Iris: Journey Through The Real Book

[@paxwallacejazz]

Before I could play piano at all I was obsessed with Iris. I didn't really love the rest of ESP but boy Iris got under my skin. It's the 1st tune I learned to play and it deeply influenced how I compose.

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Great tune, right! I agree that it has a very different mood than the rest of ESP. Beautiful!

[@frederickberkow3859]

This performance was so relaxing and beautiful, I listened several times, with headphones on. Bravo !

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Thanks Frederick!

[@virginiahanley7745]

A tune with which I am not familiar-and don’t think I would recognize if I heard again-but the descriptors “abstract” and “impressionistic” came to mind. Maybe I’ll put on headphones and play with watercolors while I listen again...

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

That's a good description, Virginia. Check out the Miles Davis version.

[@jackmocherman1296]

Wow what a stunning performance! I loved watching the RH shapes you were arpeggiating and really enjoyed the rhythmic explorations. The G tritone resolution into the motif around 8:40 was a highlight for me. Your use of dynamics to settle into the Ab and set the stage for the motif was so emotive, dynamics are something I've been trying to stay cognizant of in my playing and I couldn't have asked for a better example

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Thanks for your kinds words, Jack! This kind of tune really invites the use of dynamics, to build these arcs as you go along. Have fun with it!

[@gustavtomzak-steenberg6187]

Excellent performance! I Can only do a major tenths some places on the keyboard, but i feel like my stretch is increasing. Can you do all major tenths in both Hands and have you allways been able to do so? For instance my RH has trouble with D-F# a tenth a part, and my LH has trouble with Eb-G a tenth a part.

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Hi Gustav. I can't really do them comfortably in all 12 keys, so I mainly use them in some keys but not in others. I think this gives variety.

[@gustavtomzak-steenberg6187]

@@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453 Thanks for the insight!

[@voriskinlaw9775]

How I Love Thiz tune so much to the point;I recorded a take of this to my 4 track recorder back in the late 90's-early 00's.

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

I have happy memories of my old 4 track too!

[@yanisbrahimi6358]

How to analyze this kind of tuned where all the chords are disconnected ?

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

It can't be analyzed in terms of functional harmony. It's more like Debussy, where the tonal regions drift from one to the next like colors.

[@yanisbrahimi6358]

@@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453 can you suggest me a book or a video describing a way to understand this kind of Harmony ?

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

@@yanisbrahimi6358 Great question! I don't know of any system out there, and I'd be wary if I came across "explanations." The best way is to play the chords to a tune like this slowly and listen to how each one moves to the next. Over time, they'll begin to make sense to you and you'll feel their internal logic.

[@bezuglich]

@@yanisbrahimi6358 Studio Recordings of the Miles Davis Quintet, 1965-68 - Keith Waters

[@andyloftube]

Wow - that was a gem, thanks so much for the pleasant journey to a less known tune! Excellent interpretation and ’meditation’! My absolute hightlight was how the cascading diminished melody sounded so beautiful and natural against those chords in about 9:10 over the (challenging chords!) Bb7alt-Db9#11!

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Thanks Top Cat! This is becoming one of my favorite tunes to play.

[@brendaboykin3281]

Thanx, Maestro 🌹🌹🌹😎

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Great tune, right? Mood music at it's best!

[@song4night]

Excellent approach!

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Thanks - it's a great tune to play!

[@song4night]

@@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453 Have you done a version of Blues for Alice?

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

@@song4night Yep - it's Journey Through The Real Book #41.

[@song4night]

@@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453 Great! will look for it.

[@deeznutz7365]

I got to sit in at a clinic with David Fathead Newman. It was just me with my guitar and Dave with his horn.. it was surreal.. halfway through my hands started to shake lol. He was really nice

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Wow - what a great experience! I know the feeling about shaky hands :)