Hairy Larry Rocks - Chill Jazz Piano
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New Ways Of Composing
by Larry Heyl - CC BY
Technology has brought about fundamental changes to music composition. I remember when you sat down at a piano and notated a piece on score paper. Then after the score was completed the composer would transpose each part to it's own page. These manuscripts would be distributed to the musicians.
Composers like Billy Strayhorn got so good at this workflow that they could write a piece on the score with all the parts transposed and then write out the parts and have a piece ready to play in a few hours. On Brooke Gladstone's NPR podcast "Take The A Train", we learn Billy Strayhorn would compose in his head and he would only write the composition down after it was done.
https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100731586
Needless to say, not all composers have the talent of Billy Strayhorn, and most of them were glad to use music notation programs, like Finale, to transpose their parts. And the musicians were also happy to play from printed scores instead of manuscript.
Music notation programs were an important technological advance for composers. They are not, however, a great composition tool. There is something about a pencil and eraser that makes it easy to change and improve a composition. I prefer waiting until a piece is done before I go to the computer.
I do compose in my head sometimes, but unlike Billy Strayhorn, I've never written an entire piece before I wrote it down. In fact, I've been known to work on a melody or a change and then when I wake up the next morning it's gone. So I turn to technology.
This article describes my new way of composing. Every composer has their own way of composing and they can each devise their own new way.
My Toolbox
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Pencil and paper - Although I don't write out complete scores anymore I still always have blank paper and manuscript paper ready for jotting down ideas.
Electric piano - Not every composer works at a keyboard but many do. Not everyone has a piano. I have quite a few. I use my Roland Go:Piano for composing because it's convenient, fits in small spaces, and is battery powered with rechargeable AA batteries. I also use this piano for performing and rehearsing because it weighs 9 lbs and it's battery powered.
Speaker - The Go:Piano has built in speakers but for the best sound I play it through a JBL Eon One Compact. I never realised how good this piano sounded until I played it through this speaker. The Eon One Compact is also battery powered or it can remain plugged in for convenience.
iReal Pro on a tablet - I use a Kindle Fire for it's great sound and low price but to install iReal Pro on a Kindle you have to install Google Play first. Most people already have a phone or tablet that will work fine.
metronome - For practicing parts at different tempos. I also do this with iReal Pro. Sometimes I just want clicks. Sometimes backing tracks.
Zoom flash recorder - Again, any recorder, phone, computer, or tablet will work. I use my Zoom H4 because of the high quality built in mics, battery power, and I already own it.
Finale - Finale is supported on Windows and Macs. There are many alternatives including free alternatives and online alternatives. Finale has a free alternative called Note Pad and a cheaper alternative called Print Music.
My Workflow
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I write by playing piano. Sometimes chords first, sometimes melody first. I use pencil and paper to notate the chord change. When I have the start of something I'm happy with I record it. Otherwise I can easily forget part of the song I'm working on.
I can do this over a period of days. Playing the piece. Singing the piece. Trying new things. Recording parts I'm happy with. Sometimes a piece falls together in one writing session. More often I continue working on it tomorrow.
iReal Pro has an edit feature where you can enter your own chord changes. After I enter the chord changes iReal Pro has algorithms that play the bass and drum parts. (If you play a horn ireal Pro can also play the piano parts.)
I practice with a metronome and with iReal Pro. Playing the bass and drums backing tracks makes it easier for me to focus on the piano parts and learn the exact rhythms that I want. Improvisation is great and I do improvise during the composition process. My goal, however, is to complete a part with every note and rhythm defined and repeatable. My real composition space is the interface between my fingers and the keys.
Since I write jazz songs they usually have a form that is from 12 to 32 bars in length. The melody and the chord change is called the head. When I am happy with the head I practice it until I am able to play it from memory without mistakes. I continue improving the piece throughout this process, recording it frequently.
It helps to listen to the recordings to hear places that need improvement. So the recordings help me remember what I played yesterday and they also give me a listener's ear on the song.
After I am happy with the head part of the piece I transcribe it to Finale. Transcribing other people's work can be hard. Transcribing your own work is much easier. The hardest part, for me, is making sure all the rhythms are correct.
Jazz is often written in a rhythmic style called swing. Jazz rhythms often have a delay element where it sounds like the musician is playing behind the beat. Jazz vocalists often milk a part singing in what, at first, sounds like free time.
It can be tricky to notate these rhythms in Finale so that they sound like the piece I just wrote and memorized. This is the reason that I learn the piece before I start notating the piece. It is too easy to get used to a rhythm that is close but not exactly right after repeated listenings on Finale.
After I notate the piece I sometimes find ways to improve it. In particular I can get lazy with my left hand rhythms while I'm working out a melody. If I have an idea for improving the left hand rhythms I will notate that idea and then play through the new notation. After I am comfortable with the new rhythm I decide if I want to keep it. If I don't actually like it better Finale supports undo.
As I build out the piece beyond the head, adding harmonies, counterpoint, alternative melodies, solos, and background parts I work back and forth between the Finale notation and the piano and voice. I always focus on the music first and the notation second. The notation should derive from the music. For reading musicians this is sometimes hard to grasp because throughout all their music training they are handed a piece of sheet music and then they derive the music from that. This is exactly topsy turvy from the way a composer writes a piece.
Anytime I add a new part I always go to the piano or voice first. I play until I get something I like. I practice it. I record it. I listen back and I improve it. And then, finally, I notate it. So it's just like the workflow described above, done for each new part.
The exception to this, in my workflow, is writing homophonic harmonies. Since the rhythms are already there I am dealing with note choices so I work with the notation and the piano at the same time adding harmony parts to a melody.
I also use Finale to play just the harmony parts over the bass or just the harmony I'm working on and the melody over the bass. Finale has a mixer that allows me to solo just the parts I want to hear. By leaving out the other instruments it makes it easier to hear the new harmonies.
My goal in writing each harmony part is to write another melody that sounds good played alone as well as when played with the melody or the whole band. Playing just the single harmony part with the bass makes it easy for me to hear that part's melody.
When I have a section where it is listenable I seek knowledgeable advice. I play, sing, or play the finale version for people who will give constructive comments. When you play your music for most people they try to be polite and say things like "that's nice" or "I like it". Try to find people who will go beyond that, actively listen, and point out the parts that work for them and the parts that don't.
I do not rigidly adhere to this workflow. It is my general practice.
Your Toolbox
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You may not play piano. You may be more comfortable writing on your own instrument. You may want to write melodies on your horn and write chord changes on guitar. Or, like Billy Strayhorn, you may prefer composing in your head.
Every composer and every musician has a different skill set and a different approach to music composition.
You still need a toolbox. Probably at least this.
Pencil and paper
An instrument or your voice
A metronome (could be your phone)
A recorder (could be your phone)
A notation program (could be online)
Your Workflow
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You will develop this by exercising the practice of composition. The important thing is not to follow a particular workflow but to be aware of what your workflow is. Develop your own workflow thinking about what you do in those terms. Document it if it helps. It certainly helped me.
Creative work is still work and sometimes creative people have to deal with time constraints and deadlines just like anyone doing any kind of work. An established workflow makes it easier to complete tasks on schedule. An awareness of your workflow makes it easier to start projects and easier to finish them.
As the famous composer Sly Stone said, "It's your thing. Do what you wanna do."
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Something Blue - Little : DJ Hairy Larry : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
Posted on Sunday May 28, 2023DJ Hairy Larry Presents NJHB Playing Cookin For Piper
From the Archives of Something Blue May 28, 2023
Thanks Marty, today we're going to hear a song I wrote, recorded at New Jazz In Jonesboro.
In 2013 we scheduled New Jazz In Jonesboro once a month at TheArts@311. We often played charts that had never seen a music stand before and although we were reading charts we leaned heavily into group improvisation and free jazz.
On July 6, 2013, we recorded the songs that would become the "Cookin' For Piper" album. Matt Jackson wrote "Cookin' For Piper". Joseph Curtis wrote "Working, P.M.". And I put "Monkey Walk" up, for the first time.
— PermalinkDJ Hairy Larry Presents NJHB Playing Cookin For Piper | Something Blue
Posted on Sunday May 28, 2023From the Archives of Something Blue May 28, 2023
Thanks Marty, today we’re going to hear a song I wrote, recorded at New Jazz In Jonesboro.
In 2013 we scheduled New Jazz In Jonesboro once a month at TheArts@311. We often played charts that had never seen a music stand before and although we were reading charts we leaned heavily into group improvisation and free jazz.
On July 6, 2013, we recorded the songs that would become the “Cookin’ For Piper” album. Matt Jackson wrote “Cookin’ For Piper”. Joseph Curtis wrote “Working, P.M.”. And I put “Monkey Walk” up, for the first time.
It’s got a tricky rhythm with a bass vamp on the Rhodes starting and ending the song. Personnel on “Monkey Walk” were Hairy Larry – piano, harmonica, vocals, and percussion; Mike “Zif” Lovell – guitar; David Shade – guitar; Matt Jackson – bass; Joseph Curtis – trumpet; and Cody Ballard – tenor sax. James Carvell added percussion on tracks 3 through 6 including the title track that I will be playing on Something Blue this week.
The cover art for “Cookin’ For Piper” was “Euterpe” drawn by Emily Dewbre-Young. I love the image, depicting a muse playing pipes, and Emily gave us permission to use her drawing on the album cover. Then she sold me the original artwork, very reasonably, and it’s now hanging at Eclectic Geekery in Walnut Ridge. Visit the Something Blue website at sbblues.com to see the album cover and hear the whole album.
Ok now, recorded at New Jazz In Jonesboro on July 6, 2013 here’s NJHB playing my song, “Monkey Walk”.
archive.org/details/hl20130706
— PermalinkWizard | Something Blue
Posted on Sunday May 28, 2023This is Hairy Larry inviting you to enjoy Something Blue every Saturday night at ten. This week we’re featuring Garage A Trois, Charlie Hunter, and The Common Time Quartet. For more about the show visit the Something Blue website at sbblues.com.
Don’t miss Something Blue, Saturday night at 10:00 PM CST, at kasu.org.
Charlie Hunter Live at 3S Artspace on 2021-11-19
archive.org/details/ch2021-11-19.tf11.mp10ii.flac/
Garage A Trois Live at Brooklyn Bowl on 2019-09-21
archive.org/details/gat2019-09-21.cmc621.sbd.matrix.flac24/
The Common Time Quartet
archive.org/details/ct2017-05-06
— PermalinkWhisper | Something Blue
Posted on Monday May 22, 2023This is Hairy Larry inviting you to enjoy Something Blue every Saturday night at ten. This week we’re featuring Natalie Cressman, The Bad Plus, Per Husby, and Bebop Beatniks. For more about the show visit the Something Blue website at sbblues.com.
Don’t miss Something Blue, Saturday night at 10:00 PM CST, at kasu.org.
Natalie Cressman – Auburn Whisper
nataliecressman.bandcamp.com/album/auburn-whisper
www.nataliecressman.com/
The Bad Plus – The Bad Plus
thebadplus.bandcamp.com/album/the-bad-plus
www.thebadplus.com/
Per Husby Septett – Peacemaker
bbemusic.bandcamp.com/album/peacemaker
Bebop Beatniks – Church
archive.org/details/bebop-beatniks-church
— PermalinkHairy Larry Rocks - DJ Hairy Larry Presents The Common Time Quartet Playing All Of Me - Permalink
Posted on Monday May 22, 2023From The Archives Of Something Blue May 21 2023
https://sbblues.com/2023/05/21/dj-hairy-larry-presents-the-common-time-quartet-playing-all-of-me/
Thanks Marty, today we're going to hear a jazz standard played In The Loft at The Edge.
The Common Time Quartet played some cooking jazz and blues. I was happy to book them on a double bill at The Edge Coffeehouse featuring The Common Time Quartet and Bebop Beatniks.
Unfortunately their sax player, Josh Carter, couldn't make the gig. Fortunately they got Tyler Remagen to sub. So they delivered a little bit different sound with Tyler on tenor instead of Josh's scorching alto sax.
Playing the gig were Alex Ditto, guitar; Spencer Rawlins, bass; Chris Issom, drums; and Tyler Remagen, tenor sax, all ASU students in the jazz program at the time and all of them from Northeast Arkansas.
All of these musicians helped me with my composition recitals and at one time or another played with Bebop Beatniks. Tyler Remagen played tenor sax in Bebop Beatniks for years and is featured on both of the albums.
So now, recorded In The Loft at The Edge on May 6, 2017, here's The Common Time Quartet playing the jazz standard, "All Of Me".
https://archive.org/details/ct2017-05-06
music
And that's The Common Time Quartet playing "All Of Me" In The Loft at The Edge on May 6, 2017. Don't miss Something Blue, Saturday night at 10:00, for more great jazz from Common Time, Garage A Trois, and Charlie Hunter.
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Something Blue - Wizard - 29 second spot
This is Hairy Larry inviting you to enjoy Something Blue every Saturday night at ten. This week we’re featuring Garage A Trois, Charlie Hunter, and The Common Time Quartet. For more about the show visit the Something Blue website at https://sbblues.com.
Don’t miss Something Blue, Saturday night at 10:00 PM CST, at http://kasu.org.
— PermalinkSomething Blue - Wizard : DJ Hairy Larry : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
Posted on Monday May 22, 2023DJ Hairy Larry Presents The Common Time Quartet Playing All Of Me
From The Archives Of Something Blue May 21 2023
Thanks Marty, today we're going to hear a jazz standard played In The Loft at The Edge.
The Common Time Quartet played some cooking jazz and blues. I was happy to book them on a double bill at The Edge Coffeehouse featuring The Common Time Quartet and Bebop Beatniks.
Unfortunately their sax player, Josh Carter, couldn't make the gig. Fortunately they got Tyler Remagen to sub. So they delivered a little bit different sound with Tyler on tenor instead of Josh's scorching alto sax.
Playing the gig were Alex Ditto, guitar; Spencer Rawlins, bass; Chris Issom, drums; and Tyler Remagen, tenor sax, all ASU students in the jazz program at the time and all of them from Northeast Arkansas.
All of these musicians helped me with my composition recitals and at one time or another played with Bebop Beatniks. Tyler Remagen played tenor sax in Bebop Beatniks for years and is featured on both of the albums.
So now, recorded In The Loft at The Edge on May 6, 2017, here's The Common Time Quartet playing the jazz standard, "All Of Me".
https://archive.org/details/ct2017-05-06
music
And that's The Common Time Quartet playing "All Of Me" In The Loft at The Edge on May 6, 2017. Don't miss Something Blue, Saturday night at 10:00, for more great jazz from Common Time, Garage A Trois, and Charlie Hunter.
---
Something Blue - Wizard - 29 second spot
This is Hairy Larry inviting you to enjoy Something Blue every Saturday night at ten. This week we’re featuring Garage A Trois, Charlie Hunter, and The Common Time Quartet. For more about the show visit the Something Blue website at https://sbblues.com.
Don’t miss Something Blue, Saturday night at 10:00 PM CST, at http://kasu.org.
— Permalink
HairyLarryLand Tumblr
Bebop Beatniks On The Twitch PorchApril 16, 2023Northeast...
Posted on Wednesday April 19, 2023
Bebop Beatniks On The Twitch Porch
April 16, 2023
Northeast ArkansasSongs
00:00 The Blue Crane
08:45 Playing With Aries …
09:34 African VioletPersonnel
John Shepherd, guitar
Alex Washam, drums
Hairy Larry, piano and vocalshttps://bebopbeatniks.com
https://hairylarryland.comBebop Beatniks On The Twitch Porch April 2, 2023 Songs 00:00...
Posted on Wednesday April 05, 2023
Bebop Beatniks On The Twitch Porch April 2, 2023 Songs 00:00 Stardust by Hoagy Carmichael, public domain 08:27 African Violet 17:05 Sail Boats 24:26 Malaysia 33:37 Low Earth Orbit 42:37 The Blue Crane
Bebop BeatniksBlues FestOctober 9, 2022Craighead Forest...
Posted on Tuesday April 04, 2023
Bebop Beatniks
Blues Fest
October 9, 2022
Craighead Forest Bandshell
Jonesboro, ArkansasSongs
00:00 African Violet
09:09 Recuperation …
09:28 The Blue Crane
16:50 I am a composition major …
17:33 Low Earth Orbit
26:00 Jeremy Jackson, bass - Alex Washam, drums …
26:41 Sail Boats
33:24 Drinking water …
34:01 Malaysia
41:18 Thanks …Personnel
Hairy Larry - piano and vocals
Jeremy Jackson - bass
Alex Washam - drumsGuest Beatnik
Carl Heyl - vocals on African Violet
Lyrics from “The Rat And The Elephant” by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-1695)https://bebopbeatniks.com
https://deltaboogie.net
https://hairylarry.rocksHairy Larry And The Flying HungariansBlues FestCraighead Forest...
Posted on Saturday December 03, 2022
Hairy Larry And The Flying Hungarians
Blues Fest
Craighead Forest Bandshell
Jonesboro, Arkansas
October 9, 202200:00 One More Cup Of Coffee
05:05 Setup …
07:13 Memphis Blues Again
13:05 Ok, we’re gonna do …
13:25 Baby What You Want Me To Do
16:43 We got three drummers …
20:20 Turn On Your Love LightHairy Larry Plays Recital Repertoire In The New Twitch...
Posted on Wednesday August 17, 2022
Hairy Larry Plays Recital Repertoire In The New Twitch Studio
Arkansas
August 14, 2022This set includes
00:00 Welcome …
00:14 African Violet
09:59 I am hoping to play …
10:11 The Blue Crane
17:28 I’m Hairy Larry …
17:36 Low Earth Orbit
28:06 Shout out …
28:25 Sail Boats
37:34 I’ve got one more …
37:40 Malaysia
47:02 And that’s the end …All songs by Larry Heyl
Hairy Larry’s twitch stream is at
twitch.tv/hairylarryland
The HairyLarryLand website is at
hairylarryland.com
Hairy Larry In The New Twitch Studio August 4, 2022—...
Posted on Thursday August 11, 2022
Hairy Larry In The New Twitch Studio August 4, 2022
—
Hairy Larry’s twitch stream is athttps://www.twitch.tv/hairylarryland
Hairy Larry In The New Twitch Studio was recorded live. Hairy Larry’s current schedule is Sunday mornings with other performances to be arranged.
Songs
00:00 Welcome …
00:30 African Violet
10:24 This is a test …
10:43 The Blue Crane
18:01 Thanks …All songs by Larry Heyl
https://hairylarryland.comHear it at the Live Music Archive.
Video Playlist
https://archive.org/details/hl2022-08-04.videoAudio Playlist
https://archive.org/details/hl2022-08-04Collaborate with Hairy Larry. Play along and record.
All of Larry’s compositions are licensed Creative Commons Attribution, CC BY.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Something Blue
DJ Hairy Larry Presents NJHB Playing Cookin For Piper
Posted on Sunday May 28, 2023From the Archives of Something Blue May 28, 2023 Thanks Marty, today we’re going to hear a song I wrote, recorded at New Jazz In Jonesboro. In 2013 we scheduled New Jazz In Jonesboro once a month at TheArts@311. We … Continue reading
Wizard
Posted on Saturday May 27, 2023Something Blue – Wizards – May 27, 2023 This is Hairy Larry inviting you to enjoy Something Blue every Saturday night at ten. This week we’re featuring Garage A Trois, Charlie Hunter, and The Common Time Quartet. For more about … Continue reading
DJ Hairy Larry Presents The Common Time Quartet Playing All Of Me
Posted on Sunday May 21, 2023From The Archives Of Something Blue May 21 2023 Thanks Marty, today we’re going to hear a jazz standard played In The Loft at The Edge. The Common Time Quartet played some cooking jazz and blues. I was happy to … Continue reading
Whisper
Posted on Saturday May 20, 2023Something Blue – Whisper – May 20, 2023 This is Hairy Larry inviting you to enjoy Something Blue every Saturday night at ten. This week we’re featuring Natalie Cressman, The Bad Plus, Per Husby, and Bebop Beatniks. For more about … Continue reading
DJ Hairy Larry Presents Bebop Beatniks Playing Dragonflight
Posted on Sunday May 14, 2023From The Archives Of Something Blue May 14, 2023 Thanks Marty, today we’re going to hear one of my songs played in the Fine Arts Recital Hall. Bebop Beatniks have been playing jazz in Jonesboro for a long time now. … Continue reading
Ride
Posted on Saturday May 13, 2023Something Blue – Ride – May 13, 2023 This is Hairy Larry inviting you to enjoy Something Blue every Saturday night at ten. This week we’re featuring Brotherhood Of Freaks and Yarn. For more about the show visit the Something … Continue reading
DJ Hairy Larry Presents John Shepherd Playing One Eyed Jack
Posted on Sunday May 07, 2023From The Archives Of Something Blue May 7, 2023 Thanks Marty, today we’re going to hear a brand new blues rock song recorded in Wynne, Arkansas. Mr. John B. Shepherd is famous for his live blues guitar shows. I like … Continue reading
May
Posted on Saturday May 06, 2023Something Blue – May – May 6, 2023 This is Hairy Larry inviting you to enjoy Something Blue every Saturday night at ten. This week we’re featuring Bob Reynolds, Graytheflutesmith, Stefan Kartenberg, and Adam Balusik. For more about the show … Continue reading
Hairy Larry Presents Joe Lee And Friends Playing Misty
Posted on Sunday April 30, 2023From The Archives Of Something Blue 2023-04-30 Thanks Marty, today we’ll hear a piano feature on a jazz standard recorded for Alley Records. When Joe Lee said he wanted to record another album playing the charts that he arranged to … Continue reading
Sunday
Posted on Saturday April 29, 2023Something Blue – Sunday – April 29, 2023 This is Hairy Larry inviting you to enjoy Something Blue every Saturday night at ten. This week we’re featuring Cosmic Lunchbox, Wadada Leo Smith, and Sun Ra. For more about the show … Continue reading