[Dixielandjazz] The Bridge

[Richard Broadie]

I still struggle with the last 4 bars of Ellington's Sophisticated Lady's
bridge.  Know Miss Jones with no problem but never get Lady quite right.
(Don't tell my wife. )

Dick B
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Patrick Cooke" <patcooke at cox.net>
To: "Bill Biffle" <bbiffle at swcp.com>; <barbonestreet at earthlink.net>;
"Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2004 10:30 AM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] The Bridge


> 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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