Always enjoy watching and reading things from Mr. Werner. And listening to him play too. Even though he's been talking the same effortless mastery concepts for quite some time I still feel like I hear something new each time.
he was talking about playing in 'five" i am presuming that is the time signature the jam at the end the groove felt like "five" i never got into jazz to much cause i always get lost for the very first time i got it.
Thinking he was speaking to me directly, I became one with the "whatever I play sounds good to me", and headed straight for my chromatics. I can't be certain, but I am not sure the cat agrees.
wow! he eloquently (y'know?)...explains the importance of controlling the Mind. Get it out of the way. Yet, have the tools/passion to pull it off. Study well. The feeling of complete love and acceptance of what you're doing...now! Thanks Frank.. I had to listen twice. Nice clip at the end.. ----------
When we brought in Toots to perform at SPAH 1999 in St. Louis, Kenny was his pianist and gave an Effortless Mastery workshop the afternoon before the concert.
That's how we used to do the convention during the Golden Age of SPAH - 1996 - 2000. ---------- The Iceman
Something else hidden in there.., don't try to set aside 2 hours to practice. Go for 5 minutes and let it turn into 45. (I'm paraphrasing here)
Last Edited by on Nov 18, 2012 7:36 PM
I've been having intermittent periods of improvising lately where i try to just pick up my harp and play, mainly shuffles going through the 12 bars but I've been trying not to think about my licks just try and let them flow and it's not easy.
I think I've had two eureka moments when I've gone wow!! I'm improvising and BAM!its gone because i thought about it:o(
I can't remember exactly how or when I first heard of him - it may have been from Larry "The Iceman" in American Harmonica News Letter along time ago...Like all you guys, his thoughts really resonate with me is a positive way!
Last Edited by on Nov 19, 2012 10:31 AM
I have a keyboard buddy who actually hung out and got a day long lesson with Kenny at Kenny's house. He said at his home he was even more out there than in his book or performance. While my friend was expecting to learn something about playing piano, everything was about effortless mastery and very spiritual.
He said Kenny would just randomly play stuff as examples, etc. and every note just blew his mind. He didn't buy into the whole vibe coming in, but meeting him made it click for him.
Yes, as Frank mentioned, I was into Kenny way back in the days when I wrote a column for AHN.
I've known Kenny personally since the mid 90's, when he came up with this concept and would drive around in a beat up old car with a trunk full of Effortless Mastery books and do workshops at college campuses that had a music department.
As the years went by, more people got into what Kenny was talking about.
He became a fixture at the International Association of Jazz Education conventions (an organization that I worked as part of their production team for 15 years) as it grew in stature - Kenny partnered with Jamie Abersold (who was the 1st outlet to offer Kenny's book). Jamie would video Kenny's workshops at the IAJE conventions and even offered a VHS version for sale.
Kenny also had a Masterclass Piano Workshop at the IAJE Convention, in which young jazz pianists who had won some jazz competition would get up on stage, perform a tune and Kenny would do a lesson with them right in front of the audience. Kenny is a great "myth buster" regarding music and is one of the most hilarious people on stage in a talking format.
As a matter of fact, Kenny was my "inside man" and was instrumental in my arranging for Toots to come to SPAH 1999 in St. Louis.
