Jazz Improv

Thanks to Allan Meyerson and the Elm Street Jazz Workshop, I've been working on developing some jazz chops. I have a very long way to go... Okay, I still pretty much suck terribly, but at least I'm trying. It's like I'm finally working the way I should have in high school. Takes much longer at my age, but it's a lot of fun.

The ESJW has been a great place for this. The first Friday of each month is devoted to improvisation. We jam, taking turns playing from lead sheets. Allan frequently offers a theme or teaches some theory. All fantastic.

But I'm writing this in October 2020 with the Covid-19 pandemic starting its fall "second wave" in the United States, and of course the workshop is not meeting. So I'm jamming with myself, using the iReal Pro app as a backing group. This definitely is not like interacting with and learning from others.

I'm having fun doing some recording. To read more, expand this box:

I have the BlueStacks Android emulator loaded on my PC. I have the latest version of Finale. I have a Focusrite 2i2 mixer with condensor mike, and use the Ableton Live Lite software that was provided with this setup.

Here's my work flow:

Launch BlueStacks, then open the desired chart in iReal Pro
Export MIDI to my computer
Import MIDI into Finale
Use Finale to make whatever adjustments I'd like, such as adding an introduction, setting repeating sections, and so on. This is MUCH EASIER in Finale than attempting to edit in iReal Pro.
Assign some default instruments to each staff in Finale, required so that I can
Export MIDI from Finale
Import MIDI to Ableton Live Lite
Assign appropriate instruments to each of the imported tracks
Add one more audio track for the microphone input; that's for me!
Have at it, recording with the MIDI tracks for accompaniment.

The recording results are pretty decent for an amateur producer, even if the performer leaves much to be desired, yet.

A Child is Born by Thad Jones

A Child is Born - Intro - Bflat.mp3

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