so you better hurry.“
LEADERSHIP You can’t be a great leader and do it by the book. Go with a maverick idea for a while. Trust your instincts. It does not have to make sense in the moment.
“When people believe in boundaries, they become part of them.” Don Cherry
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JazzLEADERSHIP – 16 leadership lessons from the jazz greats
MIKE BELL
Use Rests JAZZ IMPROV “A lot of times I hear people solo and it sounds like they are trying to fill up every measure with as many notes as they can get in. The best solos, though, often contain a lot of rests. State what you want to state, rest a beat or two, then go on. It gives the audience time to absorb what you just played, tells the audience that what was just played was important, leaves them listening for more, and gives you a moment to breathe and think about what you want to play next.“
LEADERSHIP I can’t add to that!
“It's taken me all my life to learn what not to play.” - Dizzy Gillespie
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JazzLEADERSHIP – 16 leadership lessons from the jazz greats
MIKE BELL
Quoting JAZZ IMPROV “Musically quoting another song in the middle of your solo can be a real crowd pleaser if you don't over do it. Play a couple bars from "Pop Goes the Weasel", "Mary Had a Little Lamb", "The Pink Panther Theme", or any other catchy tune. “
LEADERSHIP Have you got a selection of insightful quotes from leaders that people respect?
“I'm very glad to have met you. I like your playing very much.” Charlie Parker to Jean-Paul Sartre
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JazzLEADERSHIP – 16 leadership lessons from the jazz greats
MIKE BELL
Restate the Melody JAZZ IMPROV “Go ahead and play a familiar lick from the head (melody) of the song. Then, play it again with a different rhythm or change a few notes. For instance, take the highest note and raise it by a half step.“
LEADERSHIP Tell them what you’re going to tell them, tell them, and then tell them you’ve told them! But keep it fresh and flexible.
“This is my dilemma. I'm a guy who makes things up as I go along so nothing is ever finished - there are so many layers. So when you solo, yeah, you might get into one thing, but then, hey, everything has implications! You can hear the next level. And that's how I feel about improvising - there's always another level.” Sonny Rollins
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JazzLEADERSHIP – 16 leadership lessons from the jazz greats
MIKE BELL
Rhythmic Diversity JAZZ IMPROV “If you are stuck on a few notes and don't know what to do with them, have fun with rhythm. Play eight note or quarter note triplets. Play different rhythms containing sixteenth notes.“
LEADERSHIP Don't be afraid to ask people what they think. Invite their diversity of ideas and take care not to criticize or judge. Use these new 'notes' to improvise and play.
“Jazz is like a great void, it waits patiently until a brave musician takes control of space and time.” Chris Griffin
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JazzLEADERSHIP – 16 leadership lessons from the jazz greats
MIKE BELL
Dynamics JAZZ IMPROV “Too many beginners play all their solos the same dynamic - fff. Playing soft will actually grab an audience's attention. Try adding shape to your phrases by playing louder as you play upward runs and softer as you play lower.“
LEADERSHIP Learn to use your voice to add effect. When everyone is talking loudly, then talk softly and watch how soon they quieten down. Don’t be afraid to raise your voice to get a message across but beware of being driven by strong emotions like anger. Be clear that you are choosing how you respond.
“But you listen to Coltrane and that's something human, something that's about elevation. It's like making love to a woman. It's about something of value, it's not just loud. It doesn't have that violent connotation to it. I wanted to be a jazz musician so bad, but I really couldn't. There was no way I could figure out to learn how to play.” Wynton Marsalis
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JazzLEADERSHIP – 16 leadership lessons from the jazz greats
MIKE BELL
Emotion JAZZ IMPROV “Before you start playing your solo, decide what feeling you want to express. In practice, brainstorm a list of feelings and adjectives and try to play each one. For starters, try playing gloomy, excited, nervous, gentle, and cautious.“
LEADERSHIP How do you want to come across – creative and playful, or trusting and calm, or caring and nurturing, or clear and decisive? You choose depending upon the situation. You have these and many more possibilities within you.
“Every note Roy (Eldridge) played had meaning and life...his feelings pushed the valves down, not his fingers.” Don Ferrara
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JazzLEADERSHIP – 16 leadership lessons from the jazz greats
MIKE BELL
Tricks JAZZ IMPROV “By learning how to growl, bend notes, play altissimo, and play multiphonics, you expand the tools you can use to express yourself. Go ahead and use anything you can. However, use it with a purpose (not just to use it) and use it sparingly or else everyone may get tired of it and it no longer seems like something special.“
LEADERSHIP Think about how you can demonstrate in some way the point you are trying to make. What people see and hear will be remembered and talked about.
“Don't threaten me with love, baby; let's just go walking in the rain.” Billie Holiday
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JazzLEADERSHIP – 16 leadership lessons from the jazz greats
MIKE BELL
Tell a Story JAZZ IMPROV “Always have a beginning, middle, an end and some sort of transition between them.“
LEADERSHIP A good story can cut right through the intellectual blockage and get to the heart of the matter. We are all storytellers and we love stories because they communicate at a deeper level than a powerpoint presentation ever will.
“Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity.” -Charles Mingus
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JazzLEADERSHIP – 16 leadership lessons from the jazz greats
MIKE BELL
Relax JAZZ IMPROV “Forget about the crowd and just play for yourself. You don't owe them anything. Don't dwell on whether or not you could have done better. In music there is no such thing as perfect so don't freak out if your last solo wasn't.“
LEADERSHIP Anxiety causes the smart part of our brain to shut down. That's why we sometimes say stupid things when we're confronted or fearful. So learn to breathe slowly and relax and you will always have access to your deeper inner knowing and wisdom.
“Music is your own experience, your thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn.” Charlie Parker
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