Re: Latin improv.
jpaulo@pa1.brazil.hp.com
Fri, 14 Feb 1997 11:36:22 -0200
At 17.25 12/02/97 -0500, Sparky Koerner wrote:
>> But when it comes to
>> improvising over Sambas, Bossa Novas, etc. I seem to have trouble.
>> ...
>>
>For dealing with soloing and the support role in Latin feels, I have found
>that focusing on the clave really helps me. I would suggest nailing the
>clave. When listening find the clave and check out how instruments adapt,
>react against, play with. The clave seems to be the key. It took me a while
>to find the clave and I have to admit I drove the people around me crazy but
>I now really understand that it is key to Afro-Cuban styles.
>
Sambas and Bossa Novas, Afro-Cuban styles ???
Please, take a look in the world map !
Those rhytms Sparky mentioned are brazilian styles and Brazil is not
located in Africa and it's not even near to Cuba.
Even musically speaking, brazilian music is quite diferent to Afro-Cuban music.
To confirm this, just listen anything by Antonio Carlos Jobim (the Bossa Nova
or the pos-Bossa Nova stuff -> Passarim, Urubu, etc...), Ivan Lins, Djavan,
Joao Bosco, Toninho Horta, Milton Nascimento, etc...
I'm not exactly an expert since I'm a very begining guitar player and I'm in
this group basically learning, reading all the messages, but I'm sure that
only focusing on the clave is not enough to deal with the Brazilian stuff.
Although I'm used to play the brazilian beats (they are very natural to me,
since I was born and grew up in Brazil) and I still don't have theorical
background enough to give you good hints about it.
I recommend you "The Brazilian Guitar Book" by Nelson Faria published by Sher
Publishing. That book was already recomended by other list member, Kevin
Johnsrude, few weeks ago. In despite to be a guitar book, it contains
good examples and a CD, very usefull to learn to play the Brazilian
music.
Jose Paulo Pires
======================
Hewlett Packard Brazil