On Green Dolphin Street in 7/4

On Green Dolphin Street is one of those jazz classics that is played in many different styles and even different keys (usually either C or Eb). I had not tried playing it in an odd time meter, so when fellow YT musician David Beebee (davebeeboss) turned me on to a version he had recorded in 7/4, I was immediately intrigued. David is not only a great pianist, he is a monster bass player as his work on this video will attest (yes, that's David playing the electric bass). Be sure to check out his version here:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=2ygsHr27kS0

7/4 is just a measure of 4/4 followed by a measure of 3/4. The real trick comes in altering the usual phrases during a solo to fit. It is so ingrained in me to think in multiples of 4 or 3 when phrasing (depending on if I'm playing a 4/4 piece or 3/4 swing) that I have to re-calibrate my mind-set to phrase in 7/4. I do trip over myself in this video for a measure or two, but fortunately the accompaniment is rock solid so I'm able to get-up, dust myself off, and lock back into the groove.

I actually recorded 2 versions of this on the same day - the 2nd version being played on the Roland FP-4 digital piano. That version has a "virtual keyboard" superimposed on the screen and a downloadable MIDI file. You can view my that version HERE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVeTIfCX5_8

Vsit my web site at http://www.lot2learn.com for midi files and other instructional info.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Jazz
• Piano
• improvisation
• trio
• bass
• drums
• 7/4
• odd
• time
• meter
• Roland
• FP-4
• be-bop
• BeeBoss
• Beebee
• Bronislau
• Kaper

[boyangzhu14]

Wow! Great playing!

But as a bassist, I must comment on the superb quality of your bassist... He kept that groove rock solid that entire time!

[Lot2learn]

@boyangzhu14 Thanks - That's David Beeboss on bass (also an awesome piano player) - check out his channel here on Youtube for some great stuff!

[voncoolio]

insane talent, dude.

[Lot2learn]

@voncoolio Thanks!

[arpinz]

Hmm awesome

[Lot2learn]

@arpinz I appreciate your comment.

[Torn80cj]

7 beats, now I know what is going on, I was trying to figure why this was throwing me off. 7 beats just isn't natural to my inner rhythm yet.

[Lot2learn]

@barcanard Thanks. I think it is because if you follow the lead sheet there are 4 beats for the first chord 4 beats for the second chord and then 2 chords in measure 3 and so on. I am playing this with 7 beats in the first measure and 7 beats in the second measure etc so it is 7/4.

[barcanard]

Why is this called 7/4 instead of 7/8? I definitely hear it phrased in a fast 7/8.

Regardless, I absolutely LOVE this version!! It's simply amazing!! You offer such great improvisational techniques, it almost drives me crazy to know that someone can actually play this stuff!!! '

[mentalmalfunction]

Fantastic playing . Thanks