Book Work
A Sample - Whisper In My Ear
The book is coming along. I thought I’d share a sample of something that will be included. The premise of the book is the intersection of composition and improvisation, using my own tunes as examples. I’ll include a bit about the story behind the tunes or titles if there is one, and it seems appropriate or entertaining.
Since I’m a pianist, it will naturally be piano based. Along these lines, I’ve decided that I’ll also include some examples of piano arrangements, and how they can be developed. This will include a bit about chord voicings and harmonization of melodies. I think this goes along with the discussion of harmony. I’ll probably do some examples of both chord voicings for solo piano arrangements, and left hand voicings for comping while soloing.
This one is a ballad written in the last year or so. I’ll include a basic lead sheet, and a basic arrangement on that. Then I’ll share a lead sheet reflecting another level of harmonization and voicing, with another arrangement reflecting those changes. These are arrangements for solo piano.
If there are any pianists out there who want to try them, let me know what you think. Ted, my teacher and friend, worked on the more advanced arrangement with me.
I’m sharing recordings or videos of each arrangement. They’re not studio quality, just demos.
Whisper In My Ear - leadsheet #1
A note about the next part: Leadsheet #2 reflects the harmonies used in the second arrangement. Some of them are significantly different from the original, and would be tricky to improvise over. The simplest solution is to use the original chords for improvisation. The additional harmonies can always be used if you want to use them as alternatives or additional choices. This is how I approach it. Or you can just play and use your knowledge and your ears.
May you dig it. And may you take whatever you get from this and make it your own. This is just a “slice of life”, as an old friend of mine used to say.
Stay tuned, as we used to say in the old days.
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