Very nice indeed. I was very impressed and I enjoyed reading your thoughts about how you go about playing. I am still getting used to my semi but I reckon that at some point I might be looking at Stormies though I don't think I'll ever make a jazz player but never say never.
Very mellow and just the antidote to a long day.
Cheers ! :)
I am glad my spontaneous thoughts on 'starting Jazz' found some resonance, as it was mostly my wish to emphasise that the exploration was more about enjoying the current puzzle in hand 'stepwise' - rather than feeling frustrated about the end product not appearing instantly. There was a nice example when I was arranging " The Way You Look Tonight " : in the third verse / 'B' section, It changes key to express ever growing heights of emotion. It is however, rather like a cat climbing a tree in that you move up in one leap for dramatic effect, but then when it was time to come back down, I was ill equipped ( using what I knew ) to creep back for the finale. I then remembered hearing
something about using 'The circle of fifths ' . Sure enough, this worked ( after sanding it down and lubricating it ) - and thus a new principle had been learned, entirely within context, and therefore enjoyable AND easy to remember.
Of course 'tricks' were employed, even within this idea ; I made the first 3 steps of the melodic descent , whilst actually rising in pitch - then used a gentle single note run to insinuate the last few steps. Much more fun than reading about all the theories, and finding ways to 'shoe horn ' them in - at this early stage.
In this way, I can see how much easier it will be, to
eventually take all the theory on board ( both harmonic and melodic ) without drowning in ideas and headaches. Yes, this is going to read
horrendously naive to an accomplished musician , but we are talking about Joe average, with no formal training - trying to discover what is relevant - and in what order.
That is why I keep Joe Pass's seemingly self evident advice to " Play the music because you love it " in my avatar - as it means ( to me ) that you must be so passionate about playing the song ( even if no-one else ever hears it ) that you assemble it patiently and lovingly. There is of course the whole issue of wanting to express " The Music in yourself, instead of yourself in the music " . That is to say, you want the song to be heard and shared, to create an interest in that song - instead of wanting yourself to be 'The Main Feature'. I suppose it's about deciding whether you want to develop into a better musician instead of a more impressive entertainer. The two are not mutually exclusive, but you are best leading on one - according to your inherent character , motives and and values.
Now ; time for some more practice - and discovering ways I
could have done the previous tunes, then applying those ideas to the next one. The challenge being to ensure that every new tune / arrangement includes a new and relevant idea :
" Just for fun". :)
