TromboneChat

I just finished the specific section of my upcoming book on trombone improvisation that covers Dolphin Dance. It's a beautiful tune that doesn't get played more often, I think, because it presents challenges like weaving in and out of tough keys and through modal sections.

I thought I'd provide an excerpt of the book containing the Dolphin Dance section in case you want to have a bit of fun learning how to better play over the changes.

Part one of the book covers ear training, melodic construction, rhythmic fluency, a bit of theory, and (did I mention ear training?)

Part two will put the theory into practice by exploring around 15 songs of various difficulties (assuming I can get all the copyrights I am now negotiating) and for each will include:

• [li]A lead sheet with a recording of me on trombone playing the melody over rhythm[/li][li]Background and some light harmonic theory on the song and form[/li][li]Exercises for the more difficult parts of the tune[/li][li]A recording and transcription of one or more solos I've recorded at different levels of difficulty[/li][li]A transcription of a known player's solo - not always trombone, but transcribed into bass clef (Chet Baker's on Dolphin Dance)[/li]

The excerpt of the Dolphin Dance section can be downloaded from here: http://www.altobone.com/improvise-dolphin-dance/

I'd love to get your feedback in terms of how it helps you (or not) play better over this great tune.

Best of luck!!

You're right, Michael.  Great tune, crazy changes.

One of my favourite versions of this tune is a Peter Herbolzheimer big band chart which is a trombone feature. You can hear Marc Godfroid play it on the Colors of a Band album.

https://youtu.be/PeNIYzcujHg?t=24m44s is the same band/arr but with Jürgen Neudert playing the solo.

Not specifically relevant to the OP i know, but i thought may be of interest as it may not be so well known.

Cheers

Thanks for that. Terrific player. I'd say that for a big band, 150,000 views is pretty good. ("...not so well known.")

My favourite version is by Chet Baker and you have that covered.

My favourite version is by Chet Baker and you have that covered.