Hi, I'm in a small jazz wind and and we play lots of the classics with backing CD. In the last few sessions I've been asked to do an improvisation, however there are no chord symbols and the keys are constantly changing -any tips on the best way to improvise?

Thanks

QUOTE (Appassionata @ Nov 27 2004, 12:24 PM)

Hi, I'm in a small jazz wind and and we play lots of the classics with backing CD. In the last few sessions I've been asked to do an improvisation, however there are no chord symbols and the keys are constantly changing -any tips on the best way to improvise? Thanks

Ouch, that sounds tricky. I'd suggest you get a copy of the backing CD and keep listening to it until you know it well enough to tell when the chords are changing. Maybe you could try "transcribing" a bit of it - by that I mean working out what the chords are and when they change, and writing it down... then you can improvise over that...

Good luck with that anyway!!! If all else fails, pick an obscure chord and keep bashing it away, and tell the conductor that cheeble told you to do it.

QUOTE (Appassionata @ Nov 27 2004, 12:24 PM)

Hi, I'm in a small jazz wind and and we play lots of the classics with backing CD. In the last few sessions I've been asked to do an improvisation, however there are no chord symbols and the keys are constantly changing -any tips on the best way to improvise? Thanks

Can you work out what the chord relationships are and where the cadence or modulation points are? Through them you can usually work out the key changes once you know the starting key.

It's going to be hit and miss if you can't identify the various keys in use.
Assuming you can pick out (or are told) which key signatures, first thing I'd suggest is - you practice these keys so much that you can play easily in them without wondering - sharp, flat?
You might then try playing the normal melody line in these various keys.
You hopefully can do the above - the question of 'what to play for an improvisation' is a hard one.
What I've done for wind players in this situation is (as Cheeble has suggested) - listen to CD recordings of these pieces, transcribe the solos (not always easy to do) and learn them off! A few, once they got confident with these transcriptions, used to 'deviate' from them. Mostly though they stuck rigidly to them, which then gives the impression that they are not improvising (sight-reading them doesn't help either!).
Don't be afraid to 'steal' solos from completely different songs and knit them into the current one. Mix and match to form a totally new one.
To make sure you don't freeze when performing - LEARN your prepared solo off by heart! That will give you huge confidence. Of course, you don't have to stick to it if you are feeling confident on the night.

Don't feel you have to play continuously! A mistake with novice improvisors I think is they feel to do it well they must not stop playing throughout. However if you listen to the greats, they often pause, which can add a great effect. Mix long runs with held notes and pauses, don't try too tricky phrases - you might be ok at home doing the really fancy bits, but when you're facing the audience, nerves might get the better of you.
Knowing the chords in use is a must to improvise well. It makes it much easier to do an arpeggio run during a solo if you know which chord the band is playing. I find wind players (and strings and brass!) don't always know the chords which are going on behind them.
Finally, steer clear of notes you find hard to play (bottom/top register for example), unless a well-placed squeak or strange sound will add to the improvisation!

This is not as hard as it seems, look at the key signature first and then decide is the tonality major or minor, 2nd choose a scale that will work with the key e.g Cminor use C- pentatonic/Blues/Dorian ect...this will work over the standard chord changes e.g 1,2,4,5 and so on, so the music modulates what keys generally are used? Likely it will modulate to the 5th so pick a scale that will work with G, for example C Mixolydian. Important use your ears everything else is subjective to personal taste, as Aebersold says, 'their is no such thing as a bad note, just bad choices'.

QUOTE

To make sure you don't freeze when performing - LEARN your prepared solo off by heart! That will give you huge confidence. Of course, you don't have to stick to it if you are feeling confident on the night.

I don't think that's very good advice, really. Far better to practice loads before going out and doing a gig - get a backing CD of what you're going to be playing and practice along with it, trying lots of different things - licks, runs, arpeggios, different rhythmic ideas - and just before the gig have a little drink - just one - your favourite tipple whatever that is.

Then throw yourself into it and play your heart out, remembering there's an audience out there who wants to you to communicate to them. Don't overplay, keep it rhythmic at all times, and try to be so focussed that you sort of hear in your head what you want to play just before you play it. This keeps your ideas fresh and creative rather than meandering and derivative.

Having pre-prepared solos sounds stiff and wooden and the audience can always tell. What do you want to do - play like a classical player or play jazz?

Violinia

Hi Violinia,

That's inspiring...

Though not strictly jazz (it can become swing) I sometime engage in gigs relying heavily on improvisation and well, if someone is of legal age, I do so agree about having a little medicine** before starting. Only a little, mind. I posted a reflection elsewhere about something going wrong and the clarinettist had perhaps imbibed a small overdose!

"play your heart out" This is when music really comes from the soul, no? And you start to know what feeling is about. In the emotional-sensual-attavistic sense, I mean. . .At the right moment you can let all h3ll loose - or all heaven - in your being. It is being.

**In my case it's usually a Remy Martin. SO helps to oil the works...!
R

Nice post Rhapsodin..

What kind of gigs do you do that involve improvisation? And have you ever drunk too much before a gig and messed up? I have a few times, but never again - I've learnt my lesson. Mind you, I didn't know I was messing up - the others told me afterwards - I thought I was playing rather well at the time...

It's got to be just the right amount to loosen you up without making you go woozy. Grappelli always used to have a whisky before going onstage.

I did a lovely gig last Thursady night with my new band but have now resigned from the band - it's a long story. Starting a new band in the New Year though - whoopee! Line-up= double bass, rhythm guitar, me and accordion. We're going to play a mixture of jazz, tango, gypsy and Klezmer and aim to play from our hearts (which will beat as one) and take the country by storm!!

So watch this space...

Violinia

QUOTE (Violinia @ Dec 3 2004, 12:07 AM)

have you ever drunk too much before a gig and messed up? I have a few times, but never again - I've learnt my lesson. Mind you, I didn't know I was messing up - the others told me afterwards - I thought I was playing rather well at the time...

QUOTE (zoda @ Dec 3 2004, 12:13 AM)

QUOTE (Violinia @ Dec 3 2004, 12:07 AM) have you ever drunk too much before a gig and messed up?  I have a few times, but never again - I've learnt my lesson.  Mind you, I didn't know I was messing up - the others told me afterwards - I thought I was playing rather well at the time...

lol!!!

beer is known to air guitarists as "music oil"... it depends what instrument you're playing, but sometimes it even makes it sound better... lol...

QUOTE (cheeble @ Dec 3 2004, 11:16 AM)

beer is known to air guitarists as "music oil"... it depends what instrument you're playing, but sometimes it even makes it sound better... lol...

Air-oil?

I know of a senior guitarist who uses Brylcreem (a substance that probably predates beer)... does it taste okay with ice and lemon, I wonder...?

But...I think I'll stick to me Remy Martin.

R

QUOTE (Rhapsodin @ Dec 3 2004, 12:02 PM)

I know of a senior guitarist who uses Brylcreem (a substance that probably predates beer)... does it taste okay with ice and lemon, I wonder...?

I feel queazy after reading that

Thanks for all your advice. Unfotunately I don't have any of the backing tracks and can't get hold of them before the concert next week! I will try to get the backing tracks to try out some of your ideas - wish me luck for next Saturday!