I’ve seen some discussions of jazz on the whistle (mostly buried) in older threads, but thought I’d ask directly: anyone here playing jazz on the whistle? What approaches do you take to the diatonic/chromatic issue? What sort of music are you playing? It’s hard to imagine many bop tunes fitting under the fingers, while modal stuff and a number of standards might, but what about chord substitutions? What do you when the piano player throws in a chord with few notes in common with your instrument? bustapipuh, since you’re entering UM’s Jazz program this fall, I wonder if you have some experiences to share.
I’m a beginning whistler, but a pretty experienced bassist. I’m years away from even bothering with jazz on the whistle, but I’m interested in the challenges involved.
OT: Ann Arbor whistlers, are you going to the Saline Celtic festival this weekend?
I have been thinking about doing jazz. I used to be fairly good at jazz saxaphone. I started working on learning to half hole to get the full scale. I think it can be done.
Absolutely. Be there Friday night for the workshops, ceili, and (hopefully) session, then I’m planning on being there a good hunk of the day and night on Saturday. (Still have to figure out how to get home and take care of the dog in the middle of it all.)
I’m surprised to learn bustapipuh is on the board, but the real question here is – will he be playing with the Duhks in Saline on Saturday? (And for those of you who don’t know – as I understand it, bustapipuh’s primary instrument for the UofM Jazz program is low whistle.)
Following a link to a spoof ‘John Coltrane plays tinwhistle’ album review,the other week,I attempted to play ‘My Favourite things’ on my Overton low ‘F’,and it worked quite well in a ‘modal jazz’ style.
‘Jazz’ whistle is quite possible-Kwela has already been mentioned,and of course the Blues(eminently playable) are the ‘backbone’ of Jazz.
Also remember,that what you leave out can be as important as the actual notes that you play,in a ‘Milesean’ sense (“Mouse music Man!”-Louis Armstrong).
The Charlie Parker of the pennywhistle and a group of top-notch accompanists have carried the littlest horn of all to unheard-of heights. Beautiful original tunes, a few from the tradition, and a whole side of straight-ahead jazz! A brilliant showcase for the wizard of whistledom. Featuring Jay Ungar (fiddle and mandolin) and Guy Van Duser (guitar).
Saline celtic fest I’m going to try hard to get their I’m in Brighton.
So where do the michiganders all play at fill me in. I play with friends primarly but anything good happening in michigan. what pubs are the sessions at O’neils or others.
Conor O’Neill’s in Ann Arbor and Shananhan’s in Livonia have Sunday evening sessions every week. I think there’s some sessions in Lansing as well. (Plus Gaelic League in Detroit, CCE Thursdays in Livonia, and lots of goings on in Windsor.)
The Saline Celtic sessions this weekend are supposed to be in “Pat’s Pub” in Saline. Of course, last year I couldn’t find that place at all, and the session after Saturday’s events was backstage of the festival’s mainstage.
Thanks I know the windsor and detroit scene but never have spent much time in ann arbor.
How many show up and is their any listing of songs played O’neils that is.
Not sure I can make it any time soon but I’am intrested. Also what speed is this session.
Thanks for the links and tips, guys and gals. I do like the shakuhachi, but have never heard it in a contemporary context.
Kevin, I agree about leaving notes out, but–I think you’d generally want to leave notes out not because you can’t play them, but because you choose not to. Of course I just sometimes forget about some notes altogether…
Colomon, see you there! I don’t seem to have a picture of myself handy, but at least I know what you look like. I’ll be the tall, tired-looking, awful-sounding whistler at the workshop.
There are usually anywhere from 4-20 people there. As far as I know, there is no listing of tunes played at that session – if there were, it would be quite long. The session is fast.
I believe Shakuhachi’s are no more chromatic than a whistle, BUT I have a record from King records, that has Shakuhachi and Koto playing with a Big Band, and it’s a glorious sound…
Here’s where I admit that my PRIMARY interest is Jazz. Sorry to the celtic traditionalists. I have played Irish music at the local pub, but only on guitar. I intend to learn a few Irish tunes too, but mainly I am into jazz.
Stuff like ‘Autmn Leaves’ if you transpose it to D, has only a few accidentals to contend with. others that I found easy this way are ‘Always on my mind’, ‘It had to be you’, and the old standard ‘Bill Bailey’.
I also find that improvisation is relatively easy, and a nice way to cheat around a hard accidental or three
So, yes, I treat the whistle as a chromatic instrument (like a reduced Saxophone). My biggest annoyance is half holing at any speed. Practice, practice, practice
I wish there were sound clips for that CD. I have 2 traditional shakuhachi CDs and enjoy them, but I’d like to hear the jazz application before spending the money here.
Some jazz-like standards I’m had a little success with include “Dinah”, “Darktown Strutters’ Ball”, “Sweet Georgia Brown”, and “Ain’t Misbehavin’”.
The occasional accidental can generally be half-holed with no problem.
“Summertime” and “St. James Infirmary” can be done as jazz, too.
Maybe I’ll put on my MJQ No Sun in Venice album and see what I can play along with. That and some Hot Club of France albums are the only jazz I have on CD, and I still haven’t gotten around to connecting my phonograph up. That would add John Coltrane and Ornette Coleman to the mix.
One fellow with serious jazz training at McGill likes to play jazz and some celtic stuff, and just flies around on a low whistle in one tune and a soprano sax on another. His name is Jeremiah McDade, and he fronts the group The McDades to be spotted at www.themcdades.com . It’s great music, and when you hear his fingers bending notes on that low Burke, or maybe a higher Susato or Burke, you’ll be impressed. If you contact him through the email address at his site, he’s likely to respond within a few days. I have their CD, For Reel, and it’s fantabulous.
Saw the group live last summer in Vancouver…I was drooling throughout the set. Truly beautiful music, particularly for anyone with an interest in jazz. Check them out.
Oh, one more thing…he and Solon, his brother, are part of a jazz quintet in Montreal (Jon McCaslin Quintet) in which he plays tenor sax, and I’ve heard good reports on that front, too. You’ll have a tougher time finding their CD, though, I suspect.
As for jazz standards I enjoy playing, my favourite is Dave Brubeck’s “Time Out.” It’s an easy one.
