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Thread: How to make a jazz waltz Playback with a light, bouncy feel?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Posts
    341

    Default How to make a jazz waltz Playback with a light, bouncy feel?

    For a week now I have had the tune "Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya" running through my head as a fairly quick bouncy jazz waltz that belies the lyrics. I can actually hear the sax improv in my head. Trouble is, I can't find a style that delivers a light, bouncy jazz waltz on Playback.

    What I've got here are the best combos I've found, but they're too dirge-like. Any ideas out there?

    Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya 1 - Joseph B. Geoghegan

    Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya 2 - Joseph B. Geoghegan
    Last edited by nimbleswitch; 09-12-2015 at 10:36 AM.

  2. #2

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    "Swing Two/Four" is pretty bouncy. "Doo Doo Cats" even more so. And here are some jazzy, less-dirge-like changes.

    Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya (E-) - Joseph B. Geoghegan
    Last edited by DaleMac; 09-12-2015 at 01:16 PM.
    There's two kinds of mistakes you can play: The ones you notice, and the ones somebody else might notice.

  3. #3

    Default

    Try jazz-Guitar trio. 140, nylon guitar 30%, Organ Bass 100%, drums 40%, reverb 50%.

    Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya 2 - Joseph B. Geoghegan

    Your choice of choir possibly contributed to the dirge-like feel.
    )BOB

  4. #4

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    Quote Originally Posted by DaleMac View Post
    "Swing Two/Four" is pretty bouncy. "Doo Doo Cats" even more so. And here are some jazzy, less-dirge-like changes.

    Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya (E-) - Joseph B. Geoghegan
    Nice Dale.
    )BOB

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Posts
    341

    Default

    Wow, did you two come through, or what? Thanks much, guys.

    I especially like Dale's changes with Bob's settings, 'cept I like Acoustic Bass instead of Organ bass. (Massimo's lines sound too good on double bass.) I only wish a sax man would play over this what I'm hearing in my head. So here's what I've got now:

    Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya (E-) Fav - Joseph B. Geoghegan

    If it's okay with you guys, I'll post this to Jazz, where maybe some sax man will find it.

    Thanks very much, again!

    Jack
    Last edited by nimbleswitch; 09-13-2015 at 07:42 AM.

  6. #6

    Default

    Experiment with 3/2.

    I tried 6/8 (which, to me, says jazz waltz) I like it since it has both a quick 3-feel or a slower 4-feel.
    The iRp player seems to play it with more of a 2-feel.

    3/2 plays more like what 6/8 feels like in my head.

    Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya (E-) Fav 1 - Joseph B. Geoghegan

    )BOB

    Edit: 3/2 is my *new* favorite time-sig in the iRp player...(well, for today anyway...) )BOB
    Last edited by pdxdjazz; 09-13-2015 at 01:02 PM.

  7. #7

    Default

    Bob, as you probably noticed, just changing the time sig to 3/2 doubles the phrasing. Here's my finished chart. 6/4 gives the bass lines a little more freedom in the bars with just one chord. I also added a vamp outro, and increased the tempo a bit.

    Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya (E- Waltz) - Joseph B. Geoghegan
    There's two kinds of mistakes you can play: The ones you notice, and the ones somebody else might notice.

  8. #8

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    Also nice.
    )BOB

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Posts
    341

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by pdxdjazz View Post
    Also nice.
    )BOB
    Ditto, that. I'm learning a good bit from your comments here. Thanks, guys.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2020
    Posts
    1

    Default Mixture of 6/8 and 9/8

    Hi

    I tried your idea and 3/2 does feel more like 6/8 but how do you handle the occasional 9/8 bar, any thoughts?


    Quote Originally Posted by pdxdjazz View Post
    Experiment with 3/2.

    I tried 6/8 (which, to me, says jazz waltz) I like it since it has both a quick 3-feel or a slower 4-feel.
    The iRp player seems to play it with more of a 2-feel.

    3/2 plays more like what 6/8 feels like in my head.

    Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya (E-) Fav 1 - Joseph B. Geoghegan

    )BOB

    Edit: 3/2 is my *new* favorite time-sig in the iRp player...(well, for today anyway...) )BOB

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