120: Davey Yarborough

Davey Yarborough is a native of The District of Columbia who has been performing, and teaching for over 30 years. He is a flautist and saxophonist as well as a distinguished composer, arranger, bandleader, and teacher. He studied saxophone with the great Sonny Stitt for 2 years, and is the co-founder and Artistic director of the Washington Jazz Arts Institute.   0:49 How did you meet Sonny Stitt?
2:05 Why did Sonny ask those intimidating questions?
2:58 How old were you when you met him?
5:25 Do you remember your first lesson with him?
6:40 Are you supposed to learn the melody from a record or sheet music?
7:51 What did Sonny Stitt think of the Real book?
10:06 The lessons that Sonny would write down for Davey
12:06 Did he explain how he navigated through chord changes?
13:36 Were you supposed to memorize solos off solos?
14:45 How does he play so many notes?
16:52 How do we embellish the melody with more notes?
18:26 What does it mean to transcend the octave?
19:49 Did his curriculum evolve over the 2 years?
21:57 What do you think of the different modern jazz education methods?
23:38 What was Sonny Stitt’s system?
24:42 On not thinking about theory when playing
24:56 Thinking in terms of chords and 2-5s
26:04 Did he ever talk about his relationship with Charlie Parker or Bud Powell?
26:51 Did he know a lot of solos himself?
28:35 How would Sonny Stitt have discussed chords and harmony?
29:27 How do you play chord changes in jazz?
32:11 What is your definition of the basics?
33:29 What do you emphasize when teaching theory?
34:36 Billy Taylor
36:07 Do you remember your last lesson with Sonny Stitt?
36:46 Was Sonny Stitt a mean guy?
39:28 What did he respond to positively in lessons?
40:12 Did he have any rules in improvisation?
40:42 Did he identify himself as a bebop musician or jazz musician?
41:37 On Sonny giving him the freedom to develop his style
42:06 Who did Sonny Stitt like?
42:50 What could educators learn from your lessons with Sonny Stitt?
43:44 What were the most challenging parts of the lessons with Sonny?
44:08 Was there classical music influences?
45:23 Was he an opiniated person on music and did he share any opinions?
45:42 Did he teach composition?
46:21 Did he play the piano?
46:33 On teaching lessons without accompaniment
46:56 Washington Jazz Arts Institute
52:48 What is your proudest musical moment?
55:47 If you could go back in time and meet any musician who would it be?
56:38 Scariest or most nervewracking performance?
58:03 Final reflections on Sonny Stitt
59:53 Wrapping Up

Davey Yarborough is a native of The District of Columbia who has been performing, and teaching for over 30 years. He is a flautist and saxophonist as well as a distinguished composer, arranger, bandleader, and teacher. He studied saxophone with the great Sonny Stitt for 2 years, and is the co-founder and Artistic director of the Washington Jazz Arts Institute.   0:49 How did you meet Sonny Stitt? 2:05 Why did Sonny ask those intimidating questions? 2:58 How old were you when you met him? 5:25 Do you remember your first lesson with him? 6:40 Are you supposed to learn the melody from a record or sheet music? 7:51 What did Sonny Stitt think of the Real book? 10:06 The lessons that Sonny would write down for Davey 12:06 Did he explain how he navigated through chord changes? 13:36 Were you supposed to memorize solos off solos? 14:45 How does he play so many notes? 16:52 How do we embellish the melody with more notes? 18:26 What does it mean to transcend the octave? 19:49 Did his curriculum evolve over the 2 years? 21:57 What do you think of the different modern jazz education methods? 23:38 What was Sonny Stitt’s system? 24:42 On not thinking about theory when playing 24:56 Thinking in terms of chords and 2-5s 26:04 Did he ever talk about his relationship with Charlie Parker or Bud Powell? 26:51 Did he know a lot of solos himself? 28:35 How would Sonny Stitt have discussed chords and harmony? 29:27 How do you play chord changes in jazz? 32:11 What is your definition of the basics? 33:29 What do you emphasize when teaching theory? 34:36 Billy Taylor 36:07 Do you remember your last lesson with Sonny Stitt? 36:46 Was Sonny Stitt a mean guy? 39:28 What did he respond to positively in lessons? 40:12 Did he have any rules in improvisation? 40:42 Did he identify himself as a bebop musician or jazz musician? 41:37 On Sonny giving him the freedom to develop his style 42:06 Who did Sonny Stitt like? 42:50 What could educators learn from your lessons with Sonny Stitt? 43:44 What were the most challenging parts of the lessons with Sonny? 44:08 Was there classical music influences? 45:23 Was he an opiniated person on music and did he share any opinions? 45:42 Did he teach composition? 46:21 Did he play the piano? 46:33 On teaching lessons without accompaniment 46:56 Washington Jazz Arts Institute 52:48 What is your proudest musical moment? 55:47 If you could go back in time and meet any musician who would it be? 56:38 Scariest or most nervewracking performance? 58:03 Final reflections on Sonny Stitt 59:53 Wrapping Up