Music Space Episode 4 - Jazz Guitar Improvisation Tips & Techniques with David Innocente

Hi and welcome to the blog for episode four of Music Space - to those that tuned in live - thank you! Joining us in the studio this week was acclaimed jazz guitarist, David Innocente. He spoke with Gary about his life and work as a professional musician, and also gave us a guitar lesson including guitar tricks on how to play guitar focusing on jazz guitar improvisation.

David's Jazz Beginnings

Having played mainly rock 'n' roll for around five years, Dave, a self-taught guitarist, was initially inspired to explore jazz guitar improvisation when he heard a Herb Ellis album in his late teens. He would learn to play jazz guitar by listening to and ripping off the lines, which helped him better understand jazz harmony. He went on to learn jazz guitar at the University of Adelaide which catapulted him into the live-music scene, and from there into a career as a full time musician. One of his first recordings was with Hammond Eggs Trio , a Jimmy Smith inspired ensemble.

A Career Playing Jazz and More

The live music scene was a great proving ground and a place to meet other musicians. That network led to some wonderful career highlights including playing in the seventy-piece orchestra backing Olivia Newton John and John Farnham in The Main Event arena spectacular. His other major musical credits include FAME , Dusty , and Jesus Christ Superstar (alongside Music Space host, Gary Isaacs).

Jazz Guitar Improvisation

Improvisation is a form of musical expression in which musicians make up the melodies they play on the spot. The lines or phrases generally come from either the notes of the chords or the guitar scales and arpeggios that are suited to the guitar chords of the tune being played. It is common to use one scale throughout an entire rock, blues or pop song - however in jazz guitar improvisation it is more likely that guitar scales and arpeggios are specifically suited to the chords being used at the time. Many guitarists learn jazz guitar improvisation by copying lines and phrases from other guitar players, memorizing the concepts that they get from these melodies and then eventually coming up with ideas of their own.

What Dave's Doing Now

David currently performs and records with his original jazz/fusion band, 'Dirt' , which is a mix of jazz guitar improvisation over rock grooves where Dave's two passions meet. Their first album, One Thing Led To Another , was released in 2003. While still writing for a new fusion trio project, Dave is currently teaching jazz guitar at Adelaide University and working as a freelance musician in local bands, including; 'Lucifer's Lounge', 'Flirt' and 'The Gunda Guys' (also with Gary Isaacs).

About David Innocente

David Innocente has been playing guitar for 38 years and has a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance from the University of Adelaide. Specializing in jazz guitar but capable of playing many styles such as rock guitar, blues guitar and pop guitar, he teaches jazz guitar improvisation and how to play guitar at Salisbury TAFE and the University of Adelaide.

• Hammond Eggs Trio - Bringing Home the Bacon

• Dirt - One Thing Led To Another