REVIEW FOR CYRILBE
Review
Nice easy tempo Autumn Leaves is a really good practice track. And you were playing within the changes throughout. Good for you! You asked "Does this sound ok?" Yes, it does. Now let me help you take your improvisation to a higher level.
Your playing has a couple of characteristics similar to a lot of players: 1. time that is not quite locked in to the rhythm section and 2. exclusive use of major and minor second intervals.
Regarding the intervals, it makes perfect sense since those are the intervals of scales, and I'm sure you practice your scales. But good music makes use of a variety of wider intervals. Think the main motif of Beethoven's Fifth! Yes, wider intervals are harder to hear, but that is your next step. Rather than playing solos that sound like scales, expand your intervals to add more interest and variety to your solos.
Down below in the resources section, I've included a recording of me playing over a slow Bossa rhythm track of Autumn Leaves (similar to yours). Notice that I play your first phrase and then play a similar phrase a minor third higher. This does a couple things: it adds variety to your solo, and it creates a familiar pattern that makes your playing more interesting. But the main point I am making with this solo is my use of wider intervals. I'm not doing anything crazy, and I think it is all within your technical skill level to play. Listen to the phrase in the second A section (bar 9). Notice how I use wider intervals (thirds, fourths and fifths). Can you hear how that is melodically more interesting than if I had stuck with major and minor seconds throughout? As I end the second 8 bars, I return to major and minor seconds as a resolution to the solo.
How do you practice this? Good question. The second track below is me playing through various intervals within the changes, not as a melodic solo, but as an exercise in hearing and playing wider intervals. Consider transcribing that exercise and playing it with my recording and over your rhythm track. It will train your arm and ear on wider intervals.
I mentioned above about you not locking into the rhythm. Listen to my note placement within the solo. I am playing a consistently laid back feel that sounds locked into the rhythm section. You might also transcribe those 16 bars of my solo and see how well you can lock into my time. Your goal is to lock in so well that as you play over me, only your playing is heard - that's a sign of how well you are mirroring my note placements.
You may have heard me say that musical time is more important that note choice. As an example, listen to my note placement using the same notes as your first phrase (I believe I played rhythmically what you intended). Just by placing the notes in the 'pocket' of the time and by varying the articulation, a more musical result emerges.
With all that said, though, I think you are off to a good start. You are hearing the changes of Autumn Leaves and your ear is guiding your note choices on the horn. Now, let's put those notes more solidly within the time and vary your melodic intervals to create more interesting phrases. I look forward to hearing the result!
Your playing has a couple of characteristics similar to a lot of players: 1. time that is not quite locked in to the rhythm section and 2. exclusive use of major and minor second intervals.
Regarding the intervals, it makes perfect sense since those are the intervals of scales, and I'm sure you practice your scales. But good music makes use of a variety of wider intervals. Think the main motif of Beethoven's Fifth! Yes, wider intervals are harder to hear, but that is your next step. Rather than playing solos that sound like scales, expand your intervals to add more interest and variety to your solos.
Down below in the resources section, I've included a recording of me playing over a slow Bossa rhythm track of Autumn Leaves (similar to yours). Notice that I play your first phrase and then play a similar phrase a minor third higher. This does a couple things: it adds variety to your solo, and it creates a familiar pattern that makes your playing more interesting. But the main point I am making with this solo is my use of wider intervals. I'm not doing anything crazy, and I think it is all within your technical skill level to play. Listen to the phrase in the second A section (bar 9). Notice how I use wider intervals (thirds, fourths and fifths). Can you hear how that is melodically more interesting than if I had stuck with major and minor seconds throughout? As I end the second 8 bars, I return to major and minor seconds as a resolution to the solo.
How do you practice this? Good question. The second track below is me playing through various intervals within the changes, not as a melodic solo, but as an exercise in hearing and playing wider intervals. Consider transcribing that exercise and playing it with my recording and over your rhythm track. It will train your arm and ear on wider intervals.
I mentioned above about you not locking into the rhythm. Listen to my note placement within the solo. I am playing a consistently laid back feel that sounds locked into the rhythm section. You might also transcribe those 16 bars of my solo and see how well you can lock into my time. Your goal is to lock in so well that as you play over me, only your playing is heard - that's a sign of how well you are mirroring my note placements.
You may have heard me say that musical time is more important that note choice. As an example, listen to my note placement using the same notes as your first phrase (I believe I played rhythmically what you intended). Just by placing the notes in the 'pocket' of the time and by varying the articulation, a more musical result emerges.
With all that said, though, I think you are off to a good start. You are hearing the changes of Autumn Leaves and your ear is guiding your note choices on the horn. Now, let's put those notes more solidly within the time and vary your melodic intervals to create more interesting phrases. I look forward to hearing the result!
Submitted playing (video)
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