| LearnJazzPiano.com archives: Nearness of You: Suggestions wanted | |
| BigTick -- 09/04/2006, 01:32:42 -- #29613 | |
| Hi, I've been trying to play the beautiful "Nearness of you" recently, and while I think I came up with something listenable, I'm looking for suggestions to make it sound better. You can hear my humble rendition here: http://www.4shared.com/file/3467990/4d152a73 Thanks in advance, 'Tick | |
| kindofblue81 -- 09/13/2006, 09:07:14 -- #29613 | |
| Hi! My name is Roberto, and I'm writing from Spain, so please excuse my english! First of all, I love "The Nearness of You" too. Actually it is one of my favorite standard. As well I've been trying to play it, but not as sucsesfully as you. I've listend to your version and I think its lovely, specially the arrangementes. Are they yours? I mean, I just have a very simple score, with the melody and harmony, but not left hand arrangements at all. At the time of making them up, Im anything but good. Could you give me a hand? Do you have more developed scores that I could borrow? Thank you anyway, and let me just insist. I love your version of it. Here is my email: taltos_21@hotmail.com | |
| thejaffer -- 09/13/2006, 09:35:39 -- #29613 | |
| hello, Nice recording. There's are couple of things you could try to think about. Remember that playing more notes doesn't necessarly equate to more music.. An example of one thing you do sometimes: in the opening phrase, you spread the first chord beautifully, and then in between the A and C of the melody you repeat it really quickly, (then there's a couple of stray notes after too) This is just in the first 4 seconds or so.. It doesn't really add anything extra, musically speaking, and distracts a bit from the melody. just play the first chord once and let it ring.. listen to the sound it and the meldoy makes and enjoy it. The audience will enjoy it with you. Allow longer pauses between the beginning few phrases too.. Also you tend to use the accompaniament to embellesh each chord, when you could use it to lead into the next chord/harmonic area. This would make it flow a little more... Experemiment with using as little pedal as possible and still make it sound good. (you may have to change some of the things you do) But when you allow yourself a bit of pedal, do it subtly and it should sound magical. The melody is the most important thing especially in a ballad like this. Keep it really simple and let the melody guide you. Listen to Keith Jarrett playing Somewhere over the rainbow from 'La Scalla'. That's how to play a ballad! | |
| Brotherdavies -- 09/14/2006, 16:09:34 -- #29613 | |
| Thank you for letting us hear this. I often substitute F7 with B7 to get a nice bass movement C - B - Bb - A - Ab - G. (when played in F). Dave McKenna recorded a solo version on his Carmichael tribute album that is beautiful. Cheers Bro' | |
| 7 -- 09/15/2006, 12:52:14 -- #29613 | |
| Go to the room "Best MIDIs on LJP". If you have the Van Basco player, you can watch him play a wonderful arrangement of the song. He sticks pretty close to the original melody throughout and his LH work is standard voicings, but MAN what a beautiful rendition! An excellent example of how to use this approach with a standard. | |
| 7 -- 09/15/2006, 12:52:47 -- #29613 | |
| Oh, "him" btw is Paul Pastir. | |
| BigTick -- 09/17/2006, 12:30:32 -- #29613 | |
| Thanks for the warm comments and nice suggestions - I'll be sure to give it a try (and let you know of the results) Roberto, I don't have any score for this, just the lead sheet - but I could record a midi version for you, if this can be of any help. My arrangement is based on a recording I found on the net (can't remember by whom, but I'll find out). Have fun, and keep playing 'Tick | |
| Brotherdavies -- 09/19/2006, 02:34:01 -- #29613 | |
| 'Tick I may have confused you with my post. Let me clarify - I use these chords for the first part of Nearness Of You: [: F | Cm7 / F7 B7 |Bb | Bbm | Am7 Ab7 | Gm7 C7 | Am7 D7 | Gm7 C7 :] That B7 slipped in there makes all the difference! Bro' | |
| Copyright © 2005 by Scot Ranney. All rights reserved. | |
| Click Here for more information about performances and clinics. Click Here to sign up for Scot's music announcements. | |