JazzLabNY — Local services in New York

I have been playing guitar and studying music (performance, theory, history) for almost 40 years, spanning several styles/genres (jazz, classical, blues, rock, country...). Along the way I have spent time with many instructors/teachers, most of whom are (or were...) fantastic and inspiring players. However, in my experience, it has been a rare occurrence to find a great player who also happens to be an excellent teacher. Russ Nolan happens to be one of those rare musicians who excels at both playing AND teaching. (Seriously- that combination of talents is a lot more rare than most people realize- I know this from first-hand experience.)

I must clarify what I mean by “teacher” when referring to Russ in the context of JazzLab. Russ is not teaching us how to play our instruments per se- he is teaching us how to play our instruments BETTER by having created an actual opportunity to be among like-minded players, together in an actual “real” working jazz band. This is an important distinction about JazzLab: it is not a typical “class” situation. It is an opportunity to “learn by doing”: working through and playing jazz standards which were written and played by all the greats who came before us. Once again, I can say from experience that this is a unique approach. It gives us the opportunity to deal with “real world” situations on the band stand. This isn’t simulated- it’s the real thing and Russ is coaching us along the way, pushing us to be our best and to keep improving.

For anyone looking to become a better jazz performer/player, JazzLab is the opportunity you’ve been searching for. Trust me- Russ has created a supportive and fun environment to help take yourself to the next level and beyond. You have nothing to lose, but...

Russ Nolan’s JazzLabNY is the “BEST of the BEST!””

Let me start by saying that I was a Navy SEAL for 38 years rising through the ranks to Captain. I have worked with the “Best of the Best” in my profession and with top-level leaders and professionals all over the world. I don’t do mediocrity.

Before I retired nine years ago, I took up playing drums from a 38-year hiatus and soon thereafter began studying one of the great loves of my life—JAZZ!!! I started with Summer Jazz Camp and then Jazz Band Masterclass in the Washington DC metro area for five years. Then I moved to Connecticut and there was nothing in the New York tri-state area except meet-up groups with no instruction which doesn’t hack it. So I went back to the DC area and was travelling 600 miles round trip for a two-hour band lesson twice a month, which I loved, but… the driving was getting to be a bit much. The gas and tolls cost more than the lessons!

Then I learned about Russ Nolan and JazzLabNY. EUREKA! Like Navy SEALs, Russ Nolan is a master at his tradecraft. To say he is a master musician is an understatement. Russ has vibe, verve, and voice. He plays with grace and power and always swings! But what is unique about Russ is that he inculcates his talents to his students. To say he is master teacher is also an understatement. Russ encourages you to do your best and when you hit a plateau he inspires you to discovery and motivates you to push through to new heights. And then to top it off, Russ makes it all so much fun! He is friendly and easygoing yet maintains his professionalism throughout.

If you want to understand jazz and learn to play like a professional, I implore you to get into one of Russ Nolan’s JazzLabNY bands as fast as you can! ...

I'm currently a student at JazzLab and have been for the past year. Russ is a superb teacher who cares deeply about the students and their music. I was also enrolled in a few other jazz schools for adult students in NYC, and I'd handily recommend JazzLab as by far the best one!

The reasons I'd recommend JazzLab ahead of other schools is 1) Quality of teaching - Russ has been a working musician in NYC for decades and definitely knows what he's talking about. Also, he personally teaches all the classes (that I've been in), and as such isn't contracting out to others, which makes the quality far better. He also really pushes you as a teacher, making you work on things that "aren't fun" but are critical to growth - e.g. harmonic theory, bebop lines, musicality, etc. which I really appreciate vs. other teachers who sort of just let the students do whatever, and letting class devolve into a jam session with baby sitting. 2) Quality of students - I've also found my peers to be really high caliber, which have challenged me to grow as well. Again, unlike other schools where they seem to just mash people together so they can collect class fees, Russ really takes care to group people with the right levels. He also attracts students of higher level, which lends to a great learning experience. And lastly, 3) Caring - Russ really cares about his students. He's offered us numerous opportunities to grow by playing various gigs outside of class, and he really takes a lot of time to construct his teaching materials. All of these are things he doesn't have to do but does because he really cares.

For all these reasons above, I'd highly recommend JazzLab to anyone who's serious about learning jazz and getting better. You can't go wrong...