LJS 93: How to Unlock Bebop Language (feat. Chad Lefkowitz-Brown)

Welcome to episode 93 of the LJS Podcast where today we have on special guest jazz saxophonist Chad Lefkowitz-Brown to talk about developing bebop language. Chad talks about his musical journey and the lessons he's learned along the way to becoming a renowned jazz musician and recording artists. Specifically, he hones in on Bebop, and gives us some great exercises to work on. Listen in!
Listen to episode 93







One of the most defining eras of jazz was the Bebop Era. This is a time period in the 1940's where pioneers like Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie innovated a style of playing that included a more virtuostic instrumental approach to jazz.
Joining us on the show today to talk about developing bebop language is renowned New York City based saxophonist Chad Lefkowitz-Brown. He's played with jazz musicians like Arturo O'Farrill and Clarence Penn, and has also played with some pop icons such as Taylor Swift and Don Henley. He also teaches at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music as a visiting artist.
Chad knows a lot about playing music and especially jazz. Today he talks about his roots and how he developed into the musician he is today. I know I learned a lot from hearing his story and you will too!
Chad also shares with us some great exercises for conceptualizing bebop language and different things we should be doing to develop jazz language. This episode is super value-packed, so I hope you have your notes ready.
Here are some of the exercises Chad talks about today:
The Bebop Scale
F Bebop Scale
Exercise #1
Adding chromaticism to the Mixolydian Scale

Exercise #2
Enclosure Pattern

Important Links:
chadlefkowitz-brown.com
Chad's Store







Read the Transcript
Brent: What is up, everybody? My name is Brent. I'm the jazz musician behind the website learnjazzstandards.com, which is a blog and a podcast all geared towards helping you become a better jazz musician.
Welcome back, if you are a regular listener. If it's your very first time ever listening to the show, I want to thank you so much for being here. I've got a special treat for you today. I've got a special guest, and that is jazz saxophonist Chad Lefkowitz-Brown, who lives out here in New York City.
He dedicated a little bit of time to talk to us today about bebop, about playing bebop. Not only just that but talking a little bit about himself, about his career, his development in jazz, all these things which I know for a fact you're going to be really interested in hearing. Today's episode is a little bit longer than normal, but it's totally worth it, and I know you're going to love everything Chad has to say.
Chat Lefkowitz-Brown, real quick, just in case you don't know who he is, he is an internationally renowned jazz saxophonist and recording artist. He's played with lots of artists, including Arturo O'Farrill and Clarence Penn. He's also even appeared with some pop icons, like Taylor Swift, Don Henley, and Phillip Phillips. And he's also part of the faculty, as a visiting artist, for the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
This guy is the real deal. He is a professional jazz musician. He has so much to teach us about his development. Again, our special topic today is bebop. He has some really cool exercises he's going to share with us, and a little bit of his knowledge of developing bebop language.
There's going to some examples that he gives out today. So if you're listening on your run, listening at the gym, listening on your commute, and you want to go back later and check out some of the notation for the exercises he's tal...