The Jazz Workshop

04/30/2026

Our director Paul Pieper recently spent a weekend in New York listening to some incredible musicians - and came back with a few reflections on what it all meant to him.

Read the full post here:

I love going up to New York to hear jazz. But it had been a while since I'd made a solo trip up to the city. So when I saw a free weekend approaching on my schedule, I figured I'd seize the opportunity and immerse myself in the music for a few days - Thursday 4/23 to Saturday 4/25. I started out as....

05/02/2025

Now available in stores: The Jazz Workshop Director™ action figure. Accessories include a Real Book with authentic coffee stains and a passion for helping grown-ups swing harder.

03/22/2025

Whatever instrument you play, jazz is for you. 🎷🎹🎸

03/20/2025

This is a fascinating read. Pianist Ethan Iverson wrote an appreciation of Benny Golson when he passed in late 2024. Lots of great anecdotes and musical details that will be of interest to our crowd.

This jumped out at me, about Benny's classic (and difficult) tune "Stablemates":

"The piece features unusual phrase lengths and unfamiliar bass motion. Miles Davis played it with Coltrane, but that early rendition is a bit chaotic. Miles later complained to Golson, “What were you smoking when you wrote that tune?”

A short appreciation

02/14/2025

Happy Valentines Day everyone! Here's our new blog post, just now published.

One of my favorite jazz jokes is: "How many jazz vocalists does it take to sing 'My Funny Valentine? All of them, apparently.' " Of course, the same thing could be said of horn players, piano players - this is a tune we can't seem to get enough of. For many jazz musicians, this tune is our first enc...

02/11/2025

Have you heard of the great jazz drummer Alan Dawson? Here he is, trading some of the cleanest "fours" I've ever heard with Sonny Rollins on "There Will Never Be Another You".

After the fours there's a drum solo which is also great, but it's the fours that really caught my attention here, and the way they pass ideas back and forth.

The great Alan Dawson trading fours and soloing with Sonny Rollins 1965

02/07/2025

Did you see this Wes Montgomery celebration on PBS the other night? Several of our students watched it and said it was amazing. Guitarist Dave Stryker ably channels Wes here.

Discover the genius of legendary Hoosier jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery through his music.

01/30/2025

Just posted! Read our latest blog post: "What Is The Real Book, And How Do You Use It?"

"The Real Book is the worst thing that ever happened to jazz." So said a prominent local bassist, years ago, in a conversation we were having. I got a kick out of his contrariness, but I also think I understood what he was trying to say - that The Real Book was a homogenizing force that relieved stu...

01/29/2025

We're glad to welcome a new neighbor here in Tysons, virtually next door to us. Marufuji Japanese market is a huge store with all kinds of delicious Japanese food, drinks and snacks. Check them out before or after your next visit to The Jazz Workshop!

Marufuji is a destination for sushi-grade fish, sauces, Japanese beauty products, and more.

01/25/2025

Read our latest blog post: Level up your jazz playing with these tips from our director, for every instrument.

Understanding your role within a jazz ensemble is crucial to both individual growth and group success. The Jazz Workshop's Director, Paul Pieper, brings years of educational expertise to these carefully curated observations, offering instrument-specific guidance that illuminates the interconnected n...