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Dave,
great version of Falling Grace. I love your relaxed groove, you make it sound so effortless. The whole piece has a really nice shape the way the solo builds and then comes down again.
'Very early' is one of my faves as well. I just got a great cd by Bobo Stenson with an amazing version on it, hopefully should be good for inspiration.

Dave, great to see you participating. That was quick and nicely done. I couldn't tell it was Falling Grace though until I got the hint at the end. Looks like you wanted to keep the KC people guessing. We're off to a great start.

I mentioned these two tune choices before and no one made a comment. But I think they are really good learning tunes. They were on a list my teacher wanted me to do. Now I don't know which to start first.

One of the interesting things about Very Early is that the progression has no functional relationship often as well. Not unlike Nef. Adding to that is a Waltz rhythm. However, to the ear, it's much easier to follow than Nef and there will be no dispute about changes, I'm sure.

Hey, that's not fair! Stop calling me names!

Dave, The sound/recording is beautiful. Playing has your signature sound. I find your playing readily identifiable. I really like the straight timing. It is busy and calm at the same time. Excellent take.

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Dave, I've known your playing for awhile and I now realize it is very distinctive with the straight style. I just realized that 7 hit the nail on the head. Of course it's always with these lush voicings that show how much time you spend hammering it out. I think voicings have to be your specialty. Sounds great!

I haven't figured out that tune yet, but I'm not giving up quite yet.

Btw - if any of you get tired of some of the named tunes (whatever we come up with) you can all do some reharms just like KC. I'm sure we shall all be entertained while the less experienced among us take a little longer on new tunes.

No rules here as I said.

Dave - your Falling Grace is terrific - really sensitive touch on a great sounding piano (which one in your collection was it?)

My offerings are more modest in terms of complexity. I have a Youtube 'Very Early' video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgqRaAVAxCc
that is fairly straight ahead. It has been annotated with a few comments on different techniques used which might encourage others to have a go at a great Bill Evans song to play.
And I really enjoy playing 'Falling Grace'. I did a midi file ages ago, and more recently a bass player picked it up from my web site and using great technology/recording skills re-cast it using his bass playing and a variety of midi instruments.
http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=8423744&q=hi&newref=1

Doug

My goodness, even Doug is here. It's a Youtube convention. Welcome Doug! I'm sure I've linked many a video of yours in the Jazz Thread 1. I've learned from your videos/mp3's for so many years all the way from LJP.

And lovely playing of Very Early. I've never thought of Very Early as a ballad and this is a very, very nice example. You made it sound so easy.

Glad you're lurking around.

Hey! I almost missed this Stop lurking you fool. Post some music

I know what I'll do. If you post your music elsewhere, I'll copy the link over here and criticize you over here. No escape buddy.

We like you here. Though you are a bit of a pain...

Can you handle Very Early? Should be Child's play.

By the way, any more tune suggestions? I might suggest Invitation as well but I know many of you play that. But at least for those who want to workshop a beautiful complex tune.

Maybe other tunes of this nature should be kept on the list, and the advanced players can always reharm if they know the base version.

I think it would be helpful to have a collection of contribution examples.

Thoughts?

Personally, I've started on Very Early and Falling Grace.

Hmm, for tunes, I was thinking of taking pop or rock songs and "jazzing" them up. Like what Herbie Hancock did with his New Standards album, all mainstream songs. I especially like Peter Gabriel's Mercy Street so I will try that one. Sting's got some good songs too, Fragile, Every breath you take, Message in a Bottle.

Interesting that Andy Summers, the guitarist for the Police is a huge jazzer, he's done pure jazz albums.

Him and Sting did a nice Round Midnight. and of course Sting's done tons of jazz covers, especially for movie soundtracks.

Something fun to try. I like standards but the main thing is to play music we like, of any genre.

Hey Wiz, just wanted to explain that the purpose is to develop some new skills. So it isn't about showing off what we know but to see if we can play something difficult and then learn from it.

That's why I was asking for tunes that are more complex. I do believe that each time we stress our brain to figure out a new concept, we grow and our handling of even basic tunes begins to improve.

It's a fairly traditional way of learning Jazz.

True, learning and mastery of the art is constant, but we have to remember the heart of music is for pleasure, so you have to play what you like, otherwise what's the point?

Jarrett can make a simple tune like Over the Rainbow sound so poignant, and why is that, the chords and notes aren't that difficult. It's the touch, expression, and nuance...

I mean, we could do Shorter tunes to the moon, but look at Miles Davis. He wanted to simplify things and focus on the music, hence So What, with only 2 chords, but man it's a beautiful tune.

Yes Wiz, it's really about the concept of learning something in particular and then everyone can contribute. Because multiple people could be working on the same thing, there's an opportunity for exchange.

You can suggest any tune you want if there's some learning concept involved and others think the concept is interesting enough. If you're just posting what you know how to play, I'm sure it will be enjoyed, but others may not join in.

BTW - when my teacher played Nef for me, it blew me away. He did it so simply yet completely horizontally integrated, meaning extremely melodic. After hearing that, I realized that there is much to learn. No one here played it like he did. Don't forget that Nef is a Miles Davis tune (though Shorter composed it). It just goes to show that some unexpected things can happen with an open mind and that unless you're Keith Jarrett or Chick Corea (etc.), there's room for LOTS of learning.

Now I was exposed to this because of this thread so I'll be active here as long as I'm learning something.

Dave, no idea what that 'guess this tune' was, but I liked it.

And Doug, I enjoyed your 'very early'.

I was playing that today, there is so much that can be done with it, but I couldn't get it to hang together properly. Probably just haven't played for such a long time I need to re-memorize a bit. The chords go past so fast. I'll post something if I can churn out something that isn't painful.

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Dave, could you supply a link to KC reharm link? I've found the Keyboard Corner, but couldn't find Reharm as a thread.

If Dave or anyone could supply that, I'd appreciate it.

Jazzwee,

Would really appreciate any directions/instructions on playing and improvising the blues (I know the blues scales but am still a beginner at this).

BTW, what happened to this station that was recommended here:
http://luckysevenradio.com/

I was just thinking to myself how fast these changes go (Very Early), as I was practicing it. And the way I'm trying to play this is way difficult a little like stride.

Please don't rush BB. Forces me to go at this faster than I can handle.

There's a lot more going on here then Nef.

Elssa, me take this to the other thread.