Approaches to studying/interpreting piano parts/transcriptions

[AleikhBaba]

I'm curious what the possible approaches are in this case. The primary issues that are of concern are probably dealing with the greater number of moving or static voices that are available at any given moment, and the potential for comprehensive polyrhythmic explorations. Apart from these there are issues of dynamic and melodic range.

I ask so because I would love to get my head around studying people like Lennie Tristano, Bill Evans and McCoy Tyner. Most of this stuff is just so completely far fetched for practical application on guitar, but notwithstanding I bet there could be some valid approaches to studying this stuff in a manner meaningful to application on the guitar.

People like Lenny Breau in the past, and perhaps someone like Ben Monder today have done some groundbreaking work to that effect.

Any thoughts and ideas on this? Could be specific exercises to more abstract thoughts on tackling the problem.

[artcore]

Did you check out Steven D Anderson and Sid Jacobs?...I think they did a great job with Bill Evans...Jacobs has a book on Evans, that may help you, or give you some Ideas on where to start.....very advanced stuff, in my opinion

[FatJeff]

When I'm given a piano part to read in a big band setting, I just extract the top 3 notes and play those. Usually gives you the "colors" and as long as you've got a bass pinning things down under you, it sounds great.

[JohnW400]

Sid's book is ok. He uses lot's of neat open string voicings which makes it worth the $15 right there.

I have transcribed several piano pieces for guitar. I look for the piano chart in most cases.

What I have found out is that you can usually play most of he notes the piano player cops without too much problem .

The idea is to think about what parts of the piano are carrying are the important ones. What strikes you as being relevant to the piece.

for example Sid's Waltz for Debbie is dotted half notes . Evans plays it the melody ,dotted half, and then comps the rest of the voicing 2. (half note)

Sids version sounds great. So does the original. I prefer the original so I incorporated that type of thing in version.

I have three Evans pieces that I wrote out for guitar. Two follow the chords and voicings pretty much. I can e-mail them to you (copyright issues) . PM me an e-mail address if you want to see them

[AleikhBaba]

Hey John, have you seen Ralf Jarchow's arrangment of Waltz for Debby? That comes is pretty faithful to the rhythmic motif BE maintains thru the tune. I'll be sending you a PM with my email address included!