There were times when we could hardly pull in AM740 from just a few miles away. Ha ha.

Click Here for anyone interested in reading about the demise of Cincinnati's WNOP.

I'd love to come down sometime and sneak into the country club to check out your group whenever I get a weekend off.

Actually I will be playing at the Lexington Horse Park on June 13 for an annual party. But that gig is 7pm-11pm which is probably when you will be working as well.

Dave

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Wm. David McMahan
LearnMyKeyboard
JazzItUp Band

Actually I know of at least one instrument that can pull that off. The GEM Genesys has several keyboard modes besides 'fingered' and 'single finger'. There is Manual Bass which give you a live bass sound to the left of the split and the chordal accompaniment (minus the auto bass part) is triggered to the right of the split. Then there is the Piano Style Mode where the entire keyboard is active for chordal triggering. This one is cool because the accompaniment chord won't change until it sees at least a triad played so you can walk you left hand/bass pedals and solo with the right, When you want a chord change you can either comp with your left hand while kicking bass or interject a right hand chord. And even though you are in Piano Style mode, you can still have a split with a live bass sound on the left end of the keyboard. Another neat mode is called Pro Split that triggers the chordal accompaniment via the right hand and the automatic bass line form the left hand (slash/root as you put it). Or there is the Bass Inversion mode that will keep the bass note playing the lowest key of the chord; handy for songs like Green Dolphin Street where there is a 'pedal C' over the CMaj7 - Cm7 - D - Db chords.

I am sure other brands have similar features by now. GEM had some of these over 10 years ago.

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Wm. David McMahan
LearnMyKeyboard
JazzItUp Band

*Edited for spelling*

[This message has been edited by WDMcM (edited 05-20-2009).]

Ah, the Kentucky Horse Park. We used to spend summers camping there; good times long past. Where in the park do you play? I'm sure many things have changed since my days.

I can't remember the name of the area but you go in the main entrance and bare right, go over a bridge and you end up at the pavilion which is where we set up. It is a fun time; besides the usual riding events, they also have a donkey race for the kids. I'm not sure if this is an open to the public event but if anyone is close and interested, let me know and I'll find out.

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Wm. David McMahan
LearnMyKeyboard
JazzItUp Band

Dave-I'm going to email you my phone #. The Horse Park is in the area where my farm was (sold it in 2000), and across the road from Spindletop Hall, the UK Faculty/Alumni Club. I just resigned my membership, but was a member there for over 30 years (I joined the on-campus Faculty Club-closer to the office). I believe that I'll be off at 10PM, and may ride out to visit while you are breaking down. Wouldn't keep you, but it would be nice to visit for a few minutes.


Russ

Hi Russ,

I received your e-mail, thanks. Please do try to come out to the park on June 13th. We play from 7pm-11pm. If you make it in time you are more than welcome to sit in.

Dave

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Wm. David McMahan
LearnMyKeyboard
JazzItUp Band

Thanks, Dave. The only thing that will prevent me from being there is if the job at the other club runs long. It does ocasionally, but I don't anticipate that it will.

Hope to see you in about a month!


Russ

When I play with my 5, 7, or 16 piece big band my left foot is the bass player. I use Roland pk5s and a systems 360 bass module. If I play solo I use the arranger bass. In a trio I use both though not at the same time.

tom

I think most things can pull this off, but it still doesn't address the common arranger scenario of playing a lead line on say a sax sound, whatever in the RH. If your LH is walking and your RH is soloing, where does the arranger get the chord?

Sure, you can comp the RH while you walk, or you can play in pianostyle, but it is extraordinarily difficult to solo, walk, and comp at the same time and have the arranger track your intentions accurately. Trust me, I've tried! It's generally glitch city... It's all very well to say solo with the RH, walk with the left and only chord where you need it, but your fingering for BOTH has to be unbelievably clean, or the slightest legato in either hand adds up to three notes, and there goes your chord (to something horrible, usually!)...

Ballads, maybe... but a swing tune? Tough, VERY tough, IMO. I adore Pianostyle mode for what control it gives you for playing a solo line without retriggering the chord, but it's REALLY pushing it to do solo and walk at the same time unless it is rehearsed to the max. Me, I like my jazz a bit more on the improvised tip