Seeking "Just A Closer Walk With Thee"
I've rejoined after nearly a two year absence. In wanting to learn one of my late mother's all time favorite songs (the Pete Fountain version) I came upon Adrian's excellent rendition. It's more approachable than Pete's version. I've looked through the transcriptions and the backing tracks without finding it.
Also when the video on youtube offered a pdf and backing track, I was hoping the pdf was a transcription of the actual played version, with increasingly more embellishment each time through, and not just the basic melody as displayed in the video.
Thanks!
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Thanks for your message, and thanks for letting me know.. you should be now able to download "Just a Closer Walk With Thee- backing track" from the backing tracks subscription page, and the lead sheet as well..
And true, the chart (or lead sheet) in jazz is the 'bare bones' of the melody, ie: the melody in basic form without any embellishments... and the artistry of expression is what we each give to our own interpretation. of that melody. That part is up to you.. and in fact it's the most important part of this music!
My advice to you..
learn the basic melody by heart.. memorize it and learn it. (We don't really know a melody unless we can play it from memory)
Then when you feel conifdent you know it, start adding some "jazz inflections"- vibrato, grace notes etc (all the things we discuss in the jazz fundamentals). Experiment with them and find out which ones you like..
Listen to versions you like and try to imitate.. sure, if you like my version, great! And yes, Pete Fountain is no slouch either 😉) Any good jazz musician will tell you they spend time playing along with and imitating the players they love.
Always remember, this music is at heart an aural tradtion.. so learning to use our ears is vital.. they are the best tools we have as musicians!
I hope that helps..
Adrian