Grooveyard

PLEASE CLICK HERE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEi6oPdV7CQ&fmt=18
to listen in stereo.

Grooveyard - a great vehicle for soulful improvisation written by the late great jazz pianist Carl Perkins (yeah, the OTHER Carl Perkins). Taken at a nice 'n easy 105 BPM that lends itself perfectly to a laid back groove.

What is the one difference in this video that is not present in any of the other 50 + videos I've posted? (Hint: it's part of the video not the audio).

Ok, I'll tell you - I'm wearing a watch. Why? To remind me of how important the feel of time is when playing at this tempo. OK, maybe I'm stretching it a little, but it makes for an interesting story line here, and the time IS really a crucial component of this piece. In order to make this groove really happen, the time should be continually moving forward while "pulling backwards" all at the same time. "How does one move both forwards and backwards at the same time?", you ask. Well for one thing, it involves the technique of playing just behind the beat and holding back slightly before playing each note with the right hand. Sometimes, the left hand chords stay fairly consistently on the beat, other times they "pull" as well. Also, it helps to have the bass and drums locked-in to a nice, swinging groove, with the bass "pushing" slightly and the drums "pulling" slightly (or visa-versa can work too). Just don't all "pull" at the same time - that happened to me once in a trio and the song almost came to halt!

A couple of other things - sometimes I pull back so much I play "ghost" notes. Also, this type of groove tends to make for some "sloppy" notes - if it's too clean it sounds sterile.

Once again I have the wonderful new Band-in-a-Box "real tracks" to thank for the backing track. This is a real bass player and a real drummer playing real instruments, but what they play is determined by programming the changes and choruses in BIAB. I love the way I can have the drums change to play mallets during the "B" section (Bb bass pedal).

Other tech notes: The PowerTracks Pro program provided the Midikeys which were recorded on screen using Camtasia. Edited using Adobe Premiere Elements and Showbiz DVD.

Thanks for listeneing.
-L2L

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Jazz
• Piano
• improvisation
• trio
• bass
• drums
• Roland
• FP-4
• band
• in
• box
• carl
• perkins
• wes
• montgomery
• pat
• martino

[hunterlpdc94]

I apologize, but I don't learn very visually like this. I would much rather read the sheet music. Do you have any idea where I can get it? Thanks so very much for posting this. I enjoyed it very much.

[Lot2learn]

@hunterlpdc94 There is a PDF notation file of the piano part from the above video available on my website.

[Modes9]

Nice blend of tertian and quartal sounds! You have a broad vocabulary and it's always a pleasure to hear your stuff. When you say "pull" on the beat, you mean lay way back (create a delay) against the time, right?

[Lot2learn]

@Modes9 Correct you are Eric. ;-)

[jazzmk]

Just fantastic Roger! Just found this! Have you checked out the Phineas Newborn version of this? Such a great tune and you play it brilliantly!

[Lot2learn]

Thanks Wayne. Yeah, the Phineas Newborn version of ANYTHING is incredible. ;-)

[tjjazzpiano]

When you said "use space" I kept hitting the space bar. Nothing happened. I think there is a programming error in your video.

[hunterlpdc94]

@Lot2learn Ok!! Thanks a lot. Once again, great playing. I hope to be as good with improvising as you are one day. BTW, your use of the pentatonics at 2:20 is genius.

[zurckoni]

tasty.

[cattleprods911]

Superb taste. Great tips. Thanks so much!

[larrychinn]

Really nice playing, a favorite that I also like to perform. What's your source since your line doesn't match the 58 Harold Land version which I would think would be closest to Carl Perkins' conception since he plays on it & it's the first recording?

I assume you transcribe it as it's in the original key, like the 61 Montgomery Brothers take. The only printed chart and sources I find on the internet incorrectly put the tune in G minor instead of Eb minor along with many incorrect changes.