I'm curious...are there any jazz players on this forum? I'm kind of learning the basics of jazz piano right now, but is there anyone here who is at a more advanced level?

I'm at the point where I can read down a fakebook chart without too much difficulty but I can't make it sound too great yet. I'm also still working on getting my improvisation to the point where it's....well, listenable. Because at the moment it really isn't. :unsure:

Well, to start, a good way to make chords sound more jazzy is to build the chord off of the 7th. Certainly not the only effective way, but a tried and true method for many pianists. Building a jazz chord off the root gives kind of a suspended effect, and it doesn't fit as well with the ensemble. Improving is more of an assessment of creativity than skill, so I can't really help you much with that. Just keep it rhythmical and not mushy, and stick to the chord chart for now.

-P.S. Four-note runs sound cool. ^_^

-P.P.S. Avoid the 4th! (Subdominant, F in the C scale and etc., whatever you want to call it)

I've deepened myself in the jazz style this past school year, and have dug up quite a lot. You just have to keep playing what you hear in your head. If you hear a lick, or a run that you want to play, figure it out. In jazz, your repitoire consists of your licks and--as Pantalaimon said--your creativity.

My forte isn't jazz, classical is, but jazz is a pretty close second. I will be happy to help you understand more about jazz and improvising. If you'd want to listen to the masters, I would suggest Keith Jarrett--first and foremost the best jazz pianist I know. Start out with the Koln Concert; a completely improvised concert he did back in the '70s. He's the master, your the urging student. "GO STUDY!"

Good luck. :)

Also look up Michelle Camilo. Not exactly a jazz pianist, but quite possibly the best improver alive.

My issue usually isn't the creativeness, it's putting my ideas down on the piano in an accurate way. I think I've got some good ideas, I'm just not too great at playing them yet. But, that's what practice is for I suppose.

Hmm. Can you play those ideas? If you do, take the time to sketch them out in your head. Sounds easy but hard, but it's easier when it comes to jazz.

Yeah, actually in the last week or so, I've been actually getting noticeably better!!! :)

Thanks for advice everyone. This forum is really a great place to discuss music! All the other forums I go to everyone is snobby and stuck-up. Not here though.

I dont play jazz, but I' love to. Its a bit hard to play jazz oboe..but I could try piano or bass I guess. It always looks really difficult =S