Steve Allen: An Introduction to Jazz Piano

This lesson is an overview of classic jazz piano ideas and techniques for the beginning player. Throughout the video, Steve divulges the "tricks of the trade" and "gimmicks" that will enhance your keyboard style, trills, octave vibrato, "fake runs", blues riffs and more. He shows how any player, with a variety of simple techniques, can start to build arrangements and spice up his or her jazz playing. Steve explores the basics of blues piano, including the use of boogie woogie, stride and a variety of walking bass lines. Changing styles, he shows the use of moving 10th's in the bass as played by Teddy Wilson and Art Tatum, and how this differs from the style developed by Count Basie and others. You'll learn how to add descending lines to vary a chord, play fast 4-note riffs and gain other invaluable information.