Jazz harmony

Thumbs Voicings: 3 Steps to Smooth Jazz Piano Chords

2026-08-17T08:57:12+01:00

Two-handed chords can be difficult to sculpt on the piano. Avoiding unnecessary notes while shaping a good voicing can feel like a stab in the dark, and in the heat of the moment can be very challenging to improvise on the spot. Improvising chord voicings is only possible with prior knowledge and fluency on a variety of chord shapes. Today we will look at the method of Thumbs Voicings. This method is one of many that allow you to make well-crafted two-handed chord voicings that can easily transition from one chord to the next. These will prove useful in all forms [...]

Thumbs Voicings: 3 Steps to Smooth Jazz Piano Chords2026-08-17T08:57:12+01:00

Why All Jazz Pianists Should Study Art Tatum

2026-07-13T11:08:49+01:00

Photo credit: “Tatum in 1946–1948” by William P. Gottlieb. Courtesy of the Library of Congress, William P. Gottlieb Collection, digital ID gottlieb.08301. Few musicians have transformed the landscape of jazz piano quite like Art Tatum. Revered by fellow pianists and admired by musicians across every genre, Tatum possessed a level of technical brilliance and musical imagination that continues to astonish listeners decades after his recordings were made. While many pianists naturally gravitate towards figures such as Bill Evans, McCoy Tyner or Herbie Hancock, every serious jazz pianist should spend time studying Art Tatum. His influence reaches far beyond dazzling virtuosity; [...]

Why All Jazz Pianists Should Study Art Tatum2026-07-13T11:08:49+01:00

Why Every Jazz Pianist Should Study Bill Evans

2026-03-10T13:57:52+00:00

Few musicians have shaped the language of jazz piano as profoundly as Bill Evans. Emerging in the late 1950s, Evans transformed the role of the jazz pianist through lyrical touch and emotional harmony, as well as having great influence with his collaborative approach to ensemble playing. His influence extends far beyond his own recordings, and permeates modern jazz piano vocabulary, continuing to shape how pianists think about harmony, rhythm, and musical interaction. He is also considered one of the most influential pianists in developing modern solo piano language. For these reasons, every jazz pianist, regardless of style or experience, should study [...]

Why Every Jazz Pianist Should Study Bill Evans2026-03-10T13:57:52+00:00
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