[Dixielandjazz] melody vs chords & the importance ofwords

[Will Connelly]

Jim et al -

Your proposition that lead players think more about the melody that the
rhythm guys is right on target . . . hey, if he's got "ears", the rhythm
guy can do his job without ever before having heard the melody!!! And
without being able to hum the melody after he's played the song!! It is,
however, true that better chords will emanate from the rhythm department
if the players back there have a clue as to what the melody and lyrics
are.

When I write songs, I write the melody and lyrics - usually together,
not separately - and the chords follow. When one of my songs is heard by
a good arranger like Harry Epp or Gary Lawrence or the late Jack Keller,
they'll invariably find more complex and usually better chords than I
used in writing the tune, and may add passing chords that I never
thought of. The song is usually much improved in consequence, although
in rare cases I will disagree with a chord an arranger uses.

You've started what I hope will prove to be an interesting thread, Kash.
Thanks.

Kindly

Will Connelly