Players who play uncommon chord progressions?

[bobsguitars09]

Are there any jazz players who stray away from the common framework of jazz and play uncommon chord progressions? within the context of jazz? instead of always playing a 1 6 2 5 1 maybe they play 7 2 4 1?

[Cunamara]

Check out Allan Holdsworth. He practically has his own theory of music. Also check out Ben Monder and, dipping back to the classics, Tal Farlow- standards but his sense of tonality is unique.

[wolflen]

ted greene has some progressions that have their own logic..he would explain in simple terms what he did..but its like watching a magician show you the trick in slow motion..you still don't get it

[henryrobinett]

Scofield.

[Cunamara]

And getting away from guitarists- John Coltrane, Gary Burton, Ornette Coleman, Albert Ayler, Wayne Shorter...

[rcampos498]

Check out the greatest Howard Alden,I think he is the best of the best

[Larry Feldman]

John McLaughlin comes to mind. Here's an example.

[zdub]

Here's an interesting Holdsworth video on some "basic" chords:

[Greentone]

Before Parker, after Parker.

before Evans, after Evans.

[jameslovestal]

Check out the greatest Howard Alden,I think he is the best of the best

Well Howard Alden learned a lot from George Van Epps who was a master of chords.

I have seen Alden many times when he played house parties when visiting So Cal.

[rcampos498]

Oh wow thats totally a privilege,jazz critics say Howard Alden is the number one in the world,he is coming this weekend to Cleveland Ohio,I cant wait to see him again,by the way do you know he is selling his Gibson Guitar,j want to belive is the same one he used for the Misterioso recording.

[rcampos498]

Howard Alden Guitar Lessons: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5AEB75DC26D56CF5

[GuyBoden]

Older style Jazz Standards (before about 1959) are mainly based on Classical music's functional harmony from Bach's era, so they mostly use common chord progressions, but with great complexity and numerous chord substitutions.

If you want to seek out more "uncommon" chord progressions, I'd listen to some of today's contemporary Jazz, which doesn't confine itself to adhering to Classical music's functional harmony rules.

IMHO, and what captivated my ear, especially when I was younger, was the sheer beauty of the harmony in older Jazz Standards, while still adhering to Classical music's functional harmony rules.

[rcampos498]

GuyBoden I think your statement it is not entirely accurate,first of all yes at begging Jazz was a more simple kind of music,you need to remember,it was popular music and its intention was for people to dance and have good time,but your statement on Bach is wrong,first of all Bach wasn't a classical musician,and hes way of playing and composing was base on the counterpoint harmonic composing system,he was a musician of the Baroque period,counterpoint it is a really complex system of composition and not everyone understand it,to understand and be able to play Bach the right way,you need to spend a few years practicing everyday and studying counterpoint you need to understand and have studied harmony first,counterpunctual jazz concepts are not something new,listen to Jimmy Giuffre as an example

[jbernstein91]

Are there any jazz players who stray away from the common framework of jazz and play uncommon chord progressions? within the context of jazz? instead of always playing a 1 6 2 5 1 maybe they play 7 2 4 1?

Nelson Veras:

[GuyBoden]

GuyBoden I think your statement it is not entirely accurate,first of all yes at begging Jazz was a more simple kind of music,you need to remember,it was popular music and its intention was for people to dance and have good time,but your statement on Bach is wrong,first of all Bach wasn't a classical musician,and hes way of playing and composing was base on the counterpoint harmonic composing system,he was a musician of the Baroque period,counterpoint it is a really complex system of composition and not everyone understand it,to understand and be able to play Bach the right way,you need to spend a few years practicing everyday and studying counterpoint you need to understand and have studied harmony first,counterpunctual jazz concepts are not something new,listen to Jimmy Giuffre as an example

My statement about Bach (1685-1750) refers to his consolidated of the "New" at the time Major/minor key system. As you probably know, Bach's famous "Well-Tempered Clavier" uses each of the possible Major/minor keys. It's this use of Major/minor keys instead of the previously used Modal systems, that is the basis for Classical music's functional harmony.

Older Jazz Standards are definitely based on Classical Music's Major/minor key functional Harmony system and they sound great for it.

This is basic "History of Music" stuff I studied at college as a teenager long ago, I doubt it's changed that Bach is synonymous with the change to using the "New" Major/minor key system.

[goldenwave77]

Vic Juris.

[Stanford J17]

For all things chords, TED GREENE is THE MAN!

Also check out Tuck Andress. On his christmas CD he plays "Angels We Have Heard On High" with what he calls "dysfunctional harmony". Check out his website for the Guitar Extra article from fall '91, there he explains it.

May be obvious, but Mick Goodrick is another great "Chord Man"

[Robertkoa]

Steely Dan is my favorite example.

"Too High" from Stevie Wonder...