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You are here: Home / Jazz Lessons / Jazz Standards / Tune of the Week-Invitation
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Tune of the Week-Invitation

Tune of the Week-Invitation

Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 1 customer rating
(1 customer review)

$9.99

Category: Jazz Standards Tags: Invitation, jazz improvisation, jazz instruction, saxophone, video lesson
  • Description
  • Reviews (1)
  • Lesson Sample

Description

In this “Tune of the Week” lesson, I tackle the standard “Invitation”.

The first time I heard this tune was on a Jaco Pastorius album entitled “The Birthday Concert”.  Michael Brecker played this stunning solo on it that left me stunned…..  After that experience, I decided I wanted to learn this tune……..

Invitation is a jazz standard that is found in most Real Books. It is a great minor tune that travels through 5 different minor keys. It is a great tune to use to work on minor approach notes, altered scales, diminished scales as well as a number of other improvisational concepts.

I play the song on the tenor sax with a play along I created and talk through the form of the tune.  I show you what devices and concepts I use on each section of the tune and show you them by playing examples.
(36 Minute Video Lesson, PDF of the chord changes for concert,Bb and Eb instruments, 1 play along)

1 review for Tune of the Week-Invitation

  1. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Ron Bull – August 12, 2013

    Brilliant – Awesome lesson Steve – so much work there for me – I will be busy for a very long time – I LOVE THIS TUNE TOO !!
    Your in depth analysis has really opened up so many new avenues for me to explore. I really appreciate you playing through these concepts; I used to say “I probably will not live long enough to be able to get to your playing level” but now I say “look at how many new things I can learn with the hard work and dedication that Steve demonstrates in every lesson”.
    Thank you for this lesson Steve
    Ron Bull

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Lesson Sample

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Testimonials

It is so refreshing to have a great player, who can provide lessons and examples in a manner which is understandable to most any enthusiastic saxophonist who is ready to improve. not just the, do this, do that, memorize this, memorize that… while all that is absolutely necessary, you go on to give reasons and examples to explain and validate why you have to do all of these things, the benefits, if you will… that is the key for me, you tell, explain, demonstrate, explain some more, you give perso… Read more
Cedric
I would like to say that in the last year my sax playing has progressed loads from your lessons. I have had a sax for about 20 years and dabbled with lessons from a few teachers and have learnt very little from them. As you have said in your lessons many teachers tell you to use the blues scale and leave it there, not even showing you the resolution points!!. I am now believing I can in time become a good improviser.
Thanks again,
Shane
Shane
Thank you for all the educational information you provide.  I am a classically trained musician.  Professionally, I am a 4th and 5th grade band teacher.  I have played piano and sax for many years, but now I am starting to gig out more. I have always improvised by ear in the past. I have gotten by with my strong sense of pitch, rhythm and melodic contour. However, I want to go deeper. I want to play with a greater variety of melodic and rhythmic ideas to pull from.  I have studied to gain a … Read more
Ray

Never really had lessons before just kinda worked things out on my own. Was in a rut but your lessons are really helpful in opening melodic possibilities. Ur an awesome resource to the saxophone community. Thanks for sharing. 

Anthony

Hi Steve,

First, I want to thank you for all of your great lessons. They are like a “For Dummies” version of all the books on my shelf. The lessons break things down into manageable pieces, and give me the confidence that I’m practicing the right pieces. I’m starting to make progress.   Thank You,   Kim

Kim
I bought Steve’s dominant bebop book and took a couple of online lesson from him. I really appreciated Steve’s careful listening of what I wanted to get done in a lesson and his clear, concise ideas on next steps to improve my playing and musical interpretation.  His mastering  the Dominant Bebop Scale has lots of exercises to use a scale that addresses the largest percentage of chords I come across in pop/blues music. The dominant V7.  Needless say it has improved my playing.  I teach and a… Read more
Keith

Hello Steve,

I have not received my alto yet but have already gone through 14 lessons. I love your approach, style, knowledge and competence. I now regret so much to have stayed away from playing the sax for the past 45-50 years…(I am 65).  But It is never too late to get back to your first love. After 23 years in compuer sciences and 22 years in finances…I am now back to music for the rest of my life.

Doing some research on the net, I found this:

http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?1… Read more

Claude
I want to let you know that your instructional material is transforming my playing.  It is an immense pleasure to learn and play now, and I can’t tell you how grateful I am. The instructional material I got from you is by far the best of any I own (and I have over 100 books, DVDs, and what not). I literally can’t thank you enough! Deric
Deric
By the way, BIG COMPLIMENTS to you, Steve! Not only are you a great player, you are also a great teacher! I, too, am a woodwinds player/teacher. I have new inspiration to play and teach because of you. The concepts and “thinking” is similar to what I already learned in College, but hearing you explain and PLAY the concepts REALLY MAKES THE DIFFERENCE! Also, your written patterns are more interesting than other books I have seen! Keep up the good work. I will be recommending your sit… Read more
I will be recommending your site to others!

Steve,

I have played for many years and have enjoyed going “back to the basics” in some of your lessons!  You have such a gift for explaining concepts.  As I have gotten older, some of the basic things have gotten muddled because I just play, not knowing why.  As I refresh myself with “why”, it increases my confidence and expands my playing.  Thank you so much for using your gift!  You are a blessing!

Julia

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