Lullaby of Birdland
Channel: Phil Nice
Date: 28/09/2015

4 bar intro
Key: Ab
Swing. 140 BPM
Lead sheet: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/23754707/Jazz%20School/Lullaby%20of%20Birdland.pdf

Backing tracks for training jazz improvisation. Each has my interpretation of the melody once through, then many choruses for soloing over. Each has a link to sheet music. 
Tips: 
1. Learn the melody. Sing it, hum it, express it, make it your own. Base your soloing on it and return to it whenever there's nothing better. 
2. Use your voice. If it's singable, it's playable. Finding the melodic stuff you dream up is the best way to learn your instrument inside out.  
3. Resist the temptation to just play technical scales and 'licks'. That's for robots. (Scales are analytical tools for after the event, not a recipe beforehand). Technical practice is valuable (and a prerequisite for 2.) so do it parallel, but be aware that improvisation comes from another place.
4. Find a teacher or mentor to guide you. If you're in Denmark, find my teaching here: 
http://www.proffshoppen.com/jazz-school/