I really enjoy Arthur's method of taking phrases in boogie songs out of context (play a different left hand, mix phrases in setting, but in a different song). Does anyone do this for solos they've learned? Do you break it up by phrase, by lick, by chorus? How far away do you take the lick (set a blues lick in a latin song/rhythm?) What techniques do you use to get these learned licks or phrases to show up spontaneously in your own solos without sounding like a quote? And most important, how do you know when you've "got it"?

Jimmy Yancy, ‘The Rocks’, transcribed by ‘BlueBlackJazz.com. A real favourite when I first heard it.  I’ve been working on it for around 8 months now.  At one point I was really getting there with it, analysing the music, phrasing etc, all those counter melody nuances, video recording myself etc.  All that was required was to bring it up to tempo, which was proving impossible. Then I had the amateur ‘wanna-be performer’ nightmare, monotony set in to the tune, constant repetition just drove me crackers, and I couldn’t wish to hear it again.  As well as that, the ‘memory association process’ that can accompany learning a tune, went very bad for me when I had a bit of a breakdown at the piano, where my frustrations just erupted. I’ve not touched the song for several weeks now, but I did attempt it again yesterday, but now it’s become so negative, and ‘demonically’ haunted, such that the more I try, the greater the mistakes. I’m not sure what to do now.   I’m an older adult amateur, self-taught for about 17 years now, so perhaps the years have caught up with me.  I’ve never performed for anyone outside of my living room, but I can put ‘some’ tunes together very well.  I do respect that Jimmy Yancy, was a proper sophisticated gentleman who brushed with some regal circles. Perhaps I should accept that its beyond my level and limits, although much research has said that the faster boogie is difficult for any pianist. Should I persevere, how can I turn it around again.   Any advice please?  

Greetings- Working daily through Arthur's book. It is so much fun. Question, in addition to the book, can anyone suggest additional books, sheet music, or where to find other resources that can help me play in that 1950s rock style as Jerry Lee, or Little Richard, Chuck Berry, etc? I have found just a handful of single page exercises on Left hand exercises and such, but would love to find a more progressive book like the Boogie book Arthur has developed. Thank you -Mark