Solo jazz piano
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- Image by Michael D. Dunn via Flickr
Yes, this is a great demonstration of jazz piano, but not sure it exactly answers my question.
My question basically was: how does a jazz pianist change their arrangement/solo when playing solo versus playing in a group?
My elaboration of this question was noting how difficult it would be to play basically three independent lines on piano as a soloist — a bass line, a syncopated comping rhythm in the tenor area and an elaborated soprano line.
I based this question on the assumption that the base line would be a steady beat, either stride-style or a walking bass. Certainly, this demo does neither with the bass. It’s very syncopated and gives a wonderful off-set to the melody line.
However, I do notice that his bass line often has the root in the lowest note. Indeed, he has very nice bass lines.
The problem, however, is that this exact arrangement, if played with a combo, would likely have his bass line on piano competing with the bass line of the bassist. (Some alternatives do suggest themselves, like the bassist only playing on the beat, and pianist’s bass line continuing it’s syncopated pattern, but this doesn’t seem like a satisfactory solution, since it would both muddy up the rhythm and change the style significantly.)
My thinking is that if this solo piano arrangement were to be adapted for playing with a combo (instead of simply repeating the solo verbatum with the combo), the left hand portion would need to be thinned out, moved up about an octave and root notes should be avoided in the lowest voice of the piano. This would give the bassist plenty of breathing room, and still allow the pianist room to provide the nice syncopated middle with the elaborate soprano.
Just wondering if you agree with me? If so, then it does seem like there will be some difference in the arrangement a jazz pianist plays as solo and with a combo.
Your thoughts?
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