HUGE Summer Sale! Get 50% off all annual plans at Open Studio and take your playing to the next level: https://link.youllhearit.com/summer

John Coltrane’s Giant Steps isn’t just a classic — it’s a rite of passage. In this episode, we unpack how this 1960 album became a cornerstone of modern jazz education and a benchmark for technical mastery. From the dizzying harmonic movement of the title track to the emotional depth of “Naima,” Giant Steps set a new standard for improvisers.

In this episode you'll hear:

• A breakdown of why Giant Steps became essential study material for every serious jazz musician
• An explanation of Coltrane changes and what makes the harmony so challenging
• Isolated stems from Art Taylor and Paul Chambers
• Discussion of Tommy Flanagan’s famously tough piano solo on the title track
• Context around each track — from bluesy tunes like “Cousin Mary” to the ballad “Naima”
• Fun side debates, including whether Giant Steps is better than Kind of Blue and a correction on its release year

HUGE Summer Sale! Get 50% off all annual plans at Open Studio and take your playing to the next level: https://link.youllhearit.com/summer

We’re sitting down with one of the greats! Organist Larry Goldings is in the house to spin the B3 tracks that shaped him – from Jimmy Smith’s revolutionary runs to Billy Preston’s blending brilliance behind Aretha Franklin. Along the way, Larry breaks down the nuts and bolts (err… drawbars and percs) behind his favorite players, offering expert insights into Larry Young’s pedal-less playing and Ray Charles’ “dry-as-dust” sound. And somewhere in the midst of Larry’s fave five, we get into how to find your own voice (and why it might involve throwing all these great records out the window). Whether you’re chasing that perfect drawbar sound or just here for Hans Groiner’s alter ego, this one will change how you hear the Hammond forever.

In this episode, You’ll Hear:

• Jimmy Smith’s masterful expression pedal comping and turnarounds
• How to build your organ sound through a track like Wild Bill Davis
• Why Larry listens to singers and horn players (it’s all in the breath).
• The power of the organ + guitar combo
• What Larry’s listening to these days

Start your FREE TRIAL to Larry’s new course: Jazz Organ Essentials | Open Studio

Watch Adam’s organ lesson with Larry: Jazz Pianist Has To Learn Organ In 14 Minutes

We’re finally digging into “Voodoo” - D’Angelo’s Grammy-winning album that changed the sound of R&B, soul, and hip-hop forever. And the album a young Adam Maness had on repeat, seriously influencing his playing as well as countless musicians since.
With Questlove’s “Dilla-drag” drumming, Pino Palladino’s funky bass lines, Roy Hargrove’s jazzy horn arrangements, and Charlie Hunter’s chicken-picking guitar, Voodoo is packed with the kind of cross-genre musicality that makes jazz musicians lose their minds.
Twenty-five years later, Voodoo still grooves harder, hits deeper, and sounds more human than many albums of its generation.
In this episode, you’ll hear:

• What makes D’Angelo’s groove so unique (and hard to imitate)
• Isolated tracks, rare demos, and interviews with the artists
• How “Spanish Joint” came together in a single take
• Whether “Feel Like Makin’ Love” tops the Roberta Flack original
• And whether “Voodoo” is even an R&B album at all

ABOUT OPEN STUDIO
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As the premier online jazz education platform, with an ever-expanding course library and 20,000+ members, Open Studio (OS) has everything you need to excel and thrive on your jazz journey.

Featuring everything from beginner to advanced lessons, engaging courses from A-list instructors, step-by-step curriculum, real-time classes and a thriving and incredibly supportive community, OS is the perfect platform to level up your jazz playing, whether you’re a total beginner, or an advanced pro-level improvisor.