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glissandos while soloing

when would you include a glissando when soloing?
during, to start it, etc.
and how would you go about making it sound 'natural' to the piece?
-kalel

by kalel on 06/13/2006, 00:26

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this is a tough one to answer because it's all about the music. there's no real forumla for using glisses. one thing that i do sometimes, and i got this directly from monty alexander's playing, is during a transition change when the drummer might use a press roll to build up for a new feel, i might add a gliss to accentuate that press roll.

my advice is to listen to monty on the recording montreaux alexander as he defines how a swing pianist would uses glisses:

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by Scot Ranney on 06/13/2006, 11:52

ugh, the gliss is something that i have to use much less of. i always hear it in my head, and if i want a cool ending to a solo or a big transition in a song i through it in there.

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by DoubleZ on 06/13/2006, 20:23

is generally effected at the tail end of a longish note, usually after having given the note (more or less) its full value.

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by 7 on 06/13/2006, 21:53

personally i'm not hearing a lot of glissandi in jazz piano solos (not counting hammond organ, guitar, rock and roll piano, whatever), but i've always been *very* amused by how much sonny clark glisses when comping for grant green.

it's a very funny little sound -- check it out.

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by on 06/14/2006, 04:08

when doing glissandos with the foot, it should be noted that they are 99% of the time descending glissandos.

comfortable footwear should be worn, and the soles of the shoes should be smooth with no ridges or hobnails.

when executing foot glissandi, care must be taken to avoid hitting any part of the heel to the keys (especially with keys made of real ivory) and the flat of the sole (just below the ball of the foot) is the ideal area of the foot which has the most control in such cases.

you will soon become aware that the the tension in the leg increases as the foot nears the body, not to worry - this is perfectly natural.

a certain amount of compensation for angle is required much the same as the violinist's wrist which must constantly change position in order to always keep the bow evenly perpendicular to the strings.

as with all musical execution, your actions must be both deliberate and precise. a sloppy foot glissando can result in injury to the instrument or your hamstring or both.

do not attempt to perform this action on stage in public without having judiciously practiced the technique to the point of mastery.

once you feel comfortable with this highly advanced form of glissando, you may begin experimenting with variations utilizing other body parts such as the "jamie cullum butt-gliss", playing keys with your nose ("nositional visualization" https://www.jeff-brent.com/lessons/nosvis.html ), and the ever popular left-elbow "roar" so commonly found in tunes like "tiger rag" and "granpa's spells".

and if you end up in the emergency room because of the above advice, i will disavow any knowledge of this post.

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by 7 on 06/14/2006, 21:57

love it

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by Kai on 06/15/2006, 04:37

i haven't yet tried it, but the toe of the foot (bare or socked) should prove to be able to play a line or two...

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by SolArt on 06/15/2006, 17:51

"and the ever popular left-elbow "roar" so commonly found in tunes like "tiger rag""

hehe. terry waldo played that part with his bum the other day. it was hilarious.

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by on 06/15/2006, 23:59

i saw dr. john in concert the 17th--he used a glissando up to a 3-5-7 chord during a solo. it sounded awesome. not being able to see his hands, i assume that he performed the gliss with his left hand and waited with the chord with his right and struck the chord at the right time. an amazing effect.
-kalel

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by kalel on 06/17/2006, 01:13

"comfortable footwear should be worn, and the soles of the shoes should be smooth with no ridges or hobnails."

for rock'n'roll piana the footware of choice is the black patent leather boot.

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by Brotherdavies on 06/17/2006, 03:06

not wearing shoes and having a hole in your sock helps (bandages at the ready).

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by Kai on 06/17/2006, 05:20

anyone else ever do like a two or three note gliss going down say but on the trip the interval(s) compress or expand to fit the landing? for example the take-off is a chord or part of a chord & the landing is as well. i must say slow glisses sound very pearly done this way. plus during the trip you can alter the speed.

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by SolArt on 06/20/2006, 16:30

... also you can have black notes on the take-offs & landings.

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by SolArt on 06/20/2006, 16:32

sniff.

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by SolArt on 06/22/2006, 18:49

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glissandos while soloing

There are 14 comments, leave a comment.

by Scot Ranney on 06/13/2006, 11:52

by DoubleZ on 06/13/2006, 20:23

by 7 on 06/13/2006, 21:53

by on 06/14/2006, 04:08

by 7 on 06/14/2006, 21:57

by Kai on 06/15/2006, 04:37

by SolArt on 06/15/2006, 17:51

by on 06/15/2006, 23:59

by kalel on 06/17/2006, 01:13

by Brotherdavies on 06/17/2006, 03:06

by Kai on 06/17/2006, 05:20

by SolArt on 06/20/2006, 16:30

by SolArt on 06/20/2006, 16:32

by SolArt on 06/22/2006, 18:49

Reply to Thread

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glissandos while soloing

There are 14 comments, leave a comment.

by Scot Ranney on 06/13/2006, 11:52

by DoubleZ on 06/13/2006, 20:23

by 7 on 06/13/2006, 21:53

by on 06/14/2006, 04:08

by 7 on 06/14/2006, 21:57

by Kai on 06/15/2006, 04:37

by SolArt on 06/15/2006, 17:51

by on 06/15/2006, 23:59

by kalel on 06/17/2006, 01:13

by Brotherdavies on 06/17/2006, 03:06

by Kai on 06/17/2006, 05:20

by SolArt on 06/20/2006, 16:30

by SolArt on 06/20/2006, 16:32

by SolArt on 06/22/2006, 18:49

Reply to Thread

Jazz Piano Notebook Series

"Latinesque"

LJP Jazz Piano Blogs

Most Recent Discussions

Articles

Top Sheetmusic Picks

Jazz piano education is cool.

Rock on. Follow your passion.

Sign In