My favorite things

Nov 12, 2010

He speaks right on coneption of Jazz

I did not go to music school. But I have listened lots of jazz and tried to imitate what they were doing. In due course, I have learned how to structure the improvisation line and how far I can go out of chord during improvisation.

It's all related to sharpening the sense of your music, I might say. This guy talks on that straight forward. He teaches in a college and admit that.



Jul 18, 2010

I felt uncomfortable

It's Sunday, the holiday. If I am one of internet marketer, there comes Sunday as there is for commuting sales persons. I went out to buy a set of ear piece that was messed up by my angry wife last night.

As I walked into the store I have noticed that there were lots of audio CDs, DVDs and such medium. Yes, they carry those at the first floor. Most of the store set portable phone shop at the first floor.

There were many staffs much older than 40 years. That made me think that the store was for the neighbors. Well, store itself is a branch of national chain. Right, it's getting harder to find any kind of store other than that.

So, I dropped by a booth where I can try current publication of jazz. There were 7 CDs set to listen. I started the first one. Yeah, that's the good old brass session, sounded like Benny Golson playing



Then the second one and the third one, I felt uncomfortable. The second one was a song album backed by a piano trio. And the third one was a piano trio. Both, I have never heard of. Well, they were young and fresh to the scene.

The second one was much obvious that the key of the song doesn't seem to match to the piano key. Besides they recorded singing voice in much bigger volume than the piano trio behind. I didn't like it.

The third one sounded that the pianist played improvisation off key. But she resolve to the base key somehow. The irritating was that I could not identify where she does that.

I searched for the clue going through Peterson, Garner, John Lewis. After 2 hours and 13 minutes later, I have arrived this recording. At the beginning of the refrain, Bill Evans does that.

That was the relief. But tell you the truth, I am glad to find Bill does that but in much more smoothly than that young lady. The new discovery for me on Bill Evans. So I wanted to report that to you all.

Thanks listening.

Jun 8, 2010

C jam blues, WOW!

Have you watched this Duke? It Is Amazing. C jam blues in 1942. I was born in 1943. This film is a bit older than I am. It nicely shows how each of the player join the performance and make it whole jam. Another excellent C Jam Blues I remember is the Oscar Peterson and Red Garland.

While I was checking if I could find Peterson played C jam, I've found Ella. This is something that I wasn't aware of. She sure has perfect pitch. She harmonizes with horn. That is something. She does four verses and lots of improvisation with her voice. Just amazing. You ought to watch this.



Well, Oscar could be the Night Train. Anyway C Jam Blues is the tune of blues and has easiest melody. You keep hitting a note and jump to the other one at the end a phrase. That alone shows the vast possibility of improvisation and that is why I like this tune.