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sparse style

which players and albums are exponents of the sparse style of playing

- i am finding it hard to express myself, but i'm thinking of jazzy rhythms with few notes -

scot and others mentioning playing that just suggests chords etc, without having to play them got me thinking about this.

by Gordon on 01/30/2009, 16:08

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oops - sorry - i'm thinking mainly of solo piano here too.

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by Gordon on 01/30/2009, 16:08

mal waldron is sparse. his solo piano album titled "blues for lady day" has been a model of sparsness for me and my students for years. he played a lot of easy shells in his left hand. everybody else is so complicated. john lewis was a sparse one too. people will also suggest basie, but his solos are pretty old fashioned.

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by Jazz+ on 01/30/2009, 20:43

jarrett's the melody at night, with you is also pretty sparse but far more difficult than mal waldron's approach.

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by Jazz+ on 01/30/2009, 20:44

"peace piece" (1958) by bill evans was very sparse, his left hand was platyed the same two chords repeatedly for 7 minutes while the right hand improvised.

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by Jazz+ on 01/31/2009, 00:21

thanks very much jazz+ - i'll check those out.
i was actually just scanning some piano stuff on youtube and one of the comments mentioned succinctly what i was trying to express above, it said (to paraphrase) "implying rhythm while leaving much space"

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by Gordon on 01/31/2009, 03:37

could certainly be performed in a jazz setting.

i would posit that it is the very epitome of the sparse style of playing.

i find that the best time to perform this piece is at the end of a 45-minute set. i like it so much that i usually play it three times in a row before starting in on an entirely new set.

one of the beautiful things about this number is that you don't even have to be on stage while playing it.

you can be at the bar or even in the restroom and it practically plays itself!

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by 7 on 02/01/2009, 09:28

it is easy to play in all twelve keys as well.

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by wdennissorrell on 02/01/2009, 15:48

mal waldron playing "easy living" from blues for lady day is the best sparse example i know of:

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by Jazz+ on 02/01/2009, 17:08

i know your talking about solo style, but for trio style--ahmad jamal. i saw him in concert last year and it changed my idea of playing.

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by nate_smith on 02/01/2009, 18:48

i have the transcription of easy living

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by Jazz+ on 02/01/2009, 19:40

after reading 7's suggestion, i transcribed 4'33". here's the link:

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by paul b on 02/02/2009, 01:46

maybe just don't play anything...that would be pretty sparse

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by superjames on 02/02/2009, 03:13

gordon,

check out steve kuhn, at maybeck. especially "solar".

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by knotty on 02/02/2009, 06:23

thanks for the youtube link jazz+ - i enjoyed that - especially the swinging bit from 2.30 onwards.
i'll look out for that steve kuhn cd
@7 - great idea - my audiences already often use that same style in their appreciation of my playing.

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by Gordon on 02/02/2009, 06:50

again, you asked about solo and this is trio but i've been listening to ellington's the pianist. very interesting and not a lot of notes but, of course, it swings.

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by sdm on 02/08/2009, 11:14

duh...count basie!

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by superboy on 02/10/2009, 08:18

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sparse style

There are 16 comments, leave a comment.

by Gordon on 01/30/2009, 16:08

by Jazz+ on 01/30/2009, 20:43

by Jazz+ on 01/30/2009, 20:44

by Jazz+ on 01/31/2009, 00:21

by Gordon on 01/31/2009, 03:37

by 7 on 02/01/2009, 09:28

by wdennissorrell on 02/01/2009, 15:48

by Jazz+ on 02/01/2009, 17:08

by nate_smith on 02/01/2009, 18:48

by Jazz+ on 02/01/2009, 19:40

by paul b on 02/02/2009, 01:46

by superjames on 02/02/2009, 03:13

by knotty on 02/02/2009, 06:23

by Gordon on 02/02/2009, 06:50

by sdm on 02/08/2009, 11:14

by superboy on 02/10/2009, 08:18

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sparse style

There are 16 comments, leave a comment.

by Gordon on 01/30/2009, 16:08

by Jazz+ on 01/30/2009, 20:43

by Jazz+ on 01/30/2009, 20:44

by Jazz+ on 01/31/2009, 00:21

by Gordon on 01/31/2009, 03:37

by 7 on 02/01/2009, 09:28

by wdennissorrell on 02/01/2009, 15:48

by Jazz+ on 02/01/2009, 17:08

by nate_smith on 02/01/2009, 18:48

by Jazz+ on 02/01/2009, 19:40

by paul b on 02/02/2009, 01:46

by superjames on 02/02/2009, 03:13

by knotty on 02/02/2009, 06:23

by Gordon on 02/02/2009, 06:50

by sdm on 02/08/2009, 11:14

by superboy on 02/10/2009, 08:18

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