Ep11. What are the worst mistakes a jazz musician can make?

not playing music at all but only making noisy sounds. (10)
not knowing where you are in a song. John Coltrane said Monk's music could do this too him. It could feel like falling down an elevator shaft. (7)
not knowing where the beat starts on the one. (8)
playing the wrong chord changes. (9)
being incompetent on that musical instrument. (10)
poor listening to yourself and other musicians you are performing with. (9)
out of tune. (7)
out of rhythm. (8)

making one bad note! such as hitting one wrong key on a piano, in an otherwise flawless performance. (1)
playing something odd, but saving it by playing it twice or using it in a creative way during the performance. Herbie Hancock, in his book Possibilities, opens the book by telling a story about where he played a horrible note just before Miles Davis had to solo. Miles gave him a funny look, but then produced an interesting solo based off of this unusual entrance note delivered by Herbie. Miles did not see it as a mistake by Herbie, but instead as an opportunity and challenge to produce a successful musical product from this awkward and difficult situation. (2)

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