This is a standard 32 bar ballad in the traditional AABA form. The changes are also straight forward. This piece would also work well with a more advanced Grade 2 ensemble. I recorded this on my “For the Children” Quartet CD.
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Within this FREE eBook, Michael uses one of his lead sheets and step by step transforms it into a small group arrangement.
You can do many things with a lead sheet, from playing solo to writing a big band arrangement.
Watch an example of this transformation to show you how to make the most from a basic song outline.
I wrote this song while I was living in Brooklyn, NY and spending quite a bit of time in Woodstock, NY. This is the closest thing to a “country music” song I have ever written. This composition was recorded by myself and bassist Eliot Wadopian on our “Mountain Song” duo CD. This piece is extremely playable at most levels!!!
Alisiah is one of my earliest compositions. The tonality revolves around C major, F major and Eminor. It is a very simple medium tempo swing tune. Nothing fancy. This piece was recorded on my “Duets” CD with vibraphonist Jason DeCristofaro.
The harmonies move quite slowly in this ballad. The most challenging aspect of the piece are the 2/4 bars. This ballad was recorded on Jon Hemmersam’s “Remembering” CD release which also featured Dave Liebman and Rakalam Bob Moses.
This is one of my favorite compositions. Written in 3/4 time, but with phrases grouped in three’s, four’s and other odd groupings this is a very unique piece. Also, it is made up entirely of minor 7 chords. The Fonda/Stevens Group recorded this tune on our CD “The Healing”.
This ballad is quite easy to play. The changes move very slowly giving the student plenty of time to navigate the harmonic landscape.
This piece was composed in the early 1980’s and dedicated to Charnett Moffett and his family band. I played with the band for one year. The tune is a simple form containing only dominant chords. The feel is very bluesy.
This is a very simple “swing” composition with a bluesy feel but not in a Blues form. The changes are very simple. The head is a question-and-answer with the melody and the rhythm section. A good piece to introduce the blues scale to students. Released on my “Red’s Blues” CD.
I wrote this bossa nova after visiting Rio in 1999. The form is quite long and the bridge is very chromatic. The piece is highly melodic and quite fun to play. The “Stevens, Siegel & Ferguson Trio” recorded this tune on our “Six” CD release.
This piece features a Latin feel written out in the piano part. The changes are pretty standard and move slowly enough for the student to navigate quite easily. The bridge of the tune is a fun release from all the harmonic movement in the beginning section of the composition. The “Stevens, Siegel & Ferguson Trio” recorded this composition on our “Panorama” CD which featured Valery Ponomarev on trumpet.
This medium swing tune consists of an extended melody and long form. The harmonies are very chromatic and include some hybrid chordal structures as well. The piece is challenging but worth the effort. I recorded this on my “The Innocence of Spring” CD with saxophonist Don Aliquo.
This is a very adventurous composition. The harmonies are very difficult and the rhythms are quite unusual. A great challenge for the advanced player. I wrote this piece shortly after moving from Brooklyn, NY to Memphis, TN. That was quite a culture shock!!!
This composition is an open swing feel featuring a chromatic chord sequence and several polychords. The changes move quickly making the piece difficult for the soloist to navigate. The melody is not difficult but overall the piece is challenging. This is dedicated to the great trumpeter Kenny Wheeler.
Style: ballad
Grade: 2
This ballad is quite easy to play. The changes move very slowly giving the student plenty of time to navigate the harmonic landscape.
