Steve's Spinal Column #4

A Stick performance and some early influences.

Coryell and McLaughlin

At next month's annual Guitar Show in Lake Grove NY, we've arranged for jazz legend Larry Coryell to be part of the festivities on the afternoon of May 21. That same evening I will be performing on a bill with Larry at Port Jazz in Port Jefferson, LI. I thought it would be fun to analyze a tune he recorded a few decades ago. "Renee's Theme" was a track on Larry's well known and big selling record "Spaces". Also appearing on that recording were special guests Chick Corea and John McLaughlin. The track we will investigate was an acoustic guitar duet with Larry and John trading fireworks.

There's really no melody to the tune. Basically it's a progression for blowing.

RENEE'S THEME (Thomas)

|: Db9 | Db9 | Db9 | Db9 | E9 | E9 | E9 | E9 | AbMa7 | GbMa7 | AbMa7 | GbMa7 | F9 E9 | Eb9 Db9 :|

There are four sections to the progression. Obviously the Db9 is the first chord to deal with. Any dominant chord such as this is always a V chord in a key. Therefore Db9 is V of Gb. So we would solousing a Gb Major scale but with a Db root since that's the sounding chord. This is called the Db mixolydian mode.

Likewise the E9 is V of A. Play an A Major scale or E mixolydian. Ab Maj7 and GbMaj7 are there own key centers, so play Ab Maj scale and Gb Major scale respectively over these chords.

The last two measures is a chromatic turnaround leading back to the top. The easiest approach would be to play a short phrase and follow it down with the chords till you resolve back at the top. Of course other concepts can lead to different melodic tools for this solo section.

As always, the feel of the tune will also inspire you to take certain paths to the end musical statement. Larry and John, play this in a modern Djangoesque style playing many chung, chung quarter note rhythms. Be inspired by their documented music. Then take it in your own direction.

A few announcements:

Steve will be performing at:
Port Jazz- Port Jefferson, LI, May 21 with Larry Coryell
Janet Marlow's Ten String Guitar Festival, in Litchfield, Conn., July 10
Second annual Guitarbeque in Asbury Park, July 31 with The Sticktet

BTW-I also feel the need to comment on the newest Pat Metheny CD, "The Way Up". It might be the greatest piece of music I've ever heard. Period.