| Author |
Topic: Bill Evans' "Walkin' Up" head w/ tab (a challenge! |
Mike Neer
From:
NJ
|
Posted 21 Jan 2013 9:32 pm |
|
I made a very challenging arrangement of Bill Evans' great tune "Walkin' Up" for C13 tuning. This is a great exercise for your right hand control in both blocking and picking. It has taken me about 3 days to get it under my fingers and even then it's a struggle. I plan on a full-blown arrangement of it, but it is a bear to solo on and play something meaningful.
Anyway, I guess this is the kind of style that I have gravitated to. I enjoy playing in a trio or a sparse setting where there are no other chordal instruments. This is where the lap steel shines, IMO, because of the limitations of not really being able to hit those big chords--it actually works to our advantage, at least it does for my taste. I prefer sparseness over the kitchen sink much of the time when it comes to harmony, and it's something I've been constantly trying to improve at.
You can check it out here: http://www.mikeneer.com/lapsteelin/?p=1801
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
|
|
 |
Tony Lombardo
From:
Alabama, USA
|
Posted 22 Jan 2013 1:56 am
|
|
Mike, I just listened to your preview recording of the tune, and I'm blown away. Bill Evans is my favorite artist, and you certainly captured the essence of his style and sense here. I can't wait to hear your finished arrangement of this tune.
I wish you would do a full blown jazz trio record one day. (My dream rhythm section for that project would be Christian McBride and Carl Allen, but they might be hard to get.) I believe such a record would sell well, influence many, and be remembered for ages. I hope such a project is in your future. I know I'll buy it on day one.
From the steel side of things, the blocking on this recording intrigues me. It sounds very difficult. Are you using the picks, the palm, or a combination of the two?
Anyway, thanks for this piece and for your steel explorations of jazz in general. You're raising the bar for listeners and players every day.
Sincerely
Tony L. |
|
|
|
Mike Neer
From:
NJ
|
Posted 22 Jan 2013 5:32 am
|
|
One of the most important points for blocking in this is in bars 5, 6 and 7 when you're moving from chord to chord on different frets (eb., AbMaj7 to DbMaj7). You drop the palm down just before you move the bar to the lower fret. Lifting the back of the bar slightly also works for me.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
|
|
|
Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
|
Posted 22 Jan 2013 5:57 am
|
|
come on brother!!!....wheres that improv!!??!?? 
would be icing on the cake. |
|
|
|
Mike Neer
From:
NJ
|
Posted 22 Jan 2013 6:01 am
|
|
| Bill Hatcher wrote: |
come on brother!!!....wheres that improv!!??!??
would be icing on the cake. |
Ahem...that's gonna be a while, Bill, but I'm working on it. Tough tune!
Here's Bill Evans: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKcgXUkKBjQ
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
|
|
|
Bill McCloskey
|
Posted 22 Jan 2013 6:10 am
|
|
Nice work Mike.
You are a constant inspiration. |
|
|
|
Bill McCloskey
|
Posted 22 Jan 2013 6:12 am
|
|
| What does the low F get you? What do you lose by missing the low C? |
|
|
|
Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
|
Posted 22 Jan 2013 6:54 am
|
|
Seriously? Bill Evans on non-pedal? You're amazing, Mike.
I've been digging Evans Jazz Waltz feel a lot lately (e.g. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9P-P0viaia8) so it's so cool to be reminded of this tune. That's a blocking bear for sure. Keep at it pal, you're plowing new and fertile ground. |
|
|
|
Jean-Sebastien Gauthier
From:
Quebec, Canada
|
Posted 22 Jan 2013 7:27 am
|
|
| Very cool Mike, I like your tuning! |
|
|
|
Stephen Abruzzo
From:
Philly, PA
|
Posted 22 Jan 2013 8:58 am
|
|
| Great stuff Mike.......super job of blocking too. |
|
|
|
Mike Neer
From:
NJ
|
Posted 22 Jan 2013 8:18 pm
|
|
I spent about 2 hours tonight just looping the first 16 bars over and over, first singing solos, then blowing with my Tele, and I believe I made significant progress and have a pretty solid grasp on blowing on this one. It's rare that I refer back to my guitar when I'm doing this kind of thing, but I really needed it in this case.
I need to spend a few hours doing the same with the steel, which I will certainly make time to do this week.
What an awesome composition by Mr. Evans. Such a strong statement.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
|
|
|
Jeff Strouse
From:
Jacksonville, Florida, USA
|
Posted 23 Jan 2013 5:12 am
|
|
| Love the jazz tunes Mike! |
|
|
|
Jonathan Lam
From:
Brooklyn, NY
|
Posted 23 Jan 2013 5:55 am
|
|
Killin'
Comping on the B section is great. |
|
|
|
Mike Neer
From:
NJ
|
Posted 23 Jan 2013 9:02 am
|
|
| Bill McCloskey wrote: |
| What does the low F get you? What do you lose by missing the low C? |
Bill, sorry I forgot to answer your question. I really don't need the low C at all for what I play (does the C6 tuning really need another C in there?) My feeling is that it's redundant, and being that I'm looking to have a greater number of harmonic possibilities, an F, F# or G works nicely for me. The F affords me (in C13 tuning) an FMaj9, as well as nice inversions of an F triad, and Fsus2 (a killer chord!).
When I get my 10 string, one neck will have a low D.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
|
|
|
Matthew Dawson
From:
Portland Oregon, USA
|
Posted 23 Jan 2013 9:25 am
|
|
| Very cool! Bill Evans is one of my all time favorites. Nice work. |
|
|
|
Nate Hofer
From:
Overland Park, Kansas
|
Posted 24 Jan 2013 5:40 am
|
|
| This is how I'm learning about jazz. I hear what Mike does and then I go research that tune on Spotify. This is one of the best. Can't wait to hear what comes next. |
|
|
|
Nate Hofer
From:
Overland Park, Kansas
|
Posted 24 Jan 2013 5:41 am
|
|
| Andy Volk wrote: |
Seriously? Bill Evans on non-pedal? You're amazing, Mike.
I've been digging Evans Jazz Waltz feel a lot lately (e.g. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9P-P0viaia8) so it's so cool to be reminded of this tune. That's a blocking bear for sure. Keep at it pal, you're plowing new and fertile ground. |
This is a significant comment!  |
|
|
|
Chris Gabriel
From:
Oregon, USA
|
Posted 25 Jan 2013 2:19 pm
|
|
3 cheers for Mike Neer!
Not only grateful for "plowing new ground" for those with a taste for jazz and steel guitar, but a pleasure to listen to, in and of itself beautiful.
Thankful for the notation, too.
I repeat the request for posting an improv, and my only critique, is that the recording is too short.
Chris
_________________
MSA Classic 1973
BMI D-10
chrisgabriel.com
chrisgabrielpdx |
|
|
|
Mike Neer
From:
NJ
|
Posted 25 Jan 2013 2:55 pm
|
|
Hey Chris, I'm going to record a few choruses when I get a minute. I've been working out on this tune and I'm starting to get comfortable with it. How musical it will be is anyone's guess.... 
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
|
|
|
