RE: [Harp-L] Charlie Parker solo on diatonic

[JersiMuse <jersimuse@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Phil,

 

I better understand, also the previous question about the backing track.

 

It seems to be logical, but in fact I am not sure it is the case.

I encourage you to try the following.

Take any lick from the solo, for example the first one, which is probably one of the easiest :

-6 -5 -6  -8 +7 -7 +6 +5 +4Â -4 +4 -3 -4 -5 -6 -5 +6 +6Â +7 +6Â -6 +6 +7 +6

If you have a good technique, youâll need maybe half an hour to play it at 150 bpm, and maybe another half hour to play it at usual speed, about 240 bpm.

Once you can play it, you can use it directly on a play back with no problem. So the problem is solved within 1 hour.

 

Now try it on Charlieâs recording, youâll see it is totally impossible to play together with him.

Youâll need probably many hours to do so, if not many days.

 

The reason is simple : when you play the lick on your own, you chose your rhythm and accentuations.

As far as you respect the global speed, you can vary the articulation and rhythm in a certain range.

When you play with our old friend Charlie, you are imposed Charlie Parkerâs very particular swing, very precise rhythm. 

You are also obliged to respect the exact same articulations on each single note because at this speed, any tiny difference will lead you to be off rhythm.

So being able to play each single note exactly at the same time as him implies a tremendous amount of work.

Playing the licks is not the most difficult. Getting the exact same swing is the real challenge to my opinion.

 

In conclusion, I think it is easier to play on my own on a backing track, nobody will hear the differences with a sax which is not there anyway.

Of course, the ideal would be to be able to play exactly like Charlie, with the exact same swing, on a backing track.

I mean that at the end, one should be able to take the harp track, and put it back on Charlieâs recording with no problem.

I would be extremely surprised if anyone could do that, but in any case I am definitely unable to do so !

 

Regards,

 

Jerome

www.youtube.com/JersiMuse

 

 

De : philharpn@xxxxxxx [mailto:philharpn@xxxxxxx] 
Envoyà : jeudi 2 juin 2011 18:51
à : jersimuse@xxxxxxxxx
Cc : harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Objet : Re: [Harp-L] Charlie Parker solo on diatonic

 

I think you miss the point. 

 

 It is one thing to play along in unison with a recording; quite another to play it solo or with a rhythm/chord  track.

 

It is also to separate two instrument "voices" when they are playing in unison.

hope this clears everything up.

 

Phil