Something New In 2026

Start 2026 with a renewed sense of purpose.  Find your creative mojo and work toward your musical goals. If you haven’t discovered or decided what your goals will be for this year take a moment to write down 5 things you would like to do. You can do this over a period of 2 or 3 days or more if you like. You can change your list over that period. You may think of something tomorrow that you haven’t considered today. You may even have more than 5 items on your agenda. That is perfectly fine. Go for it. Write these down and start working towards them little by little. It might be learning new songs, trying a new genre, learning more about improvisation if you haven’t explored it or learning a different kind of improvisation. You might even revisit a song or a solo that you started but haven’t conquered. Now is the time to jump in. There is always room for growth.

The beauty of improvisation is that it is a process that allows you to make changes, and the possibilities are endless.

Here are a few suggestions for songs to study in various genres.

         Jazz

      (Recordings of songs below can be found on you tube)

1.     Ella Fitzgerald- Airmail Special (several versions can be found on you tube)

2.     Kurt Elling- Nature Boy

3.     Samara Joy- Misty

4.     Gabrielle Goodman-Gabby’s Blues for Parker

5.     Al Jarreau- Take Five

   R&B

1.     Jasmine Sullivan- Pick Up Your Feelings

2.     Lalah Hathway-  (originally recorded by Anita Baker)

 Gospel

1.     Kim Burell- Love So Pure

2.     Kim Burell- Over Ane Over Again

That’s all for now. Be sure to visit the Blog again soon. There is more to come!

Musically yours,

Gabrielle Goodman