Walking Over Chords a half step away

[Manticore Guy]

I'm in the jazz band at my school, and one of the songs we're playing is A Night in Tunisia. As I'm sure some of you know, there is a section in it where the chords are Eb7 to Dmi6/9 for a bunch of measures. I was wondering if you guys can give me any advice on walking over them. I am having difficulty creating good lines over them.

[TGP]

This type of chord movement can be difficult to create varied bass lines.
What I try to do is start my lines on other chord tones instead of always
beginning on roots. This is where practicing your inversions and permutations will pay off. Well You Needn't and Epistrophy, both by Monk are always a challenge to walk through too.
These are good tunes to experiment with "breaking the rules" of basic
walking bass line construction.

[hdiddy]

I've been taught that any time you see changes where it's repeating, say the same two chords over 2 bars, 4 bars, etc. you don't have to play them as written, and play two bars of one chord and then play two bars of another chord, but only over the solo form and not the head.

random example...
Original: Cm7/F7/Cm7/F7

Try: Cm7/Cm7/F7/F7
or maybe: Cm7/Cm7/Cm7/F7

Get the idea? You can do this so that you have more of a single chord to stretch over and build up some tension/whatever and it makes phrasing a little easier. I haven't played NiT yet but you can experiement with the idea.

Instead of...
Eb7/Dm/Eb7/Dm/Eb7/Dm/Em7 A7/Dm

For starters, I would probably try:
Eb7/Eb7/Dm/Dm/Eb7/Dm/Em7 A7/Dm
Eb7/Eb7/Eb7/Dm/Eb7/Dm/Em7 A7/Dm

maybe event
Eb7/Eb7/Eb7/Eb7/Dm/Dm/Em7 A7/Dm
Maybe?!?!? I'll have to try this when I get home.

But again, you woudln't do this over the melody - only the solos.

You can also try pedaling a chord tone that is common to both, maybe like Db to get a minor-major kinda sound over the Dm.

Just some ideas.

[Manticore Guy]

Thanks guys, I appreciate it. Anymore advice is very much welcomed.

[Dave Speranza]

Just keep in mind that you do NOT need a new pattern for every bar everytime you play the tune! I will often times play the same two bar pattern in night in tunisia for an entire a-section or more. And funny enough this is often much more "interesting" than not repeating anything.

And it doesnt have to be complex. Remember the role as a bass player: support the soloist by marking the time and outlining the changes.

I cant count how many times I have played something like Eb-Bb-G-Eb, D-A-F-D over those changes. It works everytime!

[jallenbass]

I like the sound of the 5th of one of the chords resolving to the 5th of the other chord.

[Jeff Moote]

Originally Posted by Dave Speranza

I cant count how many times I have played something like Eb-Bb-G-Eb, D-A-F-D over those changes. It works everytime!

That's usually my starting point for those changes on that tune. Occasionally I'll stray to something a little more interesting.

I'm interested in trying out the concept of messing with the changes a bit and pedalling on one chord to see how that works.

[musicman5string]

[quote=hdiddy;3546555]Instead of...
Eb7/Dm/Eb7/Dm/Eb7/Dm/Em7 A7/Dm

For starters, I would probably try:
Eb7/Eb7/Dm/Dm/Eb7/Dm/Em7 A7/Dm
Eb7/Eb7/Eb7/Dm/Eb7/Dm/Em7 A7/Dm

maybe event
Eb7/Eb7/Eb7/Eb7/Dm/Dm/Em7 A7/Dm
Maybe?!?!? I'll have to try this when I get home.

QUOTE]


That won't really work in this particular tune; you need to nail each chord as is: check out Same Jones line from the Kenny Durham recording of this tune.

Here's line I play on this tune:

Eb-Bb-C-Db-
D-A-F-E-
Eb-G-Bb-Eb-
D-C-A-D-
Eb-G-Bb-Db-
D-E-F-D-
(E-Bb-A-lowA) over the min ii/V to D min

next A section:

Eb-F-G-Bb
A-F-E-D
Db-C-Bb-Eb
D-F-A-Ab
G-Bb-Eb-Bb
A-F-E-D-
etc.

[Phil Smith]

"A Night In Tunisia" isn't that a latin tune with a swing bridge? Of course any tune can be played and arranged in kind of way, but I think what gives this tune it's special sound is the latin feel. You probably want to nail this feel playing either the vamp or a tumbao over the changes and it isn't really about note variation but more about the rhythmic feel. The swing bridge is a different story, but you gotta make it swing.