The Concept establishes an open-ended, pan-stylistic foundation in which levels of tonal gravity act as prime, integral moving forces within music.
—Andy Wasserman
All About Jazz, widely recognized as the world's largest and most trafficked jazz content platform, has published a major peer‑reviewed article in its prestigious Jazz in Long Form section titled “Andy Wasserman, George Russell, and the Living Lineage of the Lydian Chromatic Concept.” The feature, authored by Patrick Doyle, is now available at:
Andy Wasserman, George Russell, and the Living Lineage of the Lydian Chromatic Concept
The Jazz in Long Form series at All About Jazz highlights in‑depth, peer‑reviewed essays that explore jazz history, theory, culture, and innovation in substantial detail. Articles selected for this section undergo editorial review and are chosen for their originality, rigor, and contribution to the broader jazz discourse.
This newly published article illuminates the extraordinary role of Andy Wasserman as one of the principal living carriers of George Russell’s groundbreaking theoretical system, The Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization (LCCOTO). A full-time professional pianist and multi-instrumentalist for more than 50 years, Wasserman has been teaching and applying “The Concept" for over 40 years. He studied privately with Russell, became certified to teach the LCCOTO, and aided Russell for 2 decades as an editorial assistant on the fourth and final edition of The Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization– Volume One: The Art and Science of Tonal Gravity. Andy was personally asked by Russell to write the Foreword to that definitive volume.
“Andy represents a direct, living lineage to George Russell,” said author Patrick Doyle. “He doesn’t just teach the Lydian Chromatic Concept—he composes, improvises, and performs from within it, every day. The goal of this article is to bring greater attention to both Andy’s work and the monumental importance of Russell’s Concept in shaping modern jazz.”
The article explores:
“As someone who has spent decades working in music, technology, and media, I felt it was vital to document Andy’s story in a serious context,” added Doyle. “All About Jazz’s Jazz in Long Form was the ideal home for this kind of in‑depth exploration, and we are deeply honored.”
Andy Wasserman, George Russell, and the Living Lineage of the Lydian Chromatic Concept
The Jazz in Long Form series at All About Jazz highlights in‑depth, peer‑reviewed essays that explore jazz history, theory, culture, and innovation in substantial detail. Articles selected for this section undergo editorial review and are chosen for their originality, rigor, and contribution to the broader jazz discourse.
This newly published article illuminates the extraordinary role of Andy Wasserman as one of the principal living carriers of George Russell’s groundbreaking theoretical system, The Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization (LCCOTO). A full-time professional pianist and multi-instrumentalist for more than 50 years, Wasserman has been teaching and applying “The Concept" for over 40 years. He studied privately with Russell, became certified to teach the LCCOTO, and aided Russell for 2 decades as an editorial assistant on the fourth and final edition of The Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization– Volume One: The Art and Science of Tonal Gravity. Andy was personally asked by Russell to write the Foreword to that definitive volume.
“Andy represents a direct, living lineage to George Russell,” said author Patrick Doyle. “He doesn’t just teach the Lydian Chromatic Concept—he composes, improvises, and performs from within it, every day. The goal of this article is to bring greater attention to both Andy’s work and the monumental importance of Russell’s Concept in shaping modern jazz.”
The article explores:
- The historic impact of George Russell’s Lydian Chromatic Concept on the development of modern jazz, including its influence on modal approaches associated with Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and others.
- Andy Wasserman’s unique role as a certified instructor, personally authorized by Russell to teach the Concept “exactly as he intended it to be taught.”
- Wasserman’s decades‑long artistic and pedagogical practice, including his use of the Concept as the organizing principle behind his original compositions and teaching methods.
- His remarkable achievement during the COVID‑19 pandemic: 207 consecutive livestream concerts over four years, featuring more than 1,400 original solo piano compositions, a creative feat Wasserman attributes directly to his lifelong application of the Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization.
“As someone who has spent decades working in music, technology, and media, I felt it was vital to document Andy’s story in a serious context,” added Doyle. “All About Jazz’s Jazz in Long Form was the ideal home for this kind of in‑depth exploration, and we are deeply honored.”
