Earlier this year, I went to the UK to pick up my long awaited Benjamin Guitars JOM acoustic guitar made by Lewes, UK guitar builder, Nick Benjamin.
I first met Nick years ago at the 2003 Eric Roche Residential Guitar Workshop at Newton Ferrers, Devon, UK. He made a beautiful guitar for my teacher Eric Roche. The next year, I tried another one of his guitars that he made for Eric.
Over the years, I've had the opportunity to try many of his guitars and loved his amazing workmanship & detail in his creations. Several years ago, I finally placed an order for one. My guitar model is based around his recommendations after comparing the various guitars that I enjoyed playing.
The pickup system on this is a combination of the K&K Quantum Trinity System (which I also have installed on my Lowden & Maestro Guitars) and the DiMarzio Black Angel (which Nick co-designed with Mike Dawes & DiMarzio).
This video is an exclusive interview with Nick. There's lots of geeky guitar details here so if you're an acoustic guitar geek, you might enjoy this video.
I'm proud to announce that I'm a guest composer for the upcoming video game, No Straight Roads. This game is from Metronomik, a Malaysia based games company.
In the game, you fight the massive EDM empire as an indie rock band. Directed by Wan Hazmer, lead game designer of Final Fantasy XV, and Daim Dziauddin, concept artist of Street Fighter V, this game is slated to be released in early 2020 for PC & PS4.
I composed a rap song for the DK West stage. Stay tuned for more details!
Do you love playing guitar? Do you like the sound of jazz guitar?
If you do, you might dig my second book, Jazz Guitar Licks and Etudes!
It contains 30 jazz guitar licks and 5 etudes (2 jazz blues single note solo studies, 1 single note solo over 'Blue Bossa' and 2 old school picking etudes to help develop rest stroke technique).
My name is Az Samad, author of Jazz Improvisation Uncovered that has received great feedback from jazz guitarist Julian Lage and Berklee professor Abigail Aronson.
"A beautiful meditation on the craft and life of a practicing musician, this book is filled with insights from a master player."
Julian Lage, Jazz Guitarist & Composer
I graduated (Dual Major in Jazz Composition and Guitar Performance, Summa Cum Laude honors) and taught at Berklee College of Music for the Summer Guitar Sessions. I have been a professional musician for over 20 years and have performed with Grammy Winners Flaco Jimanez and Max Baca, singer-songwriter Zee Avi & I often perform as part of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra for the Pops Concerts.
I have released my second book, Jazz Guitar Licks and Etudes. This book is a collection of 30 high quality and challenging jazz guitar licks & 5 etudes to help you level up your jazz guitar skills.
Although there are many free resources available online, many of my students (both here in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and worldwide via Skype) have found that having a focused curated resource useful to improve their skills both musically and technically.
"Definitely something new and unique! A huge pool of riffs, licks, and ideas for you to experiment with. For myself, it helped me discover some unpredictable melodic styles and some different fingering approaches. It also made me think about different ways to approach the same lick and branch out from it to create my own ideas. Super handy if you’re stuck or not sure how to get started because you can just start off with any lick and go off on your own personal tangent after that. All in all, a great little book for anyone looking for more insight into some of the stylistic components of jazz and improvisation as well. Oh! And such beautiful etudes too!"
- LI YING - MUSICIAN, ARTIST & AVID LEARNER
If you've ever been confused about what to practice, this e-Book will give you lots of new ideas to try.
For beginners, you can try smaller portions that are comfortable for you. For intermediate players, you can challenge yourself to the etudes and see how fast can you play them! For advanced maestros, you can take the ideas and transpose them to all keys and multiple positions!
This e-Book has something for jazzers of any levels IF you're even remotely into jazz.
Can't read standard notation? No problem, we have TAB! Hate TAB? No worries, the standard notation along with the chord symbols are there.
You will learn licks that incorporate classic Wes Montgomery and Joe Pass sounds to more modern intervallic phrases inspired by the playing of Julian Lage, John Stowell, Nir Felder and Martin Miller.
You will receive a 27 page E-book (PDF File) containing:
30 LICKS
5 Major Scale Jazz Licks
5 Jazz Blues Licks
5 Minor Pentatonic Jazz Rock Licks
5 Double Time Cmin
7 Jazz Licks
5 String Skipping Jazz Licks
5 Sweep Picking Jazz Licks
5 ETUDES
Blue Bossa (Solo Etude #1)
Jazz Blues Etude #1
Jazz Blues Etude #2
Old School Picking Etude #1
Old School Picking Etude #2
26 pages, E-book, PDF format.
Price ==> USD$10
Want it now? Get it here and get started on the licks immediately!
Method 1 - (Fastest Option, via PayPal, you get the e-book immediately):
"Such a compact book of practical materials for every serious jazz musician, which helps to craft one's musicality as well as creativity." - MARS SIU-HONG LEE, PRESIDENT OF MACAU JAZZ PROMOTION ASSOCIATION
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"It's precise, concise and straight to the point. It would really help those who are trying to get new ideas for their jazz improvisation or those who are trying to learn jazz (newbies)." - ELMER HO (elmerdraco), COMPOSER
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"A simple yet effective book from a virtuoso. Az’s musical wisdoms written concisely; and accurately defining jazz in all forms." - RAY CHEONG - MUSICIAN, COMPOSER, GUITARIST & PRODUCER ===
"Definitely something new and unique! A huge pool of riffs, licks, and ideas for you to experiment with. For myself, it helped me discover some unpredictable melodic styles and some different fingering approaches. It also made me think about different ways to approach the same lick and branch out from it to create my own ideas. Super handy if you’re stuck or not sure how to get started because you can just start off with any lick and go off on your own personal tangent after that. All in all, a great little book for anyone looking for more insight into some of the stylistic components of jazz and improvisation as well. Oh! And such beautiful etudes too!"
- LI YING - MUSICIAN, ARTIST & AVID LEARNER
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"Az Samad’s delightful collection of exercises and etudes is a fantastic resource for anybody hoping to develop increased dexterity and character as a guitarist and improviser. Each of these is cleverly and purposefully devised to improve skills across a range of disciplines including finger-work, musical vocabulary, as well as understanding of both fundamental and complex harmony. Playing and studying these masterful compositions also highlights and reveals the author’s truly immense knowledge and love of both his instrument and his craft."
- GABRIEL LYNCH, SINGER-SONGWRITER
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Ready to get started on the book? Here's the link:
Method 1 - (Fastest Option, via PayPal, you get the e-book immediately):
Am touched by the kind words from Julian Lage on my first book, "Jazz Improvisation Uncovered". Julian has been a major influence to my music, guitar playing and career for many years and I am humbled by him taking time to read my book & write this. Thank you Julian!
"A beautiful meditation on the craft and life of a practicing musician, this book is filled with insights from a master player."
Julian Lage, Jazz Guitarist & Composer ===
It's really a magical feeling to get such wonderful feedback from amazing musicians that I admire!
Thank you for the kind words on my first book, Professor Abigail Zocher! :)
"This book drew me in right away with it's beautifully articulated truths, bringing to mind Mick Goodrick's "Advancing Guitarist". As I read I found things, one after the other, that I wanted to share with students and spend much time with myself. The book gives you a sound and whole overview of the world of jazz improvisation study and performance, and allows you to zoom in on each landscape."
Abigail Zocher, Professor, Berklee College of Music
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Just received some kind words from Berklee College of Music Associate Professor Ben Sher about my new book, "Jazz Improvisation Uncovered". Ben taught me so much about jazz, Brazilian guitar styles and improvisation during my time at Berklee.
Thank you Ben! :)
"A very nice collection of ideas to explore. Not so much about the specifics of any one subject, more of a sort of stream of conscious potpourri of different concepts and ideas for an aspiring musician to look into on their own. If you're looking for something new to practice, this book won't tell you specifically what to work on but will give you a lot of different approaches, and then leaves it up to you to pursue whatever interests you.”
Ben Sher, Associate Professor, Berklee College of Music
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My new book, "Jazz Improvisation Uncovered" just received great feedback from Italian Fingerstyle Guitarist Paolo Sereno (someone who Don Ross described as “Italy’s grooviest guitar player!)
"A book full of wise things bravo and thank you again!"
Paolo Sereno, Italian Fingerstyle Guitarist
Thank you Paolo for the kind words!
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"Wow! I can't say I've ever come across a book of this size packed with so much useful information. Az minces no words, and his breadth of experience and understanding is immediately evident. It's all laid out in a clear and concise manner. I would recommend this to anyone, at any level, on any instrument."
Taylor Roberts, 7-String Jazz Guitarist & Benedetto Artist
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"This e-book has great insights, thoughts on the discipline that's needed for a guitarist who wishes to explore and expand his/her knowledge in thinking musically, especially improvisation. I enjoyed reading Az's writing because somehow I felt it adds a different depth in how I would approach practicing. I would recommend this e-book for anyone who is looking for a new or perhaps a different way of practicing and playing the guitar."
Nazrin, Composer & Session Guitarist, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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"Reading Az Samad’s 'Jazz Improvisation Uncovered’ gives great insight by pinpointing some of the simple mistakes very often done during improvisation and practise routine. In this e-book, Az Samad emphasises on following a systematic approach on becoming an effective jazz player and also to understand the jazz methodology in general. Recommended, no matter what instrument you play.”
Malcom Lapok, Pianist ===
"An excellent book for anyone searching to improve their jazz improvisation skill, and also abilities to play by ears. Lots of insightful information!"
Seng Jinn, Singapore ===
"Az Samad's first book is a comprehensive theoretical framework for every musician's mind. A bite sized piece of secret wisdom produced by a knowledged and hardened professional.
Every topic discussed was produced and mastered like a vinyl album, with each song addressing every dissonant question with a harmonious answer.
On a personal note. Post consumption of these materials written, breaks and spaces within my mind as a musician had been filled in with knowledgeable riffs and passages.
Now my disembodied phrases and melodies have a flow and continuity, like how a proper musician should learn to think, express and improvise."
Don Renkai, Malacca, Malaysia
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"Nice book Az, this is exactly what I wanted to read when I started learning Jazz, I wish I could read this book earlier. I love those answers, I love those quotes, super inspiring! Congrats, Az!"
Leo Quyuan, China
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Book review by Afiq PB
"After reading this E-Book I’ve learned a lot using the right words especially being a part time guitar instructor and music producer. I’ve always stuck using the right words or sentences to teach my students and clients in studio.
I) Playing By Ear It is really important for some of my clients that I produce. I’ve worked with some musicians don’t really know about theory, harmony and etc. It’s really important to sit down and record yourself.
From there, there will ask me
1) What chord is this? 2) How to improvise this solo? 3) Form of songs 4) Borrowed Chord and modal interchange 5) How to apply scales from this chord progressions
By reading this section, I can use the right words or sentences to make it easy for my clients to understand how important to learn theory.
II) Harmony and Chord Progressions
A lot of my clients don’t really know whether they’re playing the note as tensions or suspension. From there we can use some cool voicing technique like Drop 2,3 and 4. I have to refresh from this and make it natural to say it out.
This will bring the interest to add more texture to the song and beautifully arrange at the right section of the song.
III) Vocabulary, Melodies, Rhythms and Grooves
For me if the songs deliver, it means you learn how to speak well to the listener. How it is really important to use this as structure to compose a piece or song. These are ingredients to keep writing song and build more momentum. Yes, sometimes you need some space to be alone to compose beautiful melody, tight rhythm and simple groove.
It’s about the right time to put everything in places. We think some pop songs are easy but if you break it down with all these mentions above ; Vocabulary, Melodies, Rhythms and Grooves. This will make them not to syok sendiri hahaha.
They will think write only one song or a simple chord progression will do justice in able to sell their artwork to radio station. It is important to write more demos and songs.
IV) How to Practice
When I read these five things to improve as a musician, I will take note and keep that in mind so I don’t lose momentum. Thank you so much, It’s a great reminder and make it more organize with my practice routine.
Conclusion
I know this a jazz improvisation but somehow it is related to me because I’m a serious musician. The topics are important a guide playing by ear, harmony and practice techniques
I’ve learnt a lot knowing some basics words and sentences. It will be useful for me when I’m working with great musicians. The directions are clear and I will keep this as a reference. I can break it down into sections and work on it slowly.
There is no shortcut and you need to be patient to be a serious musician.
Brilliant, Amazing and Mind Blowing
Thank you uncle Az!"
Afiq PB (Indie Music Producer and Guitarist), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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[Jazz Improvisation Uncovered Video Playlist]
This is a series of videos demonstrating and explaining concepts from my book, "Jazz Improvisation Uncovered".
Thursday, December 5, 2019 at 12:10PM ;)
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