S-Money

Hey Ingrid...

So, i was accepted as a finalist in the National Trumpet Competition in the jazz division, and they're having us play Inner Urge as a required piece, and another contrasting of the performer's choice. The competition is the 15th - 18th of this month, so I'm not really asking for suggestions (although id gladly take any suggestions for this piece i can get), but rather your opinion.

First, have you played this chart before?
- if so, do you have any suggestions on how to go about it, mainly for future reference (i have a bunch of good ideas which i can put together into lines, as well as an understanding of the changes, so i think ill be fine, but the more advice i can get from great players, the more i learn!)

Second, and most importantly, why would a panel of judges choose this particular chart for a trumpet competition? Yes, its predominantly Lydian based, so i guess this different type of improv. (compared with a 12 bar blues, or another traditional, widely used set of changes) could be the adjudicator's focus, but aren't there other more trumpet-geared pieces, rather than this Joe Henderson tenor sax solo?

(Just because I mentioned it, my contrasting piece is Look to the Sky, by Antonio Carlos Jobim... i love bossas!)

Thanks for your time!
Ryan

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kadleck

(Sorry to jump in before Ingrid.)

The melody to "Inner Urge" jumps all over the horn. It's "saxophone-based", but maybe the judges would like to hear how a trumpet player deals with the challenge.

Also - I think that Wallace Roney recorded it. It may be worth checking out.

Good luck with the competition.

Tony

trpt2345

It's also Locrian based at the beginning, one of the few. There's a Yusef Lateef tune called Death in the Morning (happy chart!) which is in locrian mode. Not many. My guess is that they want you to be conversant with some modern stuff.

Michael McLaughlin

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S-Money

Hey Tony, thanks for the information and well-wishes. Ill try and find that recording... couldnt hurt!

Ryan

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TrentAustin

I have a Ralph Bowen album with one of my favs John Swana playing the tune. It's on Criss Cross and I think it's called Soul Propreitor (sp).

Actually Inner Urge is one of my absolute favorite "real book" tunes to blow on. The head isn't that tricky at all.


-T

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S-Money

OH dude, Swana recorded it? Howd i miss that?! Thanks!
Yeah, the head isnt tricky once you learn it... it was just a pretty interesting choice the first time i heard it, but its starting to grow on me

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Jon Crowley

I think its great that you're playing inner urge, what a fun tune to blow on, really one of my all time favorite tunes to play. I'd be curious to hear a recording of a trumpet player playing that melody, I always jump the octive so I don't have to take that one line up to High F or something ridiculous...but hey, that's just me! There's a lot of great saxophone tunes out there, at this point, its a sax player's world and we just live in it: better get used to it. Check out Joe's tunes Serenity and Jinrikisha.

S-Money

Ditto to jumping the octave... I'm going to try to get a recording of me playing, and if it doesnt completely suck, ill post it (for both my tunes)... its all up to my subconscious battle with stage fright!

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gridjam

How did the competition go Ryan? Sorry for not offering any deep insights but the others covered most of what I was going to say.
I love playing Inner Urge and we do a thing on it in 7 on the A sections- very fun...second half in 4 (my drummer husband and his ideas!!) it's like Giant Steps for me, have to keep on shedding it and learning the melody in a few keys to get it right in whatever octave feels good...very saxophony for sure but super fun!

gridjam

PS-You probably figured out why they chose it by now but I'm thinking beccause it really separates the men from the boys (or the chicks from the ??? whatever )trumpetwise...or the technically clear from the technically unclear...you get the idea! (Don't read into that one- ANYONE, please!)
:)