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Not sure if this is a good idea but what the heck. I see one quarantine challenge after another come by on FB. How about one here? Cherokee was already a test piece in the 40s ...
IMHO Cherokee is not really a hard tune if you play it in a moderate tempo. It has that reputation but ... the A section is in one key center and is straightforward (and allows for many approaches). The bridge is just a few II-V-I's after each other so with a few different key changes. I'd like the challenge to be about real improvisation and linear playing because there's more than enough (prefab) chord melody stuff here in the first place.
Here's the challenge:
- Post a vid of one single unedited take (no audio)
- No chords, no octaves (only linear playing)
- Leave out the head
- Use the entire backing if you can
- do not play transcribed solos by others, improvise
Here's the backing. It is pretty comfortable at 220 and is compulsory. It is pretty neutral and one of the less annoying backings on Youtube for this tune:
I'd appreciate it if this thread steers clear of theoretical dissertations ... Let's see what happens. Sucking is allowed.
DB
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03-31-2020 09:19 AM
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Originally Posted by DB's Jazz Guitar Blog
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I'm up for it, great tune for blowing on.
By the way I've extracted the audio as an MP3 from that youtube video and attached it below, handy for recording with.
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Originally Posted by grahambop
DB
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Also, you could learn Bird's solo.
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Bud Powell
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I'm in.
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Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
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Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
DB
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I'm tempted to join this project... somebody has to post the clip that makes everyone say "Hey I can do better than that!"
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Ok, here we go. Plenty of notes I want back, and lacks direction overall...but I wanted to go into this challenge "unrehearsed" and basically cold.
So heres an okayish Cherokee
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Originally Posted by lawson-stone
DB
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Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
DB
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Originally Posted by DB's Jazz Guitar Blog
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Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
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Originally Posted by Peter C
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Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles
I feel like we've discussed this Tal version before...what is it, like 380 or something? Tal's barely hanging on...but...he IS hanging on. That's amazing in it's own right. Like, whoa.
Guitar wise, Jimmy Raney's version from "in paris" is like 320, I think...its still "musical." Raney was fucking amazing.
C'mon y'all jump in!
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Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
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Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
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I play it every day with the Ralph Patt backing tracks at 340bpm, so 220 is a breeze.
At 340, with multi choruses, it's a great workout after my usual 2-3 hours of technique practice. When I first tried it at that tempo, I fell flat on my face, but after a week or so of doing it every day, I can get creative on it, without repeating rote ideas.
I'd join in, but I don't have a camera on my old monitor or a video camera.
Another great way to practice it is with the Jamey Aebersald backing tracks that has Cherokee in all twelve keys, at a blazing tempo.
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Originally Posted by grahambop
Thanks to all of you who listened.
And a special thanks to Graham, because any comparison to the most important guitar player in history is something I take as a very high compliment.
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Well done, Mr.B, well done!
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Originally Posted by DB's Jazz Guitar Blog
Or what audio do you want excluded? Or am I being incredibly dense here (always a strong possibility)?
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Originally Posted by Ukena
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Originally Posted by lawson-stone
Have I mentioned how much I hate the jazz is language metaphor?
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