Hi, I’m in my middle school’s top jazz band and I play the piano. I am pretty good but I have one problem: making up solos. When divided into a smaller group of people (rhythm section and a few horns, i.e drums, piano, bass, saxophone, trumpet, trombone) I am asked to solo. We often use tunes out of The Real Book or other compilations arranged by various artists. Usually we will play the whole song and then go onto 1-4 solos, then go back to the head and create our own ending. My main problem is that I’m not sure of the basic fundamentals on how to create solos for different kinds of songs. I know how to solo on a blues scale, but whenever I try when I’m with the other band members it doesn’t seem to sound right.

So basically, I think that you make up a solo by taking the key signature and turning it into the blues scale (i.e if the key signature on the song was Eb, I would make the solo in the Eb blues scale)? Is this the correct way? Or do you have to solo in each key as the chord progression changes (i.e if the first chord was an Abm7, to a Fm7, to a Cm7b5, then the solo would change from the key of Ab Minor to F Minor to C Minor)? OR do you just solo in the major key that is the key signature? And do you just comp with the same chords that you were playing previously during the song? Sorry this question might be confusing, I know that it’s kind of stupid since I should know these things, I just never seemed to pick up on that aspect of jazz music. But please help me! Thank you

I love playing jazz songs on piano for recitals, and at the moment I have no idea what to play, and I told my piano teacher I’d have a couple of songs for next week. I like upbeat, rhythmic jazz pieces. I can play up to one song at every recital (my teacher kind of dislikes jazz, she is more into classical… bleeegh)
The last one I played was Gershwin’s Prelude No. 2. I love that song so much!!!

Anyone have any good jazz piano solo songs that they like to play? If so, how can I get my hands on em???(preferably without paying)

Thank you so much.
Ok.. I dont want any trumpet or any jazz BAND music, just jazz for solo piano, like Gershwin. Damn it….

I know how to read music by plying the trumpet when I was younger. Now I’m trying to learn piano on my own. Any ideas?