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Just thought I'd share a piece I'm doing for my graduate degree program audition (one of a few I'm preparing). I'm going for a masters in music education - will be applying this January and auditioning in February or March.
It's George Benson's "Tendery" (the original version from the 1989 record of the same name). Very cool recording. I have the introduction down (from the top up to 1:06) and some of the first A section. It's funny how so many people don't know that the whole first minute is a beautiful introduction and not even part of the form! There's SOOO much stuff from Johnny Smith and Kenny Burrell all over the place. The pedaltone run (different chords all with the A natural on top) from :14 - :21 is right from Kenny. Lots of Johnny Smith voicings too. Plus a lot of George's ferocious single-note lines and incredibly rhythmic triad/thirds/sixths (like 1:35 - 1:37: the "nyuck nyuck nyuck" part
). What a wonderful solo interpretation from George Benson!
I've been playing it with my thumb "a la Wes" (which has turned into my regular comping/octaves/block chords soloing technique for all of my playing). I'm learning it note-for-note now - getting the correct fingering and phrasing down. To figure it out, I've been comparing it to all the knowledge of the great players I've been studying so diligently (namely Wes Montgomery, Kenny Burrell, Grant Green, of course other George Benson stuff, and Johnny Smith thrown in there). I'm not sure if I'm gonna play it exactly like the recording for my audition, or if I'm gonna play the tune "Tenderly" as a solo piece and use these ideas, Johnny's ideas, Kenny's ideas and my own ideas together in an improvised bit. We'll see as it comes up.
And hopefully I'll be posting a recording once I get it down. Post it on the U of T00B
Just wanted to share!!
It's George Benson's "Tendery" (the original version from the 1989 record of the same name). Very cool recording. I have the introduction down (from the top up to 1:06) and some of the first A section. It's funny how so many people don't know that the whole first minute is a beautiful introduction and not even part of the form! There's SOOO much stuff from Johnny Smith and Kenny Burrell all over the place. The pedaltone run (different chords all with the A natural on top) from :14 - :21 is right from Kenny. Lots of Johnny Smith voicings too. Plus a lot of George's ferocious single-note lines and incredibly rhythmic triad/thirds/sixths (like 1:35 - 1:37: the "nyuck nyuck nyuck" part
). What a wonderful solo interpretation from George Benson!I've been playing it with my thumb "a la Wes" (which has turned into my regular comping/octaves/block chords soloing technique for all of my playing). I'm learning it note-for-note now - getting the correct fingering and phrasing down. To figure it out, I've been comparing it to all the knowledge of the great players I've been studying so diligently (namely Wes Montgomery, Kenny Burrell, Grant Green, of course other George Benson stuff, and Johnny Smith thrown in there). I'm not sure if I'm gonna play it exactly like the recording for my audition, or if I'm gonna play the tune "Tenderly" as a solo piece and use these ideas, Johnny's ideas, Kenny's ideas and my own ideas together in an improvised bit. We'll see as it comes up.
And hopefully I'll be posting a recording once I get it down. Post it on the U of T00B
Just wanted to share!!
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