The Nate Sparks Big Band is a New York-based 18 piece ensemble that plays a wide variety of music fitting for both concert and party events, all of which is either composed, arranged, or transcribed by Nate Sparks. Its members consist of some of the … Read more...
Author Archives: austinzhangmusic
Honesty Band
Today’s music industry, values 2-4 minute radio hits that have their catchy hook within the first minute. Ideal for drowning out awkward flirting at bars, filling awkward silences in elevators, and pumping up joggers. While I love many radio hits … Read more...
The Vulnerability in a Solo.
Improvising a solo in front of an audience is one of the most vulnerable things a musician can do. While we often see solos as displays of virtuosity, an improvised solo contains glimpses into a musician's character, their empathy with … Read more...
What This Lester Young Solo Can Teach Us About Leading a Purposeful Life
Whether or not the doctor's statement happened before or after this solo, I'm not sure, but Lester undoubtedly knew in some way that he was in poor condition and that his consumption was trashing his body. This solo, however, doesn't … Read more...
5 Things We do as Jazz Musicians That Have Made it America’s LEAST Popular Genre (1.4% in 2015)
I know I'll get some flack for saying some of these things. I'll just start by saying I've done every single thing on here. Not one, a couple, most… every single one. This post is coming from a place self-awareness/self-critique … Read more...
