LearnJazzPiano.com archives: What is Gene Harris playing?!?!

jazz jasper -- 09/10/2007, 17:20:19 -- #36983

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9frgJdwYNC8 Can anyone tell me the gospel progression that Gene Harris is playing at 6.33?  Ive heard it a million times I know, but its late at night and I can't touch the piano.   Also if anyone is feeling really good about their transcribing ability, what is that really cool bluesy lick he keeps playing or even the loads of blusey licks he keeps playing starting at 1.15?   Thanks Jazz

ayolt -- 09/11/2007, 02:28:45 -- #36983

he is zo amazing... i think the blues lick is, something with an octave with the 3 or 5 inbetween or both...

Whacky -- 09/11/2007, 07:28:05 -- #36983

Do you mean the part where he plays: Db C Bb G  over and over again?

superp9 -- 09/12/2007, 00:33:59 -- #36983

Dr. Whack is right about the lick in 1:15. As far as the gospel progression, it's the typical thing.  I won't explain the whole thing, but the fast part is he's just moving from the II-V-I (A7 to D7 to G).  To make it "gospelly", the left hand does A,B,C,C#,D,D,G while the right hand starts on the A7 chord with a flat 9th on the top and moves down as the left hand moves up A#,A,G,E,G,G,G.  And the last 3 beats there where he pounds twice on the D7 before going to the G, he actually plays a C/D7 (C chord on the right hand with D7 in the bass).  That makes it sound more gospel. Hope that helps, Gene is the man.  Really...he's my favorite piano player ever, no one even comes close.

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