LearnJazzPiano.com archives: improv on take five
pjpastir -- 03/13/2005, 23:30:38 -- #11905
Hello group,
I'm looking for all of your tricks of the trade for improv on this chart. Brubeck version just uses ebm bbm7 for improv, Tito uses the whole tune, but I guess what I am really looking for are ideas that you have found helpful, as I am just beginning to work this tune. Also any other versions by others that would add new flavors !!!

                    Thanks
                            Paul

alhaynes -- 03/14/2005, 09:30:44 -- #11909
I switch to Eb(maj)/Bb7 and play "Three to get Ready" in the right hand (3/4) vs the 5/4 in the left. It seems a little strange at first, but sounds neat. Add 1 beat for every 3 measures in the right hand - 3/4,3/4,3/4,1/4 - which realigns the timing.

albetan -- 03/14/2005, 17:21:42 -- #11927
Alhaynes:
I feel more easy to convert |  5/4  | in  | 3/4  2/4/ |
That's the rhythmic feeling of Take five.

Pipastir:
Brubech improvises over | Ebm  Bbm7  | as you have noticed.
When rhythm or harmony are difficult in a piece you may  improvise over a short chord progression repeated as does Brubeck here.

Jazz+ -- 03/14/2005, 23:08:24 -- #11936
Eb-7 and Bb-7 are relative to the Eb Dorian scale.
I suggest Eb Dorian at first.

Also try these, borrow form one after another and mix them all up:
Eb- blues scale
Eb- Pentatonic
Eb melodic minor (slighlty outside)
Eb- Dorian Bebop Scale and Bb Dorian Bebop Scale
Fragmants of the Chromatic scale
Arepeggio patterns of Eb-7, Bb-7, F-7 etc.

You can superimpose a Bb7 diminished scale or a Bb Altered scale
You can superimpose an Eb dimishished scale
You can superimpose any scale you want, try varios melodic minors!

alhaynes -- 03/16/2005, 09:12:59 -- #11977
Here is an brief example of 3 against 5 - it's easier to play than to explain !

marksdg -- 03/16/2005, 13:09:24 -- #11983
One thing I do, playing solo, is to improv on the Eb-7  Bb-7  and then end doing improv on the bridge chords, which really sets up the return to the melody nicely.

Also, in the tradition of Brubeck, doing stuff with big chords works well.  Also, finding a lick and repeating it, and then doing variations on it.  I have found doing stuff on a whole tone scale works well for a bit, but there is a wide range of possible stuff since the chords are so repetitive.  The Eb blues does really well, including doing lines in the right hand in octaves.

Dr. Whack -- 03/16/2005, 14:29:57 -- #11985
You can also experiment with using different chords over the  Eb and Bb  bass notes. (ala  Herbie Hancock)  You would probably want to wait until you've been into your solo for a while before you introduce the new chords though, then work your way back to the original Ebm & Bbm

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