[Dixielandjazz] The "Correct" song version

[Steve barbone]

on 1/17/06 11:43 AM, Charlie Hull at charlie at easysounds.com wrote:

> Interesting dialogue on the 'correct' chords.
> 
> I contend that the correct chords are ones which work for the players
> and sound good to the listeners. The important thing is that everyone in
> the group play the same chords at the same time and that they don't
> inhibit improvisation on the original theme.
> 
> I used to sit in awe of Don Goldie's group at the Sacramento Jazz
> Jubilee. His wonderful piano and bass men used different chords on each
> chorus, but never so different that they didn't fit with the original
> song and what the horn players (wasn't Goldie magnificent?) were doing
> up front.
> 
> The chord variations I don't care for are the ones many of the beboppers
> create so they won't be accused of using the originals. What a stigma -
> Playing a tune so it can be recognized.

Pretty much nails it shut Charlie. Chords are funny things. Musically all
sorts of substitutions/permutations can be made that "fit" the song.

And songs like Lulu's Back In Town have alternate bridges e.g.

Ab-Ebdim / Eb-Eb7 / Ab-Ebdim / Eb-Eb7/ Ab-Ebdim / Eb-C7 / F7 / Bb7 /

OR

Cm-(Gm-Fm) / Eb / Cm-(Gm-Fm) / Eb / Cm-(Gm-Fm) / Eb-C7 / F7 / Bb7 /

Lots more where that came from. Like the separate versions of a simple tune
like the last  4 bars of "Just A Closer Walk With Thee". Are they:
F7 / F7 / Bb / then F7 or Bb depending on ending chord OR ARE THEY

Bb / F7 / Bb / then F7 or Bb depending on the ending chord?

Same for "I Shall Not Be Moved", "Ace in The Hole" (bridge), Wolverine
Blues, the modulation or fake modulation as well as the melody line.

And when you play in various bands, you find various chords/melodies on the
same tunes. Goldie was a master at adaptation. Like you say, wonderful.

Re beboppers, I like some. Such as "Sweet Clifford" by Clifford Brown, an
adaptation of Sweet Georgia Brown. Or the version of Sweet Georgia Brown
that Oscar Peterson did in Vienna, 2003, or Charlie Shavers arrangement in
the late 1930s for the Kirby Band. All stunning in my ears.

Cheers,
Steve