Hey all!
This question is specifically targeted at Tony, but I figured I would post it here so that everyone can benefit.
My question is this....
When playing solo vibraphone and you want to play general harmony, then does it a good idea (or even almost necessary) to start accompanying the specific harmony for yourself?
Let me give a specific example to clear up any misunderstanding... Say you are playing "Someday my Prince Will Come". Instead of hitting the changes in the first 4 bars, I may just want to play a Bb Blues scale. If I am playing solo, the tune isn't identifiable... it just sounds like I'm playing some blues lines. In this case is it almost necessary to throw in some 3rds and 7ths with the left hand?
Another example would be the Bobby Hebb tune "Sunny"... There are changes in this tune, but often I just want to play (and hear) some dirty funk lines more than I want to hear beebop vocabulary and changes being saluted... again, if I am just doing this, the tune can easily be lost.
If you could give an example of you playing showing what you would do, that would be incredible too! (as opposed to just talking about it)
Okay, well that's all I got.
-Drew
Comments
yeah
tonymiceli Tue, 11/29/2011 - 22:49
i think you answered the question. you most likely have to hit something to imply the harmony. but the thing is this also. sometimes... after 5 choruses or so, the harmony is implied and sometimes you can get away with not playing the changes and then coming back to them. make sense?? in the end though i think you figure all that out on the fly. you play and hear that you NEED the changes and then you play them. does that help??
haven't forgot about our phone call. you around thursday? maybe we should plan it. in the afternoon??
right on
Drew Johnson Wed, 11/30/2011 - 12:45
In reply to yeah by tonymiceli
Makes sense. And yea, I am around all thursday afternoon. Easier if I call you, or you me?