Jazz vibraphonist Gary Burton and Larry Coryell collaborated on Duster back in ’67 evoking wider use of the term ‘jazz rock’ and stimulating broader appreciation for what was then a very fresh-sounding new genre that fused jazz and rock. Coryell can certainly be credited with attracting guitarists from both sides of the fence to the jazz rock scene but Miles Davis’ highly improvisational Bitches Brew with John McLaughlin (recorded in ’69) blew minds and made jazz rock history. Listen carefully and you can hear Miles snapping fingers to set tempos, assigning solos to players and whispering direction such as, “Keep it tight.”
James Hogan’s 50 Jazz Rock Licks You Must Know takes you on whirlwind sonic tour across the fretboards of legendary jazz rock guitarists such as John McLaughlin, Larry Coryell, Allan Holdsworth, Jeff Beck, Pat Martino, Al DiMeola, Larry Carlton, Jay Graydon, Pat Metheney, Robben Ford, John Scofield, Mike Stern, Frank Gambale and Scott Henderson to name just a few.
You’ll also be treated to very tasty lickage from lesser known but equally important guitarists such as Bill Connors, Carlos Rios, Steve Khan, Hiram Bullock and Tommy Bolin. James even includes a few essential lines from horn and piano players Miles Davis, Michael Brecker, Jan Hammer and Chick Corea.
James first presents the lick over a rhythm track and then breaks it down note-for-note showing you all of the requisite techniques including legato, alternate picking, sweep picking, hybrid picking, string skipping, bending, vibrato bar and many other tools of the trade. You’ll also be introduced to the harmonic world of melodic minor, dominant bebop, half-whole diminished scales, exotic pentatonics and a few cool chord tricks to ice the cake.Everything is tabbed and notated, plus you’ll get all of the rhythm tracks to practice with on your own.
As Miles would advise.. keep it tight!