Seth Rosen has played mandolin for nearly 30 years. Seth will be teaching swing mandolin again at Augusta, July 16-23, 2000. In our first two lessons we have focussed on chords and chord theory.
Chords are a useful way to think about improvisation.
In order to get a look at jazz improvisational styles we are going to use the tune Pennies from Heaven, an old standard. In the first chart I have the melody and some customary chord changes. I have also transcibed two solos from tenor sax player Rusty Mason, one in a swing style the other in bebop. Rusty is a great jazz musician well versed in many styles. Rusty played with Tiny Bradshaw's Band in the 1940s and with many other great musicians.