Be taken with the fine art of ensemble playing and improvisation with Marc Mommaas
As an instrumentalist or singer who has fallen in love with jazz, America’s only native artform, or Black American music in the contemporary vernacular, you may have been entranced by the nature of playing in an ensemble or improvisation. It can be challenging when you may be practicing your instrument for hours to no end. You are scrolling the internet and have your interest piqued by New York Jazz Workshop, offering this weekly workshop. That is where New York Jazz Workshop can assist because the school has an A list array of instructors comprising some of the best musicians on the scene today, and learning from musicians who have vast recording and touring experience is ideal. In this weekly two hour workshop led by the highly individual saxophone and enthusiastic teaching of Marc Mommaas brings essential components to the table such as various improvisation techniques, melodic development, chord progression and form. Regardless of the style that you wish to play in your own space and time, classic pieces in the jazz repertoire are used as improvisational vehicles. The workshop is a nurturing environment so the exploration and interaction with other players is encouraged.
Getting to the New York Jazz Workshop located at 265 W. 37th street between 8th avenue is easy as subway locations are plentiful, and the school’s close proximity to Penn Station make it the obvious choice.
Today’s musicians require a diverse skill set for multiple genres. The New York Jazz Workshop offers many classes, intensives, private lessons in several boroughs: Manhattan and Brooklyn, as well as Europe. Great musicianship knows no borders or genre.
I have been the staff writer for the New York Jazz Workshop School of Music blog in midtown Manhattan since 2014, and that has broadened my freelance writing skills considerably. In addition to writing artist bios, and articles of interest that pertain to the mission of the school, I have interviewed (in print on the site) legendary guitarist and NEA Jazz Master Pat Metheny, trumpeter Cuong Vu, and in 2015 embarked on producing a podcast for the school where I have achieved my dream and interviewed jazz giants such as Dave Liebman, Lenny White, rising talents like Thana Alexa, Logan Richardson, guitarist and bassist Brian Kastan, among others. I also work on SEO optimization for the blog. In 2015 I started my blog Jazz Views with CJ Shearn, and have written liner notes for 5 time Grammy winner and Oscar and Golden Globe nominee, Antonio Sanchez (for his latest recording “Channels of Energy”) and guitarist Gene Ess for his latest recording, scheduled to be released in November 2018.
My passion for jazz music is what drives me, which is an interest I’ve had since I can remember. I initially began writing about jazz at the age of 13 for my high school newspaper, and in my late teens contributed occasionally to jazzreview.com. In college I was member of the Harpur Jazz Project which brought jazz acts to campus. I’ve also contributed in the past to AllAboutJazz where I was mentored by John Kelman. I decided to focus on my passion for jazz music journalism after a job in the social services field as a caseworker went south, and as a person with a physical disability I work on going against the odds, living independently and having accomplished things people had said I’d never do.