Falk Willis

Falk’s Contributions

02/27/12    JazzHeaven Videos

Jerry Bergonzi: It's Not What You Play, but How You Play

Video excerpt of saxophonist and educator playing all the "wrong notes"—on purpose

02/07/12    JazzHeaven Videos

Ralph Peterson: Getting the Gig with Michael Brecker

Video excerpt of master drummer explaining "what it takes to get the gig"

Lee-konitz_span3

01/26/12    JazzHeaven Videos

Lee Konitz: Singing & Playing It

Video excerpt of sax icon demonstrating Sing & Play Exercise, accompanied by Dan Tepfer

01/19/12    JazzHeaven Videos

Jean-Michel Pilc: True Jazz Improvisation

Video excerpt of pianist discussing playing melodies vs. playing intervals

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About Falk Willis

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JazzHeaven.com Founder & CEO Falk Willis had been a professional Jazz Drummer himself for 14 years, playing with the likes of Kurt Rosenwinkel, Mark Turner & Kenny Wheeler, as well as running his own businesses for 10 years after that.

The idea for all of this was born, when he asked himself the question "what would be a DREAM COME TRUE for the aspiring jazz drummer/bassist/pianist, etc.?"

Having been a young aspiring jazz musician himself two decades earlier, the answer was easy:

A website with many of today's leading jazz musicians giving online lessons, with rock-solid how-to information on Jazz Improvisation - accessible instantly, no matter where one lives!

After over 2 years of pretty much non-stop work with a kick-butt team of videographers, video editors & audio engineers, buying lots of great video & audio recording gear, robbing a couple of banks in the process, and setting up a dedicated video recording studio in Brooklyn, NY, the first 31 videos were filmed, and the first How to Play Jazz Videos ready for release:

Lee Konitz: Talking & Playing Jazz Improvisation Lesson
Jerry Bergonzi: Creating a Jazz Vocabulary Vol. 1 How to Play Jazz Lesson
Jerry Bergonzi: Creating a Jazz Vocabulary Vol. 2 How to Play Jazz Lesson
Jean-Michel Pilc: True Jazz Improvisation
Eric Harland: The Yin & Yang of Jazz Drumming
Ralph Peterson: Jazz Drumming Demystified
Ari Hoenig: Melodic Drumming Jazz Drums Lesson

Upcoming (already filmed) instructional videos will feature: Kenny Werner, Oz Noy, Ingrid Jensen, Mike Clark & Paul Jackson, Vincent Herring, Lage Lund, Gilad Hekselman, Geoffrey Keezer, Enrico Pieranunzi, Walt Weiskopf, David Kikoski, Sergio Brandao, Lincoln Goines, Portinho, Joel Frahm, Jamey Haddad & many more to come.

Each instructional video features a lesson part of at least 90 minutes (some considerably longer), as well as a 60-minute interview with the artist.

JazzHeaven.com Jazz Lessons are available in the following formats:
* DVD (region-free, shipping world-wide)
* Streaming Online Video (just like a YouTube video, but with username/password)
* Version for MOBILE devices (iPhone/iPod/iPad/Android)

Great care & attention to detail was given to match the level of production quality of these Jazz Courses to the fantastic level of the JazzHeaven.com artists.

JazzHeaven.com also features multiple free video excerpts from its various full-length videos to give site visitors a clear idea of the full-length videos.

Check out JazzHeaven.com to experience learning from the finest Jazz Musicians around, no matter where you live!

Falk Willis joined the JazzTimes community on Jan 10, 2012