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Nardis — Improv & Changes (Livestream, June 16, 2026)

June 16, 2026 by Jim Ellis Leave a Comment

🎸 Nardis💼 Livestream🎹 Improv & Changes📅 June 16, 2026
In this Tuesday livestream we dig into the jazz standard “Nardis,” exploring the modal and harmonic concepts that make the tune work. We break down the changes, look at how to choose the right note collections for improvising, and study how players like Bill Evans and Mike Stern approach the solo — then put it all into practice with some live playing.

About This Livestream

We start by establishing a tonic and the three common tonic chord qualities (minor, major, and dominant), then use the opening E minor 7 to F major 7 movement to narrow down the key center using the circle of fifths. From there we land on the E Phrygian sound drawn from the C major collection, and explore how the tune shifts toward an E major / parallel-major color over the B7 and into the C major 7. Along the way we touch on harmonic major, flat-nine melodic ideas over minor chords, and the exotic intervals that give “Nardis” its character — illustrated by looking at transcriptions of Bill Evans and Mike Stern.

How to Get the Most Out of This Session

Use the chapter markers in the video player to jump to the topics most relevant to your practice. Keep your instrument nearby and pause often to try the ideas in context — practice toggling between the E Phrygian (C major) note collection over E minor 7 / F major 7 and the E major / harmonic-major color over the B7, and try working those flat-nine and augmented-second ideas into your lines.

Chapters

  • 00:00 Introduction & “Nardis” Background
  • 02:47 Phrygian, Minor & Tonic Chord Qualities
  • 05:02 Analyzing the Changes (E min7 → F maj7)
  • 11:48 Parallel Major, B7 & C maj7 Color
  • 15:14 Live Playing & Soloing Demo
  • 19:13 Bill Evans & Mike Stern Solo Insights
  • 26:24 Wrap-Up & Related Resources

🔗 Related Materials

📺Exploring “Nardis” — Member Livestream (June 11, 2026)VIDEO 📄Nardis Shell Voicing StudiesPDF 🎯Skill of the Day: Phrygian DominantEXERCISE 🎯Flat 9 and #9 Chord ScalesLESSON

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