[Dixielandjazz] A question about improvisation

[Sean McGuire]

I read Lester Young used to have the lyrics running thru his head as he
soloed, and recently heard a story where Ben Webster stopped playing
in the middle of a solo, and when asked why said "I forgot the words!"

sean


 
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ken Gates" <kwg28 at sbcglobal.net>
 
 
> An improvising question to performance level musicians---
> 
> While improvising a solo---what is going on in your mind?---
> 
> A-The melody of the tune
> 
> B-The chord structure of the tune
> 
> C-How can I meet that nice looking person in the audience?
> 
> D-Why is the drummer playing so loud?
> 
 Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2011 15:06:50 -0600
> From: "Phil Wilking" <philwilking at bellsouth.net>
> To: "Mailing List DIXIELAND JAZZ" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
> Cc: Dixieland Jazz Mailing List <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
> Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] A question about improvisation
> Message-ID: <477419C131AF4EC9BAE49EF3CA2CA963 at droolingidiot>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
> 	reply-type=response
> 
> All of the above, but especially D.
> 
> Phil Wilking
> 
> Those who would exchange freedom for
> security deserve neither freedom nor security.
> 

> It depends how well I know the tune and how tricky the chord-sequence is.
> (On "Body & Soul" I'm always conscious of where I am in the bridge.)
> If I'm just learning a tune I think of the important chord changes and
> areas. Once I know the tune fairly well I keep the melody running in my head
> as a sort of route-map as to where I am in the tune and don't consciously
> think of the chords.
> On a blues I just play.
> So, in short: Mainly A with a bit of B.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Joe Carbery.
>