[Dixielandjazz] The Bridge

[Bill Biffle]

And the bridges are frequently the most harmonically interesting part of the
song.  Think of Polkadots and Moonbeams.  Or Body and Soul.  Or Do You Know
What It Means To Miss New Orleans.  There are TONS of others.  I'm Old
Fashioned, for instance.  Or even Moonlight In Vermont.  These off the top
of my rather fuzzy head.  Who wants to add better ones?

And the famous Have You Met Miss Jones which goes, unless I miscounted, to
three separate keys in eight bars.

BB

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Stephen Barbone" <barbonestreet at earthlink.net>
To: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Monday, January 12, 2004 8:48 PM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] The Bridge


> Rebecca asks about the bridge.
>
> The bridge is the "inside" section or the tune. For example the tune
> "Back Home In Indiana" has no bridge, a rarity in compositions and the
> fodder for various jokes like, "clarinet, take the bridge", or "Name a
> bridge in Indiana". Dummy, there is no bridge in Indiana.
>
> Typical Dixieland tunes have a verse and a chorus,
>
> Typical chorus's, have a bridge. (except for Indiana)
>
> The bridge marries the first section of the chorus to the second section
> of the chorus.
>
> Most songs are diagrammed thusly: a a b a (Note small letters as opposed
> to Part A, Part B which use capitals. The first "a" section is the
> melodic statement. The second "a" section is usually an exact repeat of
> the first "a" melodic statement. The "b" part is the bridge and has
> different chords from those of the melodic statement. The last "a" part
> is the final repeat of the melodic statement. May not always have the
> exact chords of the first 2 "a"s but is very close.
>
> Example "I Can't Get Started" aaba below. (Words Modified because I sing
> it to YOUNG girls) Kimmi, are you listening? Here I am at 70 singing
> these words to your contemporaries and they love it because they
> perceive me as harmless, and funny and we maintain eye contact
> throughout the song.
>
> I've flown around the world in a plane    )
> I've settled Revolutions in Spain             )  a
> The North Pole I have Charted               ) melody
> But Still I Can't Get Started With You   )
>
> On the Golf Course I'm Under Par            )
> Steven Spielberg Has Asked Me To Star   )  a
> I've Got a House, It's A Showplace            ) melody
> Still I Can't Get No Place With You           )
>
> Cause You're So Supreme, Lyrics I write of you Dream )
> I Dream Day and Night of you and I scheme                 )   b
> Just For The Sight Of You, but Baby                             )
> Bridge
> What Good Does It Do?                                                )
>
> Madonna has asked me to Tea                                   )
> And Brittany Spears Wants to Make Love with Me   )    a
> Still, I'm Broken Hearted                                            )
> Melody
> Cause I Can't Get Started, With You.                         )
>
>
> Many, many bridges are virtually the same chordal sequence. The most
> popular bridge section is from Gershwin's I got Rhythm. Because so many
> jazz tunes use this chord sequence, some players tend to dismiss those
> bridges as the "Sear Roebuck Bridge" and consequently of little
> importance. To me, the bridge is the "inside" of the tune and the as
> marriage between the "a" sections vitally important to being able to
> solo coherently. I was taught that if you play a casual bridge because
> you are bored, you ruin the song.
>
> Cheers,
> Steve Barbone
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Dixielandjazz mailing list
> Dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
> http://ml.islandnet.com/mailman/listinfo/dixielandjazz
>