To God be the glory for the great things He has done...
Repertoire - Initially, I chose an original comp by Orrin Evans, "Faith In Action", but I think another song would fit the technique I've been working on, left hand comping straight 8ths as mastered by Erroll Garner. The song I'm gonna tackle this week is "Take 5". Brubeck didn't have to worry about maintaining that familiar comping motif and soloing (at least in the version I'm learning) he plays because Paul Desmond takes the melody. So my challenge is to swing it in the left hand and be as silky as Desmond in the right, and he is definitely smooooth as warm butter on that horn. This should be interesting.
Technique - Sad to say I was a little sloppy with the tremolo and Garner's straight eights (I did throw it in toward the end of the recording, but only for a bar or two.) Plus, Brubecks comping on "Take 5" So I'm gonna work on those three this week.
Ear Training -The song is in Eb minor and the melody takes from the Eb blues scale (or some other minor scale). I haven't learned the melody yet, just fidgeted around with it quickly. This is cool because the song from last week was in Eb major...no I didn't plan that. Should be an interesting contrast of sounds.
Improvisation - Storytelling, Motifs
Saturday, December 3, 2011
The Wisdom of Billy Taylor - Tell Your Story
To God be the glory for the great things He has done...
While listening to a clip of Billy Taylor explaining ___________, I learned something. I'm sure I'm not the only one that has said this so I left the topic blank. The guy is a giant of this music and no doubt any music he decided to play while alive. (We share a birthday, just 60 years apart!) In my case, he was explaining improvisation. He said, and I paraphrase, that your music (improvisation) should tell a story and convey a meaning. So as a good student should do, I took that and applied it to the song I was working on (The Way You Look Tonight). I finally got music embedded on my blog! It only took a few courses in Greek, I mean html code writing. Check out my recorded version up top as I explain it. (there is a short pause before the song starts)
In the beginning of the sound is a brief intro - I imagined that my wife and I planned a much needed date (we really need one!) and that she was taking too long, as women often do.
When I first play the head - I imagine she is fully dressed, ready to go and walking down the steps slowly
As the song picks up - I imagine we are in the car, going to and arriving at our restaurant, sitting down having a lively discussion.
When I improvise (the soft part right before the head) - I am actually interpreting what I'm hearing as SHE talks. So I am playing what I hear her say.
After the solo, at the end - We are back in the car, headed to bed (just to sleep!!), lying down looking at each other and slowly falling asleep.
Powerful stuff. Thanks Billy! My wife enjoyed my story.
While listening to a clip of Billy Taylor explaining ___________, I learned something. I'm sure I'm not the only one that has said this so I left the topic blank. The guy is a giant of this music and no doubt any music he decided to play while alive. (We share a birthday, just 60 years apart!) In my case, he was explaining improvisation. He said, and I paraphrase, that your music (improvisation) should tell a story and convey a meaning. So as a good student should do, I took that and applied it to the song I was working on (The Way You Look Tonight). I finally got music embedded on my blog! It only took a few courses in Greek, I mean html code writing. Check out my recorded version up top as I explain it. (there is a short pause before the song starts)
In the beginning of the sound is a brief intro - I imagined that my wife and I planned a much needed date (we really need one!) and that she was taking too long, as women often do.
When I first play the head - I imagine she is fully dressed, ready to go and walking down the steps slowly
As the song picks up - I imagine we are in the car, going to and arriving at our restaurant, sitting down having a lively discussion.
When I improvise (the soft part right before the head) - I am actually interpreting what I'm hearing as SHE talks. So I am playing what I hear her say.
After the solo, at the end - We are back in the car, headed to bed (just to sleep!!), lying down looking at each other and slowly falling asleep.
Powerful stuff. Thanks Billy! My wife enjoyed my story.
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