| Author |
Topic: Carl Kress' "Love Song" for lap steel |
Mikiya Matsuda
From:
San Francisco, California, USA
|
Posted 14 Feb 2021 7:42 pm |
|
For Valentine’s Day, I wanted to share with you all my arrangement of Carl Kress’, “Love Songâ€.
https://youtu.be/r4xiK4Nzxp4
It was a fun challenge to try and adapt Kress’ 5ths tuning to a steel tuned mostly in 3rds. It forced me to jump around way more than I’m used to, but also opened up new (for me) ways of voicing familiar harmonies. To avoid altering the tuning on my guitar (A6/F#9), I transposed the piece down a half-step to C so I could take advantage of more open strings.
On the video I’m playing my new 8-string koa tricone built by Ben Bonham. I know his instruments have been talked about on the forum before. All I can add is that I love what he made and it was wonderful to work with him. He keeps a fairly low profile, but you can find more of his instruments here: https://www.instagram.com/bonhamdesign/
And if you’re not familiar with Kress’ original, here he is from 1939: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REvSHiqxd_8
_________________
www.mikiyamatsuda.com
www.alcatrazislanders.com |
|
|
 |
Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
|
Posted 15 Feb 2021 3:46 am
|
|
Really beautiful, Mikiya. I was unfamiliar with that tune. I recall Jim Hall calling Kress' tuning "A can of worms". I believe it evolved from a banjo tuning. Lovely instrument as well. Congrats!
_________________
Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com |
|
|
|
Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
|
Posted 15 Feb 2021 10:49 am
|
|
| nice to see a wonderful effort like this to further along the potential of the non pedal guitar. your hard work is evident for sure! i enjoyed this! |
|
|
|
Mike Neer
From:
NJ
|
Posted 15 Feb 2021 11:02 am
|
|
Gorgeous, man! And very sweet instrument.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
|
|
|
Travis Brown
From:
Florida, USA
|
Posted 15 Feb 2021 3:40 pm
|
|
Beautiful tune and lovely playing.
Oh, beautiful guitar, too!
It's funny that you post this because I get a Carl Kress album with George Barnes that I've been really enjoying lately. |
|
|
|
Scott Thomas
|
Posted 15 Feb 2021 3:51 pm
|
|
| Yes, that must have been an epic project interpreting that piece for lap steel. I know that tune! I enjoy solo archtop and that one is on a comp I have. Very nice Mikiya! |
|
|
|
Russ Blake
From:
Oregon, USA
|
Posted 18 Feb 2021 1:17 am
|
|
| Wow. That is just wonderful. |
|
|
|
Joe Cook
From:
Lake Osoyoos, WA
|
Posted 18 Feb 2021 1:44 pm
|
|
| Beautiful playing and tone. Well done, Mikiya! |
|
|
|
Dan Koncelik
From:
New Jersey, USA
|
Posted 27 Feb 2021 4:51 pm
|
|
Hello,
Just wanted to add to the love of this post!
I love the music of Carl Kress, especially his duets with Eddie Lang, Dick McDonough and George Barnes. Such an obscure yet brilliant pocket of composition for and playing of the archtop guitar.
...And to see/hear the above merged and fully realized on the lap steel totally blows my mind!!   Gladly look forward to any of your next efforts in this direction... |
|
|
|
