Minor Swing is a great Gypsy Jazz tune, but the catch is: It’s not just one tune. There are at least two tunes by this name that are both similar in nature, and maybe more.
I’m pretty sure that I have heard Stephane Grapelli play both of these tunes, but I can’t be certain at this point. I didn’t realize that both of these tunes had the same name until I went to play Minor Swing with David Wiatrolik, and we quickly realized that he was playing one version of it, and I was playing the other one. 🙂
Tonight I’m joined by Brent Hawley on Guitar and Steve Eulberg on Hammered Dulcimer. We are rehearsing tonight to prepare for the upcoming Fiddle Whamdiddle CD.
ps. This is not traditionally a Hammered Dulcimer tune, but what the heck.
Really great Vi- I didn’t get the “Gypsy” aspect until you slowed it down a bit at the end and added some vibrato…but I do have to ask you about your signature “kick” when you play- is that a Vi Wickam thing you do or are you just trying to stretch out your leg?
Kicking out my leg is a clear message to the other members of the band that the song is about to end. This is the last time through. I don’t know where the tradition started, but it’s really hard to talk while I’m playing the fiddle, so a kick of the leg has to be my clearest form of communication sometimes. 🙂
Thanks,
Vi
You’d think by “Day 275”, I would have picked up on that…I always play with sheet music so everything has a beginning and an end…makes perfect sense if you are playing “commando” (without the sheet music).
No worries. Winging it comes with its own set of joys and challenges. Deciding when to end is one of the challenges. It really does cause me to pay better attention to what my band mates are doing and playing. All of the things that we learn in music can be translated into other areas of our lives. This lesson becomes “listening to what is going on around us.”
Very nice, Vi. I especially liked the downward slide. Subtle, but its there in good taste. Very enjoyable to listen to and you all looked like you were having fun, too.
Very nice, Vi. I especially liked the downward slide. Subtle, but its there in good taste. Very enjoyable to listen to and you all looked like you were having fun, too.
Thanks, Francis. I was definitely having fun. Getting to play music with Steve Eulberg and Brent Hawley is a guaranteed way to put a smile on my face. 🙂