[Dixielandjazz] The Bridge

[Patrick Cooke]

The bridge to 'I Won't Dance' is a killer.
Pat Cooke

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Biffle" <bbiffle at swcp.com>
To: <barbonestreet at earthlink.net>; "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List"
<dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Monday, January 12, 2004 10:35 PM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] The Bridge


> 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
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
>
>
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