Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Cool

While Flip Phillips and Howard McGhee were members of Jazz at the Philharmonic in the late 40's they recorded 4 sides for Norman Granz with their "Boptet". Two of the tunes were boppish blues numbers penned by Howard McGhee.

I've included Maggie's solo with "Cool".

Cake

Howard McGhee went on to remake "Cool" on his "Sharp Edge" LP in 1961. "Cake", though a bit more ambitious tune, doesn't seem to have been recorded again by anyone.

Here's what I came up with for "Cake":

Download

Mister Walker

Wes Montgomery's "Mister Walker" is a real catchy tune with a great latin-ish groove. We used it at Shoreline Community College with Ian Hughes on guitar and his brother Dylan on bass.

The record fades at the end of the song, so I tacked on a cheesy ending. You'd probably be better off ending on a I chord.

Download

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Boogie Woogie

A few years ago I decided to learn to play Boogie Woogie piano. Of course it was impossible. I have a left hand like Dog and my right hand doesn't know what it's doing.

But along the way I picked up some interesting sheet music.

Albert Ammons

"5 Boogie Woogie Piano Solos"

Pete Johnson

"5 Boogie Woogie Piano Solos"

Jimmy Yancey

"5 Famous Boogie Woogie & Blues Solos"

Meade "Lux" Lewis

"5 Boogie Woogie Piano Solos"

Hazel Scott

"Easy-to-Play Boogie Woogie"

Lionel Hampton

"Hamp's Boogie Woogie"

Fats Waller

"Boogie Woogie with Fats Waller"

Joe Sullivan

"Blues and Barrel-House Piano Solos"

Pinetop Smith

"Pinetop's Boogie Woogie"

Clarence Williams

"Organ Grinder Blues"

"Michigan Water Blues"

"Red Onion Blues"

"Rattling Rhythm"

George Thomas

"New Orleans Hop Scop Blues"

Whew! What an ordeal...

That's all the Boogie Woogie. Let me know if there are any problem links.