Unusual Blues Improvisation - Daniel Innovate - mp3

[innov8music]

Purposely vamping on the key of c to see the many different ways it could be played. Let me know what you think - I would greatly appreciate the feed back. Only have been playing for two years. Was inspired to play by Lola Astanova.

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Thank you,
Daniel Innovate

[ted]

You obviously enjoy yourself at the instrument, and that is probably all that matters in the end. In the absence of replies from more experienced players I shall make one or two suggestions, and they are not criticisms, merely indications of ways you might proceed. I am not a jazz pianist, and my views are purely personal.

Firstly, the feeling of blues - and it seems to me it is a particular feeling and not a strict form, certain chords or anything like that - as manifested by the best blues musicians, is a highly sensitive, plaintive emotion bordering on the deeply tragic. Even in its rawest moments it exhibits a phrasal coherence. Bravura of any sort is largely destructive of its ambiance if this simple, plaintive phrasing is absent.

I suggest listening to the old, great blues singers - Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Martha Copeland, Victoria Spivey, Ida Cox, Rosetta Tharpe. Fabulous collections of all these are now available very cheaply. You can plop in as many complicated rhythms and chords as you like, and many famous players did, but underneath all the surface dexterity there was always this very simple, tragic quality which grips the heart.

Mary Lou Williams was wonderful at it and much of her solo recording has recently become available commercially.

On the practical side, I think it might pay you to expand your keyboard vocabulary. Use all the keys, and there are many blue harmonic forms and voicings aside from flattened thirds and sevenths.

Lastly, I think less pedal would be a good idea.

Since posting, I find a veritable treasure-trove of these recordings exists on YouTube. A search on any name turns up some real gems.

[innov8music]

Ted! Thank you so so much for all of your time and insightful information. My apologies it took me so long to respond. I completely agree with you and ever since have been playing much smarter with less pedal. I have learned many more chords and modes - which I have incorporated back into my improvisation.

I will certainly check out the artist you have mentioned. I play a variety of classical music as well. Will upload soon. Thanks again!