Livestream | Django's "Daphne" and Week 6: Abundance!

Price: FREE

When: Feb 11th at 12-2p PT | 3-5p ET

Where: YouTube | Facebook | Twitch

What: Livestream Every Tuesday

Hour 1: Exploring Django Reinhardt’s “Daphne” & Rhythm Changes

In preparation for Django in June, I’ll be diving into “Daphne”, one of Django Reinhardt’s classic gypsy jazz compositions. This tune is built on the chord progression known as Rhythm Changes, one of the most important harmonic frameworks in jazz.

🎵 What Are Rhythm Changes?

The term Rhythm Changes comes from the chord progression of George Gershwin’s 1930 song “I Got Rhythm.” The structure became so widely used that jazz musicians began writing their own melodies over the same harmonic framework—these new compositions are called contrafacts. Rhythm Changes have since become a cornerstone of jazz, used in everything from swing to bebop to gypsy jazz.

🎼 Why Are They So Important?

✅ A Common Jazz Language – Rhythm Changes are a foundational progression that every jazz musician learns. They serve as a shared language for improvisation.

✅ Countless Variations – While the original changes follow a 32-bar AABA form, jazz musicians have created endless variations, reharmonizations, and substitutions.

✅ Contrafacts You Might Know:

• “Anthropology” (Charlie Parker)

• “Oleo” (Sonny Rollins)

• “Moose the Mooche” (Charlie Parker)

• “Lester Leaps In” (Lester Young)

• “Cotton Tail” (Duke Ellington)

In gypsy jazz, Django Reinhardt and his contemporaries embraced Rhythm Changes, adding their own stylistic phrasing, chord voicings, and rhythmic feel. “Daphne” is Django’s take on this progression, and we’ll explore how it’s played in the gypsy jazz style.

🎶 What We’ll Cover in the Livestream:

✅ The melody and harmony of Daphne

✅ Left-hand accompaniment ideas for a solid rhythm section feel

✅ How Django’s approach differs from bebop and swing versions of Rhythm Changes

✅ Practical improvisation tips for navigating this form on accordion

If you’re attending Django in June or just want to deepen your understanding of jazz, this is a great opportunity to develop your skills!

Hour 2: Chapter 6 of The Artist’s Way

Shifting gears in the second hour, we’ll dive into Chapter 6 of The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. This chapter is all about reclaiming a sense of abundance—breaking past creative scarcity and embracing inspiration. We’ll discuss key takeaways, how they relate to music practice, and ways to stay creatively energized.

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One of the very exciting things is that I NEWLY have a Forums on my website now where you can post participate in the conversation and sharing each week. So please feel free to post and explore as I build out the new site!