Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered

[Lohz]

Hi guys,
I've been attempting (and I stress this word) to arrange 'Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered' for Vocals and Trio (piano, bass and drums).

I was hoping someone could find the time to have a brief look at what I've done so far and perhaps offer some advice and some healthy criticism.
I've written the head and one solo through (which is a bit rough at the moment).

I've linked to files
- Full score pdf http://www.filedropper.com/bewitched-score
- Bad midi Finale makes http://www.filedropper.com/bewitchedmidi

Thanks
- Lohz

[engelbach]

Originally Posted by Lohz

Hi guys,
I've been attempting (and I stress this word) to arrange 'Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered' for Vocals and Trio (piano, bass and drums).

I was hoping someone could find the time to have a brief look at what I've done so far and perhaps offer some advice and some healthy criticism.
I've written the head and one solo through (which is a bit rough at the moment).

I've linked to files
- Full score pdf http://www.filedropper.com/bewitched-score
- Bad midi Finale makes http://www.filedropper.com/bewitchedmidi

Thanks
- Lohz

Hi Lohz,

Welcome to the AAJ Forum.

It would help to know for what purpose you're writing this arrangement. Most piano trios would just improvise on the chord symbols rather than read a note-for-note arrangement.

If you have an intro, or an ostinato pattern, or specific voicings or licks that you want the instrumentalists to play behind the singer, you could notate those along with the chord symbols. In this case, however, it seems to be a straightforward accompaniment with no special treatment.

If you're looking for a critique of the MIDI performance, I'd have to say that you need to listen to more jazz to get the feel of a jazz rhythm. What you have now has the bumpity-bumpity-bump sound of a German polka band. I mean no offense by this; it's just a comparison that comes to mind.

I'm wondering if this tune may not really be appropriate for an uptempo treatment. The melodic patterns don't lend themselves smoothly to speed. Just a thought.

Cheers,
Jer

[Lohz]

Hi Jerry,

My purpose of writing out everything is really to notate what might sound right and that way I can apply it to different standards later on. I'm fully aware that pianists usually improvise and all but since I'm not proficient in that and 'tinkering' around on the piano has proven to be pretty futile in my recent attempts, I return to the note-for-note method.

I personally would've classified this to be at a easy-swing tempo where up-tempo would be 200bpm+. Then again, in comparison to other versions like Ella or Sinatra, this is really quite fast.

- Lohz

[engelbach]

Originally Posted by Lohz

Hi Jerry,

My purpose of writing out everything is really to notate what might sound right and that way I can apply it to different standards later on. I'm fully aware that pianists usually improvise and all but since I'm not proficient in that and 'tinkering' around on the piano has proven to be pretty futile in my recent attempts, I return to the note-for-note method.

I personally would've classified this to be at a easy-swing tempo where up-tempo would be 200bpm+. Then again, in comparison to other versions like Ella or Sinatra, this is really quite fast.

- Lohz

I see.

The ingredients are all there, and the bass line is fine. Here are some suggestions.

1. Flatten out the melody. I can hear that what you've done is to leave it to the program (Finale?) to apply "jazz" phrasing, but it swings too much, which is what gives it that corny bumpity-bump feeling. It needs what I would characterize as "cooler" phrasing.

2. Syncopate the piano more. It's hitting too many downbeats, which slows down the momentum.

3. Your voice leading on the chords is good, but they're a little basic for jazz. I would either use rootless chords, with more texture and the addition of 6ths, 7ths, and/or 9ths, or more resonant spread-out voicings, such as drop two chords or chords with quartal intervals.

[jazz oud]

No comment on the arrangement, but I always want to call this tune "bewitched bebothered and bewildered".