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#387829 - 04/11/14 06:00 PM
Problems trying to play jazz on an Arranger KB
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Senior Member
Registered: 09/29/05
Posts: 6703
Loc: Roswell,GA/USA
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Well, there are quite a few but I've found that the biggest one for me is the so-called jazz turnaround. Even the common ones like the B3 diminished or the classic 'Lady Bird' turnaround are handled with difficulty by every arranger I've tried. I know that Scottyee has experimented a lot with 'rootless' jazz chords and I also know that Russ and Rory and probably Joe Ayala and a few others, know not only every jazz chord but also every jazz turnaround in the book. My question is, how do you handle that very necessary function (the transition) with an arranger keyboard? Even when you play the 'right chords' for those two measures, it still doesn't sound right. Of course, you can play the transition with your right hand (assuming you've got the right voice on tap), but if the style is playing, that too could be a conflict. The only solution I see is playing manual bass (omiting the style part) through the transition and then quickly switching back to style play. If I had to critique most of the jazz or jazz-oriented performances here, I would have to say that most people simply omit playing turnarounds. The result is that it keeps it from sounding professional. This is not an arranger putdown, simply a discussion about (and hopefully a solution to) this problem (or even if you think it IS a problem - maybe it's only me?). This topic may be of little interest to most as it pertains mostly to jazz tunes or jazz-oriented standards. I recognize that it is less of a problem with Country, Rock, R&B, and hardly a problem at all with Rap and HipHop . What do you think? chas
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"Faith means not wanting to know what is true." [Nietzsche]
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#387856 - 04/12/14 04:41 PM
Re: Problems trying to play jazz on an Arranger KB
[Re: cgiles]
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Senior Member
Registered: 02/04/01
Posts: 2071
Loc: Fruita, Colorado, USA
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Chas I do turn arounds like if the last melody note in the first 4 bars is the 5th like a G in the key of C such as. Em7, Eb MAJ7, Ab MAJ7, Gaug or(Db7#9) so on and so forth.
I tried the turnaround you suggested here and it sounds great too as do many others on Jazz turnarounds. However, they are not conducive to the, tempo of 140 unless it is a full four bar turn around and each chord is held for 4 beats. The 2 beat for holding the chord on a two bar turn around won't work on any arranger. I use a jazz guitar for comping and can get by with things like that by having it turned up louder than the Acc just leave the drums and bass louder.
Those McCoy, Hank Jones, Bill Evans, Wynton and such chord turnarounds sounds best on ballads on an arranger like maybe at 55 to 75 or 85 BPM IMO. Of course I'm a sax man, what in the hell can I know.
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I'm not prejudiced, I hate everybody!! Ha ha! My Sister-In-Law had this tee shirt. She was a riot!!!
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#387952 - 04/15/14 12:24 PM
Re: Problems trying to play jazz on an Arranger KB
[Re: cgiles]
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Senior Member
Registered: 11/12/08
Posts: 2446
Loc: Bluffton/Hilton Head SC USA
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I think Rosetree and others got it, as far as I can understand your problem. I've played jazz and Standared tunes for years on arrangers and really never had a problem. It is the "clunky" bass jump you get if you change chords quickly. After a whie of doing it you can get your transitions smooth and work with the arranger . Its not perfect, especially for doing the subtle inflections your looking for. Nothing like a real drummer but then again nothing like a real band fo me. Just hooked up my PK5 bass pedals to my BK9 and had a ball. Haven't played pedals in a long while but it came right back to me like riding a bike. Did a whole bunch of jazz organ stuff and am really appreciating more and more the clonewheel B3 in the BK9. Not something I use for my regualar tunes but nice to have onboard.
BTW some sax players know a lot, Its the drummers you have to watch out for !
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Bill in SC --- Roland BK9 (2) Roland BK7M, Roland PK5 Pedals, Roland FP90, Roland CM30 (2), JBL Eon Ones (2) JBL 610 Monitor, Behringer Sub, EV mics, Apple iPad (2) Behringer DJ mixer
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