Instead of Licks, Try Melody Quotes

[Irez87]

This works well, especially for those beginning to improvise. Bebop licks can be tough on everyone's fingers, and can be discouraging. Melodic quotes may not outline the harmony as well, but they may teach you more about melodic construction (should we clarify what melodic construction is?)

Suggestions:

1. Nursery Rhymes (Dex loved these, and Coltrane loved that "Jack in the Box Quote")

2. Standards Melodies (How many times have we heard that Honeysuckle riff?)

3. Monk tunes (just got Will Vinson's video on Rhythmic Independence and he talks about Green Chimney's. I used that quote before a a jam with other young lions, and I knew that I could respect the ones that looked up when I used that explicit quote in my solo--I knew they were listening)

4. Pop songs (Lady Gaga, Madonna, Flock of Seagulls, why not? Don't always get pigeoned into genre, if you know it, make it work. Look at Jens over here at the site with Kurt Cobain. Hey man, do the Pixies or Elliot Smith next time )

5. Religious songs. I've snuck in "Go Down Moses" and "The Draddle Song" many a time. If done well, they become a source of comedy and a way to let the audience into your improvisation.

Just an idea, not saying not to learn licks, but melodic quoting is interesting as well. Thoughts?

[Rhoderick]

Hello.
I am not knocking the idea of melody quotes, however,
I recall reading somewhere that in the 'good old days',
some band-leaders would actually dock pay from any soloist that quoted
from another piece of music.




Music is the key that can open strange rooms in the house of memory.

Llewelyn Wyn Griffith

[Irez87]

That is quite interesting and funny at the same time, thanks for the historical input.

[Little Jay]

Cool, yeah I like doing that. My favorite quotes are The Flintstones, the Muppet Show, The Pink Panther and Tequila. It's surprising how well those go over a great number of chordprogressions. Succes guaranteed, the audience almost always responds!

[MarkRhodes]

Peter Spitzer's blog had a post of quotes Charlie Parker used in solos (usually live). Check out Peter's blog! (Link below)

>>>>Parker was more likely to employ musical quotes in live performances than in the studio; it was his way of telling a little joke to his audience. Sometimes his choice of quote was intended as a message to a fellow musician or to a particular listener, sometimes it was just being silly.

This list is more or less chronological, 1941-1955. I haven't included examples of Parker quoting his own previous recordings, or quoting other musicians' solos (e.g., Lester Young's), and I have only listed the first instance of each song quote that Koch cites. When a jazz standard like "Star Eyes" or "I'll Remember April" appears on the list, it's because it was quoted in a solo over a different tune.<<<<<

Isle of Capri
We're in the Money
Scatterbrain
Bye Bye Blackbird
London Bridge
Happy Am I With My Religion
Drum Boogie
Mean to Me
Cottontail
Somehow
Woody Woodpecker
Cocktails for Two
In the Gloaming
Happy Birthday
Dardanella
Canadian Capers
Country Gardens
D'Ye Ken John Peel
Le Secret
When The Red, Red Robin...
Why Was I Born?
Buttons and Bows
Then I'll Be Happy
I'll Remember April
The Kerry Dancers
Jingle Bells
The Man On the Flying Trapeze
Pop Goes the Weasel
My Kind of Love
On the Trail
Blues in the Night
West End Blues
Habanera
High Society
Barnacle Bill the Sailor
The Prisoner's Song
That's A-Plenty
Johnny One-Note
My Man
Did You Ever See a Dream Walking?
In and Out the Window
Stumbling
Memories of You
A-Hunting We Will Go
Claire de Lune
National Emblem March
Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair
Ladybird
Cross My Heart
Star Eyes
The Song is You
Humoresque
Let's Have Another Cup of Coffee
Mozart Symphony #40
Honey
Tenderly
Temptation
Let's Fall in Love
Please
Three Blind Mice
I Love You Truly
Why Do I Love You
William Tell Overture
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
I Can't Get Started
Casbah
I Cover the Waterfront
Minuet in G
Moon Over Miami
Nightingale

Peter Spitzer Music Blog: Charlie Parker's Musical Quotes

[monk]

Some players (and critics) disparage the use of quotes but there are far too many musicians of stature who used them for me to feel that way. As Mark pointed out above, quotes can be used to inject humor into the perfomance or for various other reasons.

The list of quotes that Charles Parker employed certainly argues for a high degree of musical literacy and familiarity. As far as I'm concerned, if it was good enough for Prez and Bird, it's good enough for me.

[GodinFan]

Parker used to quote Stravinsky!

[MarkRhodes]

In a solo over rhythm changes in the book "Approaching The Standards" (-I think it was designed for high school bands in mind), trumpet player Willie Thomas throws in two quotes that make me smile, one from "Jumpin' With Symphony Sid" and the other from "Twisted" (-the line that goes "I heard little children were supposed to sleep tight"). There's a third quote that I cannot place and it drives me nuts...

[peacemover]

Musical quotes from other tunes, when used selectively and tastefully can be fun and refreshing, I think. It demonstrates musical skill of the improviser in that he or she understands what melodies fit with a given chord progression. I am finding myself using quotes from time to time particularly when I play holiday songs – a way of alluding to another song with musicians and the audience are familiar.

For instance deck the halls fits nicely with let it snow and vice a versa. If you listen closely to jazz renditions of classic Christmas songs you also hear a lot of quotes – like how jingle bells is often quoted at the end of the Christmas song.

I have also heard skillful improvisers quote a tune that was played before when they're playing or that will be played after. As with any riff, lick or idea, it is one musical tool from a hopefully large, complex toolbox to be used selectively and sparingly when inspiration strikes.

[docbop]

Forget where I read it recently a burning improviser said when playing ballads only play the melody nothing else is needed. Coltrane's great album Ballads is a perfect example.

[peacemover]

Everything in jazz serves the melody. Not just ballads but all tunes... Anything we do should serve to ornament and embellish the melody.

But even as Bach, Mozart and Pachabel and Beethoven and Brahms and Benjamin Britten and many others eatablished in the genre of classical music. Even the best most elegant melody can be presented as a theme and variations... Mozart himself occasionally quoted other melosirs briefly as part of his development of the melody. So it's all relative I guess.

[peacemover]

My teacher and I are working on " what are you doing for the rest of your life?". That is one of those iconic jazz ballads in which you have a well known, revered melody that needs to be handled with skill and care, and when done well, can make a breath taking impression on an audience.

[P4guitar]

I like the great Jim Mullen's playing, especially his quotes to spice up his solos. Check him out:
https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...+mullen+guitar

As for ballads, improvising is the entire point in my book - jazz is not recital, it's improvisation. If one is going to worship the melody, just put down your instrument and play an MP3.

[rictroll]

Nothing deflates a rhythm section like quotes do - especially if they've heard them used before by the soloist.

When you are channeling Coltrane you don't want to hear the Flintstones.

[destinytot]

Surely it's the way you tell 'em - not everyone's good at telling jokes, either.

[MarkRhodes]

Here's a good example: Tommy Emmanuel and Martin Taylor playing "Honeysuckle Rose". Just under two minutes in, Tommy plays something both recognize but neither can place. "What's that tune?" "I don't know but I like it." Funny.

[rictroll]

LOL

That's exactly one of the problems with them, they introduce an element of humor that may be inappropriate to the moment.

Other than unbroken streams of 8th notes, nothing kills a tune more than someone quoting some stupid tune just as the rhythm section starts to dig in.

And that leads to another observation about Frisell - he leaves space for the rhythm section to react and contribute.

In the end it's a conversation and one should be cognizant of how their contribution contributes to the flow and topic.

[destinytot]

I think audiences pick up on intention.

If Gary Potter quotes - say - When I'm Cleaning Windows, he has audiences in stitches. I don't think he's trying to be clever, and I'm not sure he's even trying to be funny. But I do think he's trying to entertain - a good host extending hospitality to his guests.

On the other hand, Jim Mullen's use of quotes reminds me of Dexter Gordon; there's some humour to it - and that certainly connects with audiences - but there's also a kind reverence.

Come to think about it, quotes have even motivated me to learn songs (memories of the '80s - standing-room-only in Paris).

[destinytot]

Here's a good example: Tommy Emmanuel and Martin Taylor playing "Honeysuckle Rose". Just under two minutes in, Tommy plays something both recognize but neither can place. "What's that tune?" "I don't know but I like it." Funny.

From the look of that right hand (but not from the sound), it's as if Martin Taylor had been studying Reg's picking.

[rictroll]

I think audiences pick up on intention.

If Gary Potter quotes - say - When I'm Cleaning Windows, he has audiences in stitches. I don't think he's trying to be clever, and I'm not sure he's even trying to be funny. But I do think he's trying to entertain - a good host extending hospitality to his guests.

On the other hand, Jim Mullen's use of quotes reminds me of Dexter Gordon; there's some humour to it - and that certainly connects with audiences - but there's also a kind reverence.

Come to think about it, quotes have even motivated me to learn songs (memories of the '80s - standing-room-only in Paris).

Depends on the situation, of course. But to each their own. I personally can't stand it. IMO it's cheap, lazy, manipulative, and reflects a lack of respect for the music.

Re: Dexter - I have never warmed up to him due to this.

If I recall correctly, Miles had some rather strong opinions about this sort of thing.

[destinytot]

Depends on the situation, of course. But to each their own. I personally can't stand it. IMO it's cheap, lazy, manipulative, and reflects a lack of respect for the music.

Re: Dexter - I have never warmed up to him due to this.

If I recall correctly, Miles had some rather strong opinions about this sort of thing.

As you say, to each his own.

IMO, and in the right hands, quotes bloom into something very different from 'channelling Coltrane' - and the opposite of

cheap, lazy, manipulative, and reflects a lack of respect for the music.

[destinytot]

Polarising, perhaps, with a question: do quotes help, or do they hurt?
Moi, je suis pour...
<em>

[rictroll]

Polarising, perhaps, with a question: do quotes help, or do they hurt?
Moi, je suis pour...
<em>

Not my cup of tea.

[destinytot]

Not my cup of tea.

I love how Jon Batiste's project is all about the opposite of turning his back on the audience, and Wynton Marsalis calling Batiste's melodica 'a toy' makes what he does with it all the more appealing.

[docbop]

Polarising, perhaps, with a question: do quotes help, or do they hurt?
Moi, je suis pour...
<em>

Jon Batiste is so cool and Second Line is so addicting living in NOLA would be great. To steal an old Bob Hite line anyone who doesn't like this has a hole in their soul.