[Dixielandjazz] Trad Jazz

[Stephen G Barbone]

On Jan 15, 2011, at 12:43 PM, Gluetje1 at aol.com wrote:

> SNIP from Steve:
>
> In a message dated 1/15/2011 11:21:51 A.M. Central Standard Time, barbonestreet at earthlink.net 
>  writes:
> To really get confused about "Trad Jazz" see:
>
> http://www.outsideshore.com/school/music/almanac/html/Jazz_Styles/Classic_Jazz/Traditional_Jazz.htm
> ME:  Steve I just took a brief look at that sight.  Gave me my  
> morning LMAO.  Here's a paste:. "If there is more than one solo, it  
> is as likely as not that each soloist would get a different chord  
> progression, or "
>
> Geez, in the past when I gave a front line guy a different chord  
> progression, I got really dirty looks.  Now I know I was just  
> following this author's guidelines.
>
> Here's the line from the top of the page:
> "The whole band often improvises simultaneously."
>
> Oh, yeah, I've played when that happened also!  Truly polyrhythmic!

Hey Ginny:

I knew you'd get a kick out of that.  I love it. You've been playing  
Free Jazz under the guise of Trad. You are truly innovative and  
naughty. <grin>

We sometimes improvise over different chord progressions in my band.  
Usually on Blues tunes and always with the knowledge of the soloist  
and the guitarist and bass player that we are going to substitute. We  
don't always know which set of blues chords the rhythm section will  
use, however since we are all "listeners", we get it squared away  
pretty quickly.

For example. Blues in F

Normal Changes:
4F7 / 2Bb7/ 2 F7 / C7 / Bb7 / F7 / C7

Substitute Changes (this one is my favorite - Used by Charlie Parker,  
based on a descending root  movement coupled with an upward cycle of  
4ths. (Sometimes called Bird Blues Changes or John Lewis Changes)

F / Em-A7 / Dm-G7 / Cm-F7 /  Bb7 /  Bbm / Am / Abm / Gm / C7 / Am-D7 /  
Gm-C7 /

Another favorite blues substitution is:

F7 / Bb7 / F7 / Cm-F7 / Bb7 / Bb7 / F7 / D7 / Gm9 / C7 / F7 / Gm-C7

As you know, there is an broad variety of Blues changes available. I  
have a book on Jazz Voicings for Keyboard by Dan Haerle which shows 17  
different blues progressions some of which are quite complex, but all  
of them work on any blues tune. Purists will hate it, but I think  
that's what jazz is all about.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband