Barry is awesome. Great teacher and killer player. It is interesting that in this interview he points out that jazz guitarists are almost obsessed with theory. I know that I am. I just cannot shake the sense that if I could master scales, inversions, arpeggios and modes and all of music theory, I would be able to comp and solo on any tune. Perhaps the issue is that most guitar players have zero knowledge of theory and even the fretboard if they are coming from a rock background. So they think this is what I am missing to be a jazzer. In fact, consider the fact that classical musicians practice scales and theory, know their instruments inside out, can sight read at such a high level (something even pro guitarists struggle with), but if you would ask a classical musician to improvise, they would probably be unable to do so, unless they have practiced improvisation.
I think you nailed it. I also came from a rock background with decent fretboard knowledge but limited understanding of harmony. But then once I went to music school I got really into the theory side of things and learned to love dissecting and analyzing tunes. So much in fact that I found myself doing a lot more analyzing than actually playing music. Trying to find that natural balance was and continues to be a personal struggle. Thanks for your thoughts!
