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Jeff Rzepiela

Jeff Rzepiela is a multi-instrumentalist, performing on flute, clarinet, alto, and tenor saxophone. He can be heard performing with The JazzSchool Big Band, The Musicians Warehouse Big Band, The Swing Solution Big Band, and with Leanne Weatherly.

In addition to his performing activities, Jeff enjoys teaching jazz improvisation. His methods focus on studying his own transcriptions of solos by jazz greats to extract the essentials of improvisation.

Jeff's musical studies began in earnest at Duke University under the direction of Artist-In-Residence, Paul Jeffrey. Paul has a long history as arranger and saxophonist with such jazz legends as Dizzy Gillespie, Charles Mingus, and Thelonious Monk and lessons with him emphasized the importance of transcription and respect for the jazz tradition. The opportunity to host a jazz radio program on Duke's WXDU radio also gave Jeff access to a large record collection from which to learn jazz history from Armstrong to Zorn.

Jeff continued his studies at the University of California -- Berkeley. Here he performed in numerous small ensembles as well as playing lead alto in the Wednesday Big Band. It was here that studies with Dave Le Febvre introduced Jeff to a wealth of big band literature and his first lessons in arranging.

His nickname, "Scooby" dates from his days in Berkeley. A friend commented that every time he saw Jeff, he was snapping his fingers and humming a jazz tune. His friend's term for that was "scooby-ing" and the name eventually stuck.

Tags

Education

Latest Issue Of Scooby-sax Newsletter

Latest Issue Of Scooby-sax Newsletter

Source: Jeff Rzepiela Public Relations

The latest issue of the Scooby-sax Newsletter has been published. In this issue, one chorus of a Phil Woods solo on the tune “Solar" is examined. A number of improvisation exercises are developed using the raw material from the solo. Starting from a given phrase that Phil Woods played, different options are shown to transform the original line and extend it to other contexts. Visit Scooby-sax Newsletter to download a PDF copy of the latest issue. Also, previous issues are ...

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Education

New Online Jazz Improvisation Lesson Available: Transcribed Sonny Rollins Solos

New Online Jazz Improvisation Lesson Available: Transcribed Sonny Rollins Solos

Source: Jeff Rzepiela Public Relations


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Education

New Online Lesson Available at scooby-sax.com

New Online Lesson Available at scooby-sax.com

Source: Jeff Rzepiela Public Relations


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Education

New Improvisation Lesson Available on Scooby-Sax.com

New Improvisation Lesson Available on Scooby-Sax.com

Source: Jeff Rzepiela Public Relations

A new improvisation lesson is available in the Online Lessons section of scooby-sax.com. In Part 1 of a two part lesson, a transcribed solo of Sonny Stitt playing “Tune Up" is examined. In addition to the transcription, 13 phrases from the solo are extracted and a practice method is explained to learn these phrases and expand your jazz vocabulary. Midi and Band-in-a-Box practice tracks are also available. Part 2 of the lesson (available shortly) will examine how to transform the ...

Primary Instrument

Saxophone

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

Lessons focus on two major topics to develop improvisation abilities:

1). Study of harmony through a guided series of exercises designed to target chord tones and incorporate chromaticism. These exercises are developed using standard chord progressions (e.g. I Got Rhythm, Autumn Leaves, etc.)

2). An in-depth study of solo transcriptions. Methods for transcribing are discussed. A method of learning solos and extracting key ideas is presented. Learn how to incorporate the ideas of jazz masters into your improvisations.

All levels are accepted

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