Jazz Guitar
If you like straight-ahead jazz guitar, with definite bebop leanings but still with its own individual voice, then you may well enjoy this new
CD. 12 selections, many based on standards such as "Giant Steps", "Bluesette", "Just You Just Me" and more.
With the exception of 'Och Hor Du Unga Dora', a traditional Swedish folksong(translated, "and listen, young Dora")all the tunes are original. Some of them are just skeletal frameworks to improvise over(you'll hear a couple solos on bass and piano as well as guitar), based on changes from various standards. And there are a few out-and-out compositions. I'm hoping this will be as much fun for you to listen to as it was for me to play.
I'm happy to report buyers of "Jazz Guitar" here on CD Baby, in France, Switzerland, Hong Kong ,Australia ,Japan Italy and Germany as well as here in the USA,two of whom wrote nice reviews which you can read just a little further down the page. This is also my most popular CD as far as downloads(though I prefer people buy the actual CD..).
It's also listed in "Building a Jazz Guitar Collection, Vol 4, at this URL: http://rateyourmusic.com/lists/list_view/list_id_is_20634
LAST CD SOLD: 04/07/08 Vielen dank, Deutschland!
yours in jazz guitar, Sam Crain
Anyway, here's something about the tunes:
"Like, Wayne" was written in '86 or so, for , like, Wayne Coniglio, a musician friend of mine. Wayne is a trombonist, playing mainly bass 'bone. This tune is also on my CD "Oop Bop Sh' Bang", but I actually like this version better.
"Minor Mood" is a medium-groove thing featuring solos on keyboard and bass as well as guitar. Being guilty at times of playing on top of the beat, this tune features just about the most 'laid-back' guitar solo I've done.
"Big Steppin'" is Giant Steps-type changes over a Bossa groove. In other words, me soloing over Giant Steps changes over a Bossa groove.
"Day Song" is also on my CD "Toasty Relief", and my CD "In Your Dreams"(there it's called Diurne). A pretty solo guitar piece.
"Och Hor Du Unga Dora", translated 'and listen young Dora', is a Swedish traditional folk song. I got it from Art Farmer's "To Sweden With Love" album(ca 1964), being one of my favorite selections on this classic jazz album.
"Just Us" is basically playing over changes similar to "Just You Just Me", while providing the Freddie Green-type accompaniment.
"Lullaby of Shumway" is based on 'Lullaby of Birdland' changes. A simple, but catchy line, played on all instruments. This tune is featured on my upcoming CD "Bird's-Eye View" and you can listen to it on my iSound site(for more info, visit my website).
"There will always be another You" is based on--right. You got it. No sense belaboring THAT point..
"Who Cares?" is the rude 2nd cousin to "So What". This 'melodization' and version is more in the fusion vein, and thus may be stretching the 'straight-ahead' envelope a bit here. But like the song says, who cares?
"Autumn Gets Up and Leaves". Hmm- must've been something I played. Nothing fancy here, just 3 1/2 choruses over changes-similar-to, but pretty inspired. Having a good day.
"Bleuzet" alternates between G and B-flat, and is basically a couple guitars having some fun in there. Given the altered spelling I guess this'd be the 'French cheese' version..
"Blues on a Hot Fudge Sunday" is an easygoing blues number featuring 5 guitars, 3 of them playing in harmony.
Oh yeah. One of the folks who wrote these nice reviews, Dennis Darling, is a friend of mine who also has his wares for sale here on CD Baby. Go to:http://cdbaby.com/cd/ddarling1 for one of them. Nice tunes, and unlike me, he can sing..
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