Wayne, you should compile your songs into a CD (unless you already have). I'd want to buy a copy!! Your arrangements are wonderful and your playing unparralled! Great job!
Hi Wayne Beautiful arrangement and playing of course. We played together in Alex Glovers band I think it was back in '79. Nice to hear you playing jazz. Amanda told me you were back in Kenora she and I met at the Bistro I play at in Langford. Look forward to more videos. Jean
Hey Jean….great to hear from you! Amanda told us the story of you two meeting…how crazy is that? Thanks for your kind comments…if we ever get out west I'll make a point to let you know…..it would be great to see you. All the best.
Lovely work Wayne ... believe you sat in with our 10 piece r'n b band back in 1998 ... it was a great experience to play with you back then, if you are that same guy ... hoping that is the case ... and a real treat to listen to you playing such sweet jazz today. Bob Burrows aka Bobby Kris
+Bob Burrows Hey Bob….great to hear from you…thanks for your kind words! It was a wonderful and memorable experience playing with that band…all great players. Hope that things are good with you.
+Wayne Kelso Hi again Wayne ... it was a memorable experience to have you play with us too. I have a couple of live recordings from back then that feature you playing some wonderful stuff. I am very well and still having a lot of fun making music with some talented friends ... mostly in the studio these days. Also working on keyboards but have a very long way to go ... call myself Club Hand Bob! Tried to contact you via your web site but I can't seem to respond through Outlook Express so I could not send you a message ... would like to communicate with you in a less public format. Will try again soon.
Once again, thank you Wayne for taking the time to respond with such a great detailed answer which I was not expecting. Please continue to post your brilliant vids as I and many of my friends are now listening to them. I forgot to let you know that although from the UK, I lived and worked in Canada for 30 years and am. Dual citizen and I worked with people from your neck of the woods on occasion. Cheers.
Brilliantly played and so lovely to listen to. Wayne, any way I can purchase some of your arrangements as I am too old to study improv but would love to play some of your songs. Let me know Cheers Rob.
Thanks for the kind words, Robert. Most of these tunes were created 'off the cuff', however I do have a transcription for my most popular video 'Little Wing' here.....www.waynekelso.com/transcriptions/transcriptions.html Cheers...Wayne
Will you be doing any piano lessons on RUclips? Any recommendations on what to study or practice to get the chops done? Btw your videos are great!! Cheers!!
Hadn't considered RUclips lessons, although I have thought of doing Skype lessons. Not sure if that interests you. As for study, not sure if you have checked out some of Jamie Aebersold play on discs. They are great, including this one, which deals with II - V - I progressions. www.jazzbooks.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Session_ID=37a3ab097c3fdfb410f9a153d691823e&Screen=PROD&Store_Code=JAJAZZ&Product_Code=V03DS
Wayne a question for you: did you have a natural ear for pitch when you started improvising or did you fumble your way around the chords till it sounded correct? I only ask this because even though I too went for piano lessons from 8 to 16, I can't naturally pick out a specific note by ear and wonder if it will detrimental if I start to learn improvising or am I just too old at 67 years to learn to improvise? Thank again Wayne.
I don't believe that it's every too late to figure out this wonderful instrument. Something that may help you is to work in a framework that allows you to explore the possibilities where there aren't any 'wrong' notes. If you limit yourself to just the white notes, and form either triads or 4 note chords (with your left hand) by picking a white note, ( say C), skip one, then play the E, skip again, play G, skip again and play B. There's a nice major 7th chord, that's easy to see. You can move that same shape to build chords from the remaining 7 white notes. From D, you would play a D,F,A C, which would be a minor 7th chord. So the seven chords built off of the 7 white notes would be a Cmaj7, Dmin7, Emin7, Fmaj7, G7, Amin7, Bmin7b5. All white notes. Now the fun part. With your right hand, you can play any white note against these chords, and they all work. Some better than others, but they all fit. So play around with planting a chord with your left hand and then taking a walk with your right hand. Move your left hand to another spot, (wide jumps, narrow, whatever), and take another walk. Once you get used to that sound, try weaving into the black notes a bit. They also work, but you just linger on them as long, just a quick in and out. Those seven chords are what we call the 7 diatonic chords of C major, and 99% of all popular/jazz music is built from them. In other words, you can find a lot of tunes in those seven chords. Hope that helps....let me know how you make out.
Greetings….the piano is a Roland RD 700SX. As for the bass, I track a bass line in Logic to play along with, then redo it to match the piano track. As for gigs, I do the odd gig in Toronto and Wpg….don't play that often live these days. Thanks for commenting!
Wayne, one final question if you don't mind and I won't bug you anymore:When playing chords in your piano mode, do you normally play the root ( which I find easier to visualise) or do you play an inversion of them? I ask this because my Yamaha cvp705 is both keyboard and piano and it is usually advised by keyboarders that when playing in the keyboard mode to use the inversions so as to keep your left hand usually within an octave for easieness and for it not sounding muddy at the lower end of the keyboard. I try to do this but I am visually quicker at recognising the chord in a root position even though I try to use the inversion. Thanks again
Can you explain what you mean by piano vs keyboard mode....is this solo piano playing vs playing with an existing bass part? Or has is to do with the sound preset that you are using?
Sorry Wayne but what I was trying to say is that when I play it in keyboard mode (with the set rhythms in the left hand) I play a triad chord but to stop the chords sounding muddy, I was told to keep them all approx within an octave which means I have to try and think of the required inversion to play. I don't know if you recommend the same when playing it like a piano or if it acceptable to play the root of the chord all the time as I can recognise the root quicker. Thanks again.
Sorry, still not following....is your keyboard set up that when you hold a chord down, the instrument will play auto- rhythms for you? Just not clear what keyboard mode means?
Robert Bernard okay I see. I'm going to comment more broadly, and not speak directly about the auto accompaniment features. Chords in closed position, regardless of the inversion, will start to muddy up as you head down the keyboard....you probably already figured that out. The way to help with this is to spread and thin the voicing out. Eg....a C maj chord could be played in the left hand as a C, G, C, or C, G and E( played as a 10th if your hand can span that wide). If the 3rd and 7th is omitted, you then try to include them in the right hand...even just sporadically to establish the tonality. The other concept that is important is voice leading, which comes into play with both closed and open voicing. You have to also be on the lookout for common tones between chords...that will dictate your inversion. The best exercise for this is playing llm7 - V7 - l progressions in every key, and from all four inversions. There will also be 2 common tones between each chord, so they don't have to move. So in the key of C, you would play a Dmin7 in root position D F A C, then to the G7- D F G B ( two common tones)' then to the the Cmaj7 - C E G B (two common tones). Then you would start the Dmin7 in first inversion, and do the same thing.....there will still be two common tones. Make sense?
Beautiful Music :)
This is the Best what I would not do for a nice glass of white wine!!!!!!!
Outstanding musicianship! Complete mastery of the jazz standard genre!
Wayne, outstandingly brilliant and musical treatment. Thankyou.
Beautiful
Wayne, the quality of sound on these videos is really excellent. So are the arrangements, not to mention your impeccable playing.
Bravo! Excellently done.
This is by far my favourite piano cover of this song!
What a great sound! I would like a CD of yous also!..........GREAT JOB!
Such a beautiful arrangement, I like, I subscribe, Happy thank you more please.
Wayne, you should compile your songs into a CD (unless you already have). I'd want to buy a copy!! Your arrangements are wonderful and your playing unparralled! Great job!
superb performance. Great feel to it and an amazing solo
Hi Wayne Beautiful arrangement and playing of course. We played together in Alex Glovers band I think it was back in '79. Nice to hear you playing jazz. Amanda told me you were back in Kenora she and I met at the Bistro I play at in Langford. Look forward to more videos. Jean
Hey Jean….great to hear from you! Amanda told us the story of you two meeting…how crazy is that? Thanks for your kind comments…if we ever get out west I'll make a point to let you know…..it would be great to see you. All the best.
*****
That would be great Wayne take care!
Man. You. Really. Play. Piano. ! Fantastic
This is amazing, watched this video so many times now, you play with such emotion!
Outstanding. Wish you had a tutorial available on YT
beautiful performance :) thanks for sharing!
Lovely work Wayne ... believe you sat in with our 10 piece r'n b band back in 1998 ... it was a great experience to play with you back then, if you are that same guy ... hoping that is the case ... and a real treat to listen to you playing such sweet jazz today.
Bob Burrows aka Bobby Kris
+Bob Burrows Hey Bob….great to hear from you…thanks for your kind words! It was a wonderful and memorable experience playing with that band…all great players. Hope that things are good with you.
+Wayne Kelso Hi again Wayne ... it was a memorable experience to have you play with us too. I have a couple of live recordings from back then that feature you playing some wonderful stuff. I am very well and still having a lot of fun making music with some talented friends ... mostly in the studio these days. Also working on keyboards but have a very long way to go ... call myself Club Hand Bob! Tried to contact you via your web site but I can't seem to respond through Outlook Express so I could not send you a message ... would like to communicate with you in a less public format. Will try again soon.
+Bob Burrows Just sent you an email via your website.
just love the version. a lot of scales. how a good jazz pianist should be. good job
wow, amazing
Once again, thank you Wayne for taking the time to respond with such a great detailed answer which I was not expecting. Please continue to post your brilliant vids as I and many of my friends are now listening to them. I forgot to let you know that although from the UK, I lived and worked in Canada for 30 years and am. Dual citizen and I worked with people from your neck of the woods on occasion. Cheers.
marvelous
This is a Jazz symphony sir ..!
Anyway! ! It seems to be singing. I am glad if I could do such a way of playing. (From Japan)
Thank you Wayne, I will check it out. Cheers.
Where've ya been? Missed ya!
Brilliantly played and so lovely to listen to. Wayne, any way I can purchase some of your arrangements as I am too old to study improv but would love to play some of your songs. Let me know Cheers Rob.
Thanks for the kind words, Robert. Most of these tunes were created 'off the cuff', however I do have a transcription for my most popular video 'Little Wing' here.....www.waynekelso.com/transcriptions/transcriptions.html
Cheers...Wayne
@lmorri100 Sorry, no....not at this point. Thanks for you comment!!
Will you be doing any piano lessons on RUclips? Any recommendations on what to study or practice to get the chops done? Btw your videos are great!! Cheers!!
Hadn't considered RUclips lessons, although I have thought of doing Skype lessons. Not sure if that interests you. As for study, not sure if you have checked out some of Jamie Aebersold play on discs. They are great, including this one, which deals with II - V - I progressions. www.jazzbooks.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Session_ID=37a3ab097c3fdfb410f9a153d691823e&Screen=PROD&Store_Code=JAJAZZ&Product_Code=V03DS
Great stuff!!!
Hi Wayne, do you happen to have sheet music for this performance?
Sorry, I don't....the only transcription that I have available is for my version of Little Wing.
Wayne a question for you: did you have a natural ear for pitch when you started improvising or did you fumble your way around the chords till it sounded correct? I only ask this because even though I too went for piano lessons from 8 to 16, I can't naturally pick out a specific note by ear and wonder if it will detrimental if I start to learn improvising or am I just too old at 67 years to learn to improvise? Thank again Wayne.
I don't believe that it's every too late to figure out this wonderful instrument. Something that may help you is to work in a framework that allows you to explore the possibilities where there aren't any 'wrong' notes. If you limit yourself to just the white notes, and form either triads or 4 note chords (with your left hand) by picking a white note, ( say C), skip one, then play the E, skip again, play G, skip again and play B. There's a nice major 7th chord, that's easy to see. You can move that same shape to build chords from the remaining 7 white notes. From D, you would play a D,F,A C, which would be a minor 7th chord. So the seven chords built off of the 7 white notes would be a Cmaj7, Dmin7, Emin7, Fmaj7, G7, Amin7, Bmin7b5. All white notes.
Now the fun part. With your right hand, you can play any white note against these chords, and they all work. Some better than others, but they all fit. So play around with planting a chord with your left hand and then taking a walk with your right hand. Move your left hand to another spot, (wide jumps, narrow, whatever), and take another walk.
Once you get used to that sound, try weaving into the black notes a bit. They also work, but you just linger on them as long, just a quick in and out.
Those seven chords are what we call the 7 diatonic chords of C major, and 99% of all popular/jazz music is built from them. In other words, you can find a lot of tunes in those seven chords.
Hope that helps....let me know how you make out.
is that an auto-bass ?? what Roland model (FP-3 doesn't have that sound)......where do you play....gigs ????
Greetings….the piano is a Roland RD 700SX. As for the bass, I track a bass line in Logic to play along with, then redo it to match the piano track. As for gigs, I do the odd gig in Toronto and Wpg….don't play that often live these days. Thanks for commenting!
Wayne, one final question if you don't mind and I won't bug you anymore:When playing chords in your piano mode, do you normally play the root ( which I find easier to visualise) or do you play an inversion of them? I ask this because my Yamaha cvp705 is both keyboard and piano and it is usually advised by keyboarders that when playing in the keyboard mode to use the inversions so as to keep your left hand usually within an octave for easieness and for it not sounding muddy at the lower end of the keyboard. I try to do this but I am visually quicker at recognising the chord in a root position even though I try to use the inversion. Thanks again
Can you explain what you mean by piano vs keyboard mode....is this solo piano playing vs playing with an existing bass part? Or has is to do with the sound preset that you are using?
Sorry Wayne but what I was trying to say is that when I play it in keyboard mode (with the set rhythms in the left hand) I play a triad chord but to stop the chords sounding muddy, I was told to keep them all approx within an octave which means I have to try and think of the required inversion to play. I don't know if you recommend the same when playing it like a piano or if it acceptable to play the root of the chord all the time as I can recognise the root quicker. Thanks again.
Sorry, still not following....is your keyboard set up that when you hold a chord down, the instrument will play auto- rhythms for you? Just not clear what keyboard mode means?
Yes that's exactly it.
Robert Bernard okay I see. I'm going to comment more broadly, and not speak directly about the auto accompaniment features.
Chords in closed position, regardless of the inversion, will start to muddy up as you head down the keyboard....you probably already figured that out. The way to help with this is to spread and thin the voicing out. Eg....a C maj chord could be played in the left hand as a C, G, C, or C, G and E( played as a 10th if your hand can span that wide). If the 3rd and 7th is omitted, you then try to include them in the right hand...even just sporadically to establish the tonality.
The other concept that is important is voice leading, which comes into play with both closed and open voicing. You have to also be on the lookout for common tones between chords...that will dictate your inversion. The best exercise for this is playing llm7 - V7 - l progressions in every key, and from all four inversions. There will also be 2 common tones between each chord, so they don't have to move. So in the key of C, you would play a Dmin7 in root position D F A C, then to the G7- D F G B ( two common tones)' then to the the Cmaj7 - C E G B (two common tones). Then you would start the Dmin7 in first inversion, and do the same thing.....there will still be two common tones. Make sense?