IOTM January 2015: R.S.V.P

[Chris]

Hi guys just when you thought this sub forum had run it's course it is rising from the ashes in a blaze of glory for the New Year,🙂 well like a glowing ember

After taking in the comments that where posted in reply to our question re what direction this thread should take to move things forward. It was decided that we didn't want the thread to replicate or replace what you should be learning from your own tutors, so in an attempt to keep the learning of new songs to a minimum while trying to teach improv @aldevis thought a short phrase like the one in this months tune would be useful.

The link to the folder is here "R.S.V.P."

@aldevis will be along shortly to explain everything and to give us some more instruction/tips

Have fun.🙂

Chris..

 

[aldevis]

@aldevis will be along shortly to explain everything and to give us some more instruction/tips

Everybody must record this improvisation!
It is a precise duty of every cafemember and cafemembress to contribute to the glory of the forum!

Three words:
Improvise! Improvise! Improvise!

 

[aldevis]

On a more technical side, the only requirement is being able to play a C major scale for Bflatters (and a G major scale for Eflatters).
First four bars are Ddorian (Adorian)
In the next four bars the Dm (Am) becomes a II of a II V I: same notes, but it takes you to Cmajor (Gmajor)

This is the fundament.
On the first 4 bars all the modal tricks would work, on the second 4 all the substitution.

The idea is showing two different contexts for the same seven notes.

Questions?

(the progression is stolen from a tune called something like "Invitacija")

 

[Jeanette]

Did I manage to confuse @kevgermany ?

Maybe about tricks and substitutions....

If we think "modal" as an improvisation language, there are techniques that have been developed through the years. like (but not only)
Minor pentatonic 5th up
Minor pentatonic 2nd up
Pentatonics in&out
Dorian as a II of a 2/5/1
Dorian as a I
Approach notes
The whole book "A chromatic approach to jazz improvisation"
Harmonic superimpositions (also explained in the book)...

About substitutions, the harmonic approach:
Dm7 G7 Cmaj7 can become
D7 G7 Cmaj7
D7 Db7 Cmaj7
Ab7Db7 Cmaj7
|Dm7 Eb7| Ab B7|E G7| Cmaj || (this is nasty)

Or all the rules you find on the internet and in books


Most of the tricks mentioned are actually a distraction when trying to play the right notes in the right place, but the final goal should be swapping from modal (horizontal) approach to harmonic (vertical) approach.

Then forget everything and play.

I think I have more chance of understanding Italian than this 🙁

Jx

 

[aldevis]

Hence the simplicity of this month IOTM

 

[aldevis]

We chose this specific IOTM because it should fall easily under the fingers without having to think too much. Just seven notes, after all.

 

[Chris]

For Bb instruments.
Bars 1 - 4 you can noodle away in the key of Cmaj, BUT highlight the chords tones and resolve your phrases with a D. Would be a simple way to begin. Bars 4 - 8, noodle away in Cmaj, highlight chord tones and resolve phrases with a C, also notes Bb and C# on the A7b9, try Bb, Ab and C# on the G7.

There are no rules to say you have to hit every chord tone, just make up simple melodies. It doesn't always mean playing licks and phrases that you know.

 

[aldevis]

also notes Bb and C# on the A7b9

This chord could be ignored by players less confident, but it is very useful to learn to hear it as a cue to go back to the first bar of the form.

 

[kevgermany]

I've split out the general how to posts from here. Please keep this thread on topic for the month's improvisations, thanks.

 

[aldevis]

http://cafesaxophone.com/threads/how-to-improvise-split-from-january-2015-r-s-v-p.14893/

Do not forget to subscribe to the new thread

 

[BigMartin]

I posted this here but it got moved. I hope it's OK to quote it here as I was talking about this month's exercise.

As simple as this exercise is, I confess I'm struggling with it. I'm OK for a chorus (ie 8 bars) or two, playing stuff that, although boring, makes some kind of sense. But then I just dry up completely, as if the first 16 bars have completely drained my melodic resources. And if I force myself just to play notes that fit the chords, it sounds really bad. Is this a common problem?

I've thought about it a bit more and I think it's at least partly to do with the repetitve nature of the "song". After one or two times round I just can't think of anything except the ideas I've just played. If i stop and start again I can do somethjing different, but in the middle of playing it's hard to change gear, if that's the right metaphor. And if I try to force it I lose whatever flow I might have had at the start. Any sugegestions for how to work on this?

 

[aldevis]

I will reply better later.
In the meantime: yes, it is a common problem.

I will try to elaborate the concept of "ideas management" .

 

[Chris]

Had a quick play around with the track earlier. It always the same, things that sounded good prior to hitting the Red button suddenly don't seem to work once it's pressed..

"RSVP/Reply"

Still a work in progress..

Chris..

 

[fibracell]

Nice one Chris - I can hear you hitting those flat nines occasionally, and it makes for a much better lead into the next section🙂.

Just get to the A7 chord and hit that Bis key!!😎

 

[jimmylh]

Had a quick play around with the track earlier. It always the same, things that sounded good prior to hitting the Red button suddenly don't seem to work once it's pressed..

"RSVP/Reply"

Still a work in progress..

Chris..

Thumbs up Chris. Maybe I'll get brave and post a take sometime.

 

[Chris]

@fibracell and @jimmylh thanks for the comments guys. Still really a work in progress. Just thought I'd post something and then hopefully more will post and @aldevis can give us all a little feedback and a few tips.

Chris...

 

[dubrosa22]

"RSVP/Reply"

Nice Chris, an inspiration for me as always 🙂

V

 

[Chris]

Nice Chris, an inspiration for me as always 🙂

V

Just glad I was able to give something to the you and the thread Vaughan.

Chris..

 

[Veggie Dave]

After suggestions from Jeanette I thought I'd have a look at this month's IOTM to see if I was capable of playing something to it ... and I'm not. 😉

I'm not sure what the problem is, either. It's in C, so that makes life somewhat easier, and it's not too fast, which helps, too. And yet there's something about it that I find so alien that I can't even hear a melody in my head, never mind get anything remotely acceptable to come out of my sax.

I have to admit that improvised jazz isn't my thing, but that shouldn't make it impossible to be able to play something that's at least a little pleasant in that style. But I can't find anything to latch on to that I can then use as a basis to explore from.

What am I missing? If it was a language then it would be Russian or Finnish ... Помогите мне!

 

[BigMartin]

Well, for the first four bars of each chorus (the D dorian bit) you could try messing with the D minor pentatonic scale (D F G A C D). It's all very consonant so just abut anything wll sound ok. Get used to the sound of each note and just follow your nose (ear?). Try not to over-emphasise the D as it can sound a bit static. If/when that gets boring try A minor pent (replace the F with E, which has a bit more "bite"). Or E minor pent which uses the B, the most dissonant note in the scale. Don't play too many notes at first (easier said than done!).

I'll let someone else talk about the ii-V-I as it's definitely not my strong point.