Monk peter bernstein album review and lick analysis

Album Review and lick analysis – Monk – Peter Bernstein

By jazz-guitar-licks
On 2017-12-22
In Guest Posts
0 comments

Monk - Peter Bernstein The music of Thelonious Monk is music which evokes many different emotions and ideas in a huge demographic of musicians and instrumentalists. With that in mind, the emotions and ideas evoked by legendary jazz guitarist, Peter Bernstein, in this showcase album range from childish playfulness, faithful to the source of the music, to coherent and thorough modern jazz playing in the upper echelons of technical and interactive ability.

It’s been noted previously in reviews, at the time of the album’s release, that a collection of Monk tunes by a guitarist is a rare occurrence that was a huge breath of fresh air to all those who knew about its existence. I’ve never heard such faithful music made with such individualism and taste without any sense imitation. This is most definitely Bernstein plays Monk and not the other way around.

Play the tune you are playing, not the changes of the tune

Through his music, Bernstein demonstrates this point very clearly and I think it’s something that we often overlook in our practice and playing as jazz musicians.

The word contrafact is a common one in modern jazz. Many tunes are based upon the changes of an older, wiser tune. Take “Koko” By Charlie Parker and “Subconscious-Lee” by Konitz, these are based on the changes of two classic standards, “Cherokee” and “What is This Thing Called Love” respectively. Yet the melodic content of both these tunes is totally different to the original standard they are based on. This should affect your improvisation in exactly the same way - the melodic content of your solo should differ according to the melody. Bernstein mentions this concept in a YouTube video about his attitude to tackling Monk’s music (). I think he definitely ‘walks the walk’ when you listen to how closely involved with the melody he remains in his solos on this album. He is definitely not just playing altered licks on a Monk chord progression.

This album has been one of my staple listens since I discovered it a couple of years ago. Bernstein evokes such an understated class in most things he plays and this, coupled with a complete and thorough facility on the guitar, gives you a winning formula. Namely, an overall sense of interaction and freedom which is exactly the vibe a Monk tune must exude.

Bernstein in a trio is always a joy to listen to as he manages to create such a rich harmonic texture from just a few well-placed double stops and the occasional interwoven counterpoint in certain key areas of a tune, for example, the B section of “In Walked Bud.”

Have a listen to the way he plays the head of “Let’s Cool One”, “Panonnica” and “In Walked Bud”. Notice how he uses double stops and simple three note chords to outline the harmony – he particularly uses the interval of a tone in his playing to create a sudden dissonance – something that Monk regularly and instinctively did in his piano playing. Playing a melody in this style on the guitar is really affective and something definitely worth looking into. It’s very hard to find the perfect balance between a chord-melody style, similar to Joe Pass’ playing, and a single note melody but this middle-ground is very enticing to listen to and fun to play.

Lick analysis

The first track, “Let’s Cool One”, has become something of a cult favourite in the jazz guitar world. It is a master class in economy and phrasing, not to mention a perfect transcription project for those of us who would like to learn more about the altered scale and it’s many uses.
Having transcribed this tune, I have included a short 4 bar section with a couple of really awesome licks in it!

Monk peter bernstein guitar transcription
His solo break begins with an amazing and technically challenging altered lick using 3rds and enclosures and finally landing on the 9th of the Ebmaj7 chord in the next bar.

If you are lacking in altered dominant licks resolving to the 9th then this is the lick for you.

The second lick uses an Ab maj7 arpeggio on to outline all the natural extensions of the dominant (Bb).

Ab = b7th of Bb7
C = 9th of Bb7
Eb = 11th of Bb7
G = 13th of Bb7

This is a very useful and applicable thing to use in your own playing and is a handy trick for playing on any dominant in any key.
He finishes off the lick by including the #5 and then plays a diatonic enclosure on the 6th of the tonic chord (Eb).

If you are lacking in licks using arpeggios and resolving to the 6th then this is the lick for you.

To recap what we’ve covered in this post –

We’ve learnt how important it is to consider the melody when you are improvising on any tune – but Monk tunes in particular.
We’ve looked at how Bernstein uses harmonic and intervallic textures when he’s playing a head.
We’ve analysed two of his licks in depth.
We’ve taken what we saw when analysing his licks and learn new concepts for practicing improvising.

I hope this review and post has been useful and I’ll be back with another article for you next month!

About the author

Luke Adams is a session guitarist and jazz musician based in Cardiff, Wales. He’s currently studying for a degree in Jazz Guitar from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and is taught by some of the top musicians in the UK. He regularly performs around the UK with various professional projects whilst also composing original music and performing with his own contemporary jazz trio – 2alike. Luke is also a keen writer and tutor both online and in 1-1 lessons.

Official website

Guitar Scale Dictionary

This E-book is a printable PDF method including over 700 scale diagrams and formula charts for guitarists.
Guitar Chord Dictionary

This PDF eBook provides over 550 guitar chord shapes. This is the perfect reference guide to understand how chords are built and how to play them on the guitar neck.
30 Groovy Jazz Guitar Licks

This downloadable package contains a PDF WITH audio files giving access to 30 groovy guitar phrases mixing jazz, blues and funky licks for beginners.
172 Arpeggio Shapes For Guitar

This printable PDF is a method dedicated to guitarists of all styles who want to learn build and play the most important types of arpeggios.
126 Triad Chord Shapes

This handbook for guitar players is intended both for teachers and students. It includes 126 guitar shapes for mastering triads.
Major Scale Harmonization

This package provides a printable PDF with exercises and audio files to learn how to harmonize the major scale with 3 note chords and their extensions.
30 Minor Arpeggio Licks

This package includes a printable PDF method containing 30 exercises with tabs, staves and audio files for practicing minor arpeggios on guitar.
II V I Bundle - 170 Exercises

This bundle contains 4 PDF methods for a total of 170 exercises with tabs, staves, analysis & audio files for practicing scales, arpeggios licks & chords over the 2-5-1 progression.
Diatonic Licks Bundle

This package contains 120 jazz guitar lines based on diatonic modes as Mixolydian, Dorian and Ionian. PDF format with tabs, audio files and analysis.
30 Smooth Jazz Guitar Licks

In this package you'll get a printable PDF Method with tabs, notation, analysis, scale shapes and audio files for practicing 30 smooth jazz guitar licks.
40 II V I Jazz Guitar Licks

This pdf method for guitar contains fourteen 2 5 1 jazz guitar lines with tab, standard notation, analysis, scale charts and audio files.
50 II-V-I voicings

This printable PDF guitar method provides 50 exercises with audio files, analysis, tab and staves for learning major 2-5-1 chord voicings.
40 Minor 2 5 1 Chord Voicings

This PDF method contains 40 exercices with tabs, scores and audio files for practicing jazz guitar chords over the minor 2 5 1 progression.
40 Minor II V I Licks

This guitar method is a printable PDF with tabs, diagrams, theory and audio files providing 40 minor 2 5 1 jazz patterns.
40 Mixolydian Jazz Guitar Lick

PDF guitar method with tabs, audio files and theory providing 40 dominant jazz guitar lines for teachers and students.
40 Minor Jazz Guitar Licks

This printable guitar method in PDF format contains 40 easy minor jazz guitar lines based on the Dorian mode.
40 Major Jazz Guitar Licks

Printable PDF eBook method containing 40 major jazz guitar licks with tab, standard notation and audio files for beginners and intermediates.
Guitar Walking Bass Lines

This jazz guitar method about walking bass lines and chords is available as a PDF files containing 35 exercises with tabs, analysis and audio files
101 Dominant Arpeggio Patterns

This printable PDF method provides 101 dominant arpeggio exercises with tab, theory and standard notation for the jazz, blues and rock guitarist.
49 Essential Jazz Lines

This printable eBook method in PDF format provides 49 jazz solo transcriptions of the greatest jazz musicians. Tab, standard notation, audio files & analysis.
11 Jazz Blues Studies

11 jazz blues chord studies with tabs, standard notation, analysis, and audio recordings and PDF.
10 Easy Fingerstyle Blues

This PDF with Tabs and audio files provides 10 easy acoustic fingerstyle blues guitar studies for kids and beginners.
25 Altered Jazz Guitar Lines

This PDF eBook method contains 25 altered jazz guitar licks with tabs, patterns, scale charts and audio files to master, apply and develop the altered scale.
40 Blues Dominant Patterns

This printable method is available as a PDF file containing 40 easy dominant jazz-blues guitar lines with tabs, standard notation, analysis, audio files and scale charts.
25 Pentatonic Licks

This jazz guitar method is an eBook available as a PDF with standard notation, guitar tabs, diagrams, analysis, audio files and backing tracks. You will find in this booklet 25 easy jazz guitar lines with theory using common and rare pentatonic scales.
25 Soul Jazz Guitar Licks

You will find here an eBook available in PDF containing 25 soul jazz and hard bop guitar licks in the style of Grant Green, Melvin Sparks, George Benson.
25 Diminished Patterns

This eBook PDF with audio files contains 25 dominant diminished jazz guitar patterns using the half-whole diminished scale and diminished 7th arpeggios.
6 Tritone substitution licks

This Printable PDF eBook available for free download contains 6 easy jazz guitar licks with tabs/notation, youtube video link and analysis about the tritone substitution.
10 Minor 7 Arpeggio Patterns

This printable PDF eBook offers 10 easy minor 7 arpeggio patterns with its related YouTube video for beginner guitarists.
10 Easy Major 7 Arpeggio Licks

This is a printable PDF for beginner jazz guitar players providing 10 easy licks to practice major 7 arpeggios.
10 Chord Melody Lines

Within this package, you'll discover a set of ten chord melody exercises for beginners. Printable PDFaudio files, a backing track, and a link to the associated YouTube video.
10 Minor Blues Scale Licks

You'll find here a PDF with 10 easy jazz guitar licks to practice the minor blues scale on guitar.

Lick analysis album review Guest post music reviews Peter Bernstein Monk Thelonious Monk

Reharmonizing Christmas Carols using Giant Steps chord changes

This music lesson explains how to apply Coltrane changes to christmas song.
8 Steps to Learn Any Jazz Standard

This lesson will present an established and effective eight-step approach that can help you grasp any jazz standard on guitar.
LAVA Guitar ME 3 Review - All-new Finish: Golden Hour

This guest post by Lava Music is about a special edition of the LAVA ME 3 GUITAR.
10 Most Popular Jazz Drummers Of All Time

Top 10 list of best jazz drummers of all time.
Jazz up Your Blues - Guitar Lesson

Guest post lesson providing useful tricks and tips on how to jazz up your blues on guitar.
Why Playing Jazz Makes You a Better Guitar Player?

This blog article is a guest post by Paul Mills. He shares with you some thoughts, tips and tricks on why learning jazz helps you become a better guitar player.
5 Tips For Learning Guitar Scales

How to learn guitar scales in 5 easy steps. Learning and memorizing number of guitar scales is an important step in developing your skills as a jazz guitarist. This guest post provides 5 ideas for learning scales on the guitar.
The CAGED Method For Guitar - Scales, Chords And Arpeggios

This guitar lesson with tabs and standard notation explain how to build and play scales, chords and arpeggios with the CAGED method.