Kenny Kirkland Bring on the Night Piano Solo Analysis
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Bring On The Night – Kenny Kirkland pianosolo Yeah that's a great piece of improv in the moment. When I hear Kenny's solo, I am reminded of Herbie Hancock's solo at the end of "Hang Up Your Hang-Ups". Skip ahead and check out minute 5:30 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=FgBrPQCSdW4 Some of the same elements are present. I am sure Kenny listened to a bunch of Herbie's funk era for inspiration. So far as scales go, I hear the minor blues scale first and foremost, as well as bluesy piano licks in the right hand when the I chord is reached. The overall chord progression I'm hearing is Flat-6, Flat-7, 1, 1. Written out, that's: bVI bVII i i. Also, when the i chord is reached, he substitutes a modal sound on the i, giving it a suspended feel. When modes are used over the Flat-6 and Flat-7, Mixolydian is what I'm hearing. And Dorian is used over the i chord. Dorian along with a suspended I chord (I sus4) gives the tonic key a more modern jazz piano sound. As for as left hand goes, you can use Herbie Hancock/ Bill Evans-type rootless L.H. dominant 9/13 voicings for everything and just transpose them up through the chord sequence. When he plays modal, L.H. is typically quartal harmony, 3 notes separated by 4ths intervals. The left hand voicing can then be locked and then moved up and down the Mixolydian or Dorian mode (depending on what part of the chord sequence you're in at the moment), creating a parallel McCoy Tyner effect. Finally, during the couple of moments when he plays "outside" (or out of the key), the trick is to use those quartal 3-note voicings and play both hands a half-step too high. The left hand can rise chromatically during the right hand flourishes for a more tense, dramatic effect. These are more general approaches and conceptions. You might be able to locate an actual transcription of this on PianoFiles, due to the popularity of this solo. Found it being played on a virtual piano - you can see the keys being played: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=wAEDSo-6cqI Hope this helps! -Erich
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brief analysis Bring On The Night
Transcript of Kenny Kirkland Bring on the Night Piano Solo Analysis
Bring On The Night – Kenny Kirkland pianosolo
Yeah that's a great piece of improv in the moment. When I hear Kenny's solo, I am reminded of Herbie Hancock's solo at the end of "Hang Up Your Hang-Ups". Skip ahead and check out minute 5:30 -http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=FgBrPQCSdW4
Some of the same elements are present. I am sure Kenny listened to a bunch of Herbie's funk era for inspiration.
So far as scales go, I hear the minor blues scale first and foremost, as well as bluesy piano licks in the right hand when the I chord is reached. The overall chord progression I'm hearing is Flat-6, Flat-7, 1, 1. Written out, that's: bVI bVII i i. Also, when the i chord is reached, he substitutes a modal sound on the i, giving it a suspended feel. When modes are used over the Flat-6 and Flat-7, Mixolydian is what I'm hearing. And Dorian is used over the i chord. Dorian along with a suspended I chord (I sus4) gives the tonic key a more modern jazz piano sound.
As for as left hand goes, you can use Herbie Hancock/ Bill Evans-type rootless L.H. dominant 9/13 voicings for everything and just transpose them up through the chord sequence. When he plays modal, L.H. is typically quartal harmony, 3 notes separated by 4ths intervals. The left hand voicing can then be locked and then moved up and down the Mixolydian or Dorian mode (depending on what part of the chord sequence you're in at the moment), creating a parallel McCoy Tyner effect.
Finally, during the couple of moments when he plays "outside" (or out of the key), the trick is to use those quartal 3-note voicings and play both hands a half-step too high. The left hand can rise chromatically during the right hand flourishes for a more tense, dramatic effect.
These are more general approaches and conceptions. You might be able to locate an actual transcription of this on PianoFiles, due to the popularity of this solo.
Found it being played on a virtual piano - you can see the keys being played:http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=wAEDSo-6cqI
Hope this helps! -Erich
