| LearnJazzPiano.com archives: Dave McKenna - recommended listening | |
| Brotherdavies -- 10/07/2004, 07:11:46 -- #7840 | |
| Hi Whilst talkin' walkin' bass on the site, someone mentioned Dave McKenna. I checked out his website and I have listened to samples of his work and now I would like to buy a CD. The 'Plays Hoagy Carmichael' CD looks like a good introduction to Dave's solo work. Also, is he still performing? Any suggestions? Bro' | |
| alfredo -- 10/07/2004, 10:40:09 -- #7845 | |
| "Giant Strides" also the duo album with Buddy DeFranco | |
| Mike -- 10/07/2004, 13:23:01 -- #7849 | |
| Dave called me this summer and explained his condition as follows: He has carpal tunnel syndrom in both wrists and can not play at all. Surgery may be able to cure the problem but because of other health problems some Doctors are saying he should not risk the surgery. Right now unfortunately Dave is not playing at all and there is a chance he will never play again. All of his recordings are incredible ... He is one of the most consistent players on any instrument there has ever been. | |
| Brotherdavies -- 10/07/2004, 22:27:24 -- #7858 | |
| Mike Thank you for the information. That is sad news about Dave McKenna but hopefully some of his magic will rub off on me! I can see myself wanting to own all of Dave's recorded output - Christmas is coming! Bro' | |
| Mike -- 10/08/2004, 08:39:14 -- #7871 | |
| There are lots of phenomenal bootlegs of Dave out there too. Maybe I just come across them because I live near him... I'm not sure. But there are great bootlegs of him with Dick Johnson playing saxaphone who is phenomenal local sax player and a close friend of Dave's. If you ever come across one of those jump all over it. | |
| Brotherdavies -- 10/09/2004, 00:12:33 -- #7888 | |
| Mike In an earlier post you mentioned the swinging style where Dave plays 4 chord 'strums' in the left hand, using a different inversion for each 'strum'. Would you say his versions of Two Sleepy People and Nearness of You use this technique? Also, are there any transcriptions of his playing - I'd love to learn some of those gorgeous voicings. I like to play in a way that the melody of a tune is clearly carved out so the folks know what the song is without being told! Dave seems to be the best at this whilst being able to play beautiful chords, counterpoint melodies, bass lines and flourishes. I am truly excited about discovering Dave and heartbroken at the same time. Bro' Bristol England | |
| Brotherdavies -- 10/09/2004, 00:51:02 -- #7890 | |
| Mike In an earlier post you mentioned the swinging style where Dave plays 4 chord 'strums' in the left hand, using a different inversion for each 'strum'. Would you say his versions of Two Sleepy People and Nearness of You use this technique? Also, are there any transcriptions of his playing - I'd love to learn some of those gorgeous voicings. I like to play in a way that the melody of a tune is clearly carved out so the folks know what the song is without being told! Dave seems to be the best at this whilst being able to play beautiful chords, counterpoint melodies, bass lines and flourishes. I am truly excited about discovering Dave and heartbroken at the same time. Bro' Bristol England | |
| Mike -- 10/09/2004, 10:50:42 -- #7896 | |
| No I assume you are referring to the "Celebration of Hoagy Carmichael" Cd where he treats both those tunes as ballads. He is playing both those tunes in a style closer to a slow stride than a strum style. Strum is used on medium to medium up tempo tunes and basically mimics how guitar players used to comp on every beat in dixieland style Jazz. On that same Cd the only one that he Stums on is "One Morning In May". My favorite tune that he strums on although I can not remember the Cd is "Theordore The Thumper" a tune he wrote in honor of Ted Williams the famous Red Sox outfielder. Dave is a huge Red Sox Fan. And often refused gigs if arrangements could not be made for a tv set to be in view for hime to be able to watch the game while playing the gig if a sox game was scheduled at the same time as a gig. Dave once hired me to drive him to a gig and when I arrived at his house to pick him up he said my most important task was to make sure that the piano was as idealy positioned as possable to see the game. I have seen I partial transcription on the net once but I am sorry I can not remember where. You have to keep in mind that Dave has always been and remains an "underground pianist". This means that although people in the know, know that his place in the history of Jazz piano is as important as that of say Chick Corea, McCoy Tyner, etc, etc. he never broke into the lime light and is obscure in recognition as many of your local great players. | |
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