video: Warm Valley
You didn’t think I transcribed Warm Valley just for you guys, did you? This was actually a request from a Youtube user, and it took me a few months since I’d never heard the tune before. But here’s my Youtubular version of the Duke Ellington piece Warm Valley.
I deviate somewhat from my usual format here–I do take a chorus. I really wish I had a bass player–playing the roots is a huge drag for me. I taped a take where I didn’t play the roots, but this chord progression is so obtuse that you just get lost without the guuideposts.
Anyhow, nothing fancy. I do play the Duke intro, including as an outro on the last chorus, where I mess it up slightly. This is the best of the five (!!) takes I played. I at least made different mistakes on each take. Enjoy, and let me know how you like it.
Rob that was gorgeous. Have never heard the tune before but wow. I’ve been meaning to ask, are you normally playing rootless ‘BillEvans-esque’ voicings in your other videos? Very sweet song. Thanks for sharing. Your analysis looks great too. More questions to come I’m sure. =) Thanks!
Comment by whitecraneboxing — November 20, 2006 @ 8:36 pm
Well, I’m quite uncomfortable playing solo piano. I am a combo player, and I miss having a bass player terribly. As you noted I usually avoid playing the roots. I’ve been trying to improve my solo style, but I recognize I’m not getting a lot of good out of my left hand. That’s my main area of focus now while practicing, and working out these ballads down tempo is helping me.
Watching some of 7notemode’s vids drove home to me how much more I can do with the left hand besides play a single note bass line. His left hand on ‘Round Midnight is killing. I just don’t currently have those chops.
Comment by Rob — November 20, 2006 @ 9:15 pm
I think its interesting how you have kind of a bebop heavily ornamented soloing style paired with dense left hand voicings. Most people have counseled me to stick with skeleton ‘bud powell’ type voicings if I’m going to try to play in bebop style. Any thoughts on that ?
Comment by whitecraneboxing — November 21, 2006 @ 1:55 am
That’s hard for me to comment on, especially never having heard you play. Trust your own ear though. I only play what I think sounds right, within the limits of my abilities.
Comment by Rob — November 23, 2006 @ 11:04 am