Blue Bossa, Improvisation
- Dr. Bob Lawrence
- Sep 21
- 4 min read
Practice Creativity.
Jazz Improvisation Unlocking Creativity Through Harmonic Shapes
It’s week three, which can only mean one thing here at Jazz Piano Skills: improvisation time! Every month, I guide us through a three-part study of a classic jazz standard—beginning with harmonic analysis in week one, melodic analysis in week two, and improvisation development in week three. This month’s tune: the timeless Kenny Dorham classic, Blue Bossa.
As I like to say, “the months just fly by,” but the structure of these studies remains steady and reliable. And that’s precisely the point. A well-thought-out process keeps us from drifting into chaos or confusion, especially when tackling something as personal and elusive as improvisation.
The Foundation: Seven Musical Facts
Before diving into improvisation, I want to remind us of the seven musical facts that form the backbone of all jazz study. They are simple, but powerful:
Music is the production of sound and silence.
Sound is produced harmonically (chords) and melodically (lines).
Harmonic sound = chords or voicings.
Melodic sound = arpeggios or scales.
Scales and arpeggios only move two ways: up or down.
We decorate scales/arpeggios with tension (chromaticism).
We add rhythm to make it interesting.
Everything plugs into these truths. When you simplify jazz to this framework, practice suddenly feels much more approachable.
The Trap: 10 Signs You’re Headed Toward Frustration
This week’s episode also answered a fantastic listener question from Brianna in Madison, Wisconsin, who asked: What should I avoid as I begin my jazz journey?
I devoted two full weeks to answering her, laying out 10 warning signs that signal trouble ahead.
Signs 1–5 (covered last week):
No plan – drifting without structure.
Constant information gathering – the “jazz vertigo” of too many books, apps, and videos.
Overly long practice sessions – trying to do it all at once.
Playing songs all the time – relying on repertoire instead of skill-building.
Neglecting grunt work – skipping scales, arpeggios, and other fundamentals.
Signs 6–10 (this week):
No paper practice – failing to think, write, or sketch out concepts away from the keyboard.
No role models – not knowing who you want to sound like (Peterson? Corea? Evans?).
Not recording yourself – missing out on the most honest feedback available.
No rhythmic vocabulary practice – ignoring rhythm, the hardest and most essential skill.
No time spent making music – ending practice without comping, improvising, or creating.
The list is blunt but liberating. If you recognize yourself in these signs, you’re not alone. The solution is to step back, simplify, and put the focus on skills—not just songs.
Improvisation Through Harmonic Shapes
This week’s heart of the lesson was all about improvisation using harmonic shapes. Instead of improvising “freely” (which usually results in running scales aimlessly), I build solos by locking into specific shapes—root position, inversions, or upper extensions of chords—and then applying self-imposed constraints.
The method is surprisingly freeing:
Pick one harmonic shape per chord.
Stay inside the notes of that shape.
Create melodic ideas rhythmically, not by adding more notes.
By limiting yourself, creativity blossoms - “Creativity is derived from limitations, not from abundance.”
Over the course of the episode, I demonstrate three full solo choruses on Blue Bossa using three completely different sets of harmonic shapes. The result? Each solo sounds fresh and unique, simply because he explored a new region of each chord.
Try It Yourself: Improvisation Practice Drills
Here are three simple exercises you can try today to apply this concept directly to Blue Bossa (or any tune you love).
Exercise 1: Root Position Only
On each chord, play the root position triad or 7th chord.
Improvise only using those notes.
Focus on rhythm and space—make it feel like music, not drills.
Exercise 2: First Inversions
Now move every chord into its first inversion.
Again, only use those notes for your lines.
Listen to how your melodies change just by shifting the shape.
Exercise 3: Add Rhythm Before Notes
Choose one chord shape.
Instead of adding notes, change the rhythm: long tones, syncopation, rests.
Record yourself and listen back—you’ll hear how rhythm makes even 3 notes come alive.
The Takeaway
Whether you’re a beginner dipping your toes into jazz, an intermediate player trying to break through plateaus, or even a seasoned pro refining your sound, this week’s episode is packed with wisdom:
Stick to the seven musical facts.
Watch out for the 10 danger signs.
Build improvisation from harmonic shapes with rhythmic creativity.
End every practice session by actually making music.
So—grab your podcast packets, cue up Blue Bossa, and start experimenting with harmonic shapes. Limit yourself. Explore rhythm. And discover how much music you can make inside a single chord shape.
As always: It’s time to get busy. It’s time to discover, learn, and play!
🎧 Listen Now: [Jazz Piano Skills Podcast: “Blue Bossa” – Improvisation Episode] 📝 Become a Member: JazzPianoSkills.com 📺 Subscribe on YouTube: Jazz Piano Skills
Warm Regards, Dr. Bob Lawrence
Jazz Piano Skills
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