“Blue Bird,” from Portraits in Jazz, by Valerie Capers
“Blue Bird” is dedicated to Charlie “Bird” Parker and is a modern or chromatic blues consisting of twelve bars, which is like traditional blues but is expanded harmonically to include one or two chord changes in every bar. This piece is about two pages long, and is written in bebop style, with extended melodic lines coupled with subtle rhythmic complexities. The performer should not be afraid to stress the offbeat lines and chords in the left hand, so that a proper feeling of swing and movement can be conveyed. A student would learn more about Charlie Parker’s style and Blue Bird is dedicated to Charlie “Bird” Parker and is a modern or chromatic blues consisting of twelve bars, which is like traditional blues but is expanded harmonically to include one or two chord changes in every bar. This piece is about two pages long, and is written in bebop style, with extended melodic lines coupled with subtle rhythmic complexities. The performer should not be afraid to stress the offbeat lines and chords in the left hand, so that a proper feeling of swing and movement can be conveyed. A student would learn more about Charlie Parker’s style and should be familiar with his work, as to properly convey his influence, and better understand the rhythmic challenges he implements.
This piece presents several challenges to an intermediate student. The right hand must sound quick, nimble and clean, with frequent off-beat accents and a light swing. The left hand harmonies often happen in the off-beats of the measure. The student will need a strong rhythmic feel with a steady pulse, but avoiding any heaviness or sluggishness.
Portraits of Jazz by Valerie Capers is a collection of 12 early intermediate to intermediate jazz style pieces published in 1976 by Aztec Diaz-Tec 800, and Oxford University Press in 1992. These pieces are inspired by or dedicated to a particular jazz musician or singer
Valerie Capers was born in 1935, and was introduced to music through her father’s ties to Fats Waller (American Jazz Pianist), and her brother’s performances in the Mongo Santamaria Band. She received her early education at the New York Institute for the Education of the Blind and graduated from the Juilliard School of Music, with Bachelors and Masters degrees. Capers brings a wide scope of pianistic styles and concepts to her playing, drawing from jazz idols and keyboard masters alike.
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