[Dixielandjazz] Chet Baker and Lack of Melody???

[Steve Barbone]

"Bob Romans" <cellblk7 at comcast.net>
 
> Here's a internet conversation I had because I commented on the wonderful
> Chet Baker...I purposely didn't put the name of the trumpet player who
> answered my post, but I thought it was very interesting and bulls-eyed my
> thoughts...
> Bob Romans
 
 >> While we're on the subject of Chet, here's a nice video clip of him
>> playing his signature tune, My Funny Valentine.
>> 
>> http://www.chetbakertribute.com/wmv/Tokyo5-WM-Hi.wmv
>> 
>> Many more clips at that site.
>> 
>> Best,
>> Richard
  
> Here are MY (Roman's) comments...after listening to the clip of "My Funny
> Valentine"...one of the greatest tunes, words and all...
 
>> Hi Listmates...
>> Chet has been around for a long time...but...why don't they just say,
>> "here's a Video clip of Chet playing a bunch of notes to the chord changes
>> of My Funny Valentine? That is one of my fav tunes, but there was NO
>> MELODY that was recognizable...
>> What on earth happened melody?
>> Showing my ignorance of modern jazz in Lodi...

And here is another's opinion in agreement with Bob as he quotes it:

>> I agree with you 100% - Bakers playing is pleasant, and easy to listen to,
>> but it bears little resemblance to the tune, "My Funny Valentine". There
>> is a lot of so called, "jazz" that is like that. I like quiet, intimate
>> club-style jazz, and listen to a fair amount of it, but the tunes are
>> seldom recognizable......It has good rhythm, and good accompaniment, but
>> the melody is missing, or at least, changed to the point that it is
>> unrecognizable, and usually not different from the song played before, or
>> the one they intend to play immediately afterward.

My two cents is that the above opinions are all well and good, HOWEVER,
please consider the importance in jazz of "real" melodic improvisation. That
is to say, playing a new melody over the chord changes of an existing tune
and not just embellishing on the original melody.

Case in point is the famous and very beautiful recording by Coleman Hawkins
on "Body and Soul" circa 1939. It is a new melody that follows the chord
structure of the tune. There is NO statement of the Body & Soul melody by
Bean during his rendition. Does it suck? Heavens no. It is beautifully
constructed melodic improvisation. And it was revered by virtually all of
the jazz fans for about a decade, still being prominently placed on US
jukeboxes throughout the 40s and into the 50s.

Plus, we wouldn't have all those variations of "Bill Bailey", like Bourbon
Street Parade, Tiger Rag (chorus), Washington & Lee Swing, etc., etc., etc.
All different melodies over Bill Bailey chords. Albeit they are relatively
straightforward melodies and easy to hear.

The only difference between Baker's Funny Valentine and the various melodies
of Bill Bailey  (or Charlie Parker's Ko Ko vs Cherokee on which it is based)
is the "ears" of the listener. Some can hear a more complex melody and some
cannot.

As for me, I hear the melodies in all of Baker's playing.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone