130: Rossano Sportiello

I’m extremely thrilled to introduce my guest today, Jazz pianist, educator, composer and arranger, Rossano Sportiello! He is one of the world's leading jazz piano players on the scene today, specializing in styles from Harlem Stride Piano to Bebop to Contemporary Jazz. Jazz piano legend Barry Harris said of Rossano, “Rossano is the most fabulous piano player I ever heard in my life; indeed, a master of his craft. Hear him once and you’ll know what I mean”.

0:00 Start

0:53 Background

5:18 Did you improvise or compose when young?

7:00 How did you learn jazz in your teenage years?

9:02 You started out as a dixie land pianist

10:45 Did you study harmony and counterpoint in the conservatory?

14:25 How do you think about chord symbols as your theoretical framework in jazz?

17:34 Classical improvisation

20:17 The great classical composers were like jazz musicians

21:40 What’s your opinion of modern jazz theory?

23:21 Jazz as the continuation of classical music

28:22 Barry Harris saying we should study figured bass

31:48 Can you technically explain your horizontal thought process of chords in jazz

34:10 How do you teach jazz that is different from modern jazz theory?

36:49 Do you think of chord to chord, or key area to key area?

38:16 The “A” section of Rhythm changes

40:56 Do you think of superimposed chord structures on top of other chords or purely in intervals?

44:54 What is your conception of right hand improvisation?

50:19 Do you transcribe entire solos, or parts of solos that you like?

58:03 What’s your advice on playing fast, up-tempo tunes?

1:00:59 Walking with the left hand and improvising with the right hand at the same time

1:07:38 Do you hum or sing, externally or internally as you improvise?

1:08:35 If you play with any 3 jazz musicians in history, who would they be?

1:09:37 What is your proudest musical moment?

1:11:44 Hardest tune for you to play?

1:13:04 What 3 albums would you recommend for a brand new listener of yours?

1:15:28 Wrapping Up