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Oscar Moore chord voicings?

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KW

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Feb 22, 2012, 3:24:30 AM2/22/12
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I am a budding jazz player and a bid fan of Oscar Moore and the Nat Cole
Trio. Several articles (by guitarists) mention how Moore was the first
to use the "modern chord voicings that are so common today". I find this
interesting because his swing style is anything but modern. Is anyone
aware of a teaching resource that would shine some light on his
particular style? I would love to know what chord voicings he used. Is
there a book, dvd, or website that specializes in his playing style?

Any help would be appreciated.

KW

Gerry

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Feb 22, 2012, 12:42:29 PM2/22/12
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On 2012-02-22 08:24:30 +0000, KW said:

> I am a budding jazz player and a bid fan of Oscar Moore and the Nat
> Cole Trio. Several articles (by guitarists) mention how Moore was the
> first to use the "modern chord voicings that are so common today". I
> find this interesting because his swing style is anything but modern.

Compare his playing to those that preceded him to get some context in
the use of the word "modern". Eddie Lang, George Van Eps and such.

> Is anyone aware of a teaching resource that would shine some light on
> his particular style? I would love to know what chord voicings he used.
> Is there a book, dvd, or website that specializes in his playing style?

I wish. I find both Moore's and George Barnes playing consistently
satisfying regardless of when in life they played. Great guitarists
and both pretty much forgotten.
--
There will be no economic recovery without addressing taxes:
http://tinyurl.com/76pqm4q

TD

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Feb 22, 2012, 1:41:22 PM2/22/12
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Depends by whom, of course.

-TD

Paul Mitchell Brown

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Feb 22, 2012, 6:04:06 PM2/22/12
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Oscar Moore occupies the historic and sonic middle ground between
swing guitarists such as George Van Eps, Allan Reuss and Freddie Green
and guys like Barney Kessel and Tal Farlow. Both Kessel and Kenny
Burrell regarded Moore as the "missing link". The earlier generation
of swing players tended to divide their playing between four-to-the-
bar comping, primarily on the 6-4-3-2 string set, and chord solos
(check out Reuss's "Pickin' for Patsy") where single lines are
reinforced by chord fragments around the first three strings. Moore's
contribution was to mix all that up in a more fluid manner, breaking
up the rhythm and throwing in unison lines and commentaries around Nat
King Cole's vocals and piano breaks. Moore often comped on the middle
strings (5-4-3-2) and utilized many more harmonic extensions, e.g.
9ths and 13ths in his group playing than his predecessors.

Most of the surviving footage of Oscar with Cole can be found in this
link from 41'00":

http://tinyurl.com/7kex6jq

The majority of Cole's soundies were recorded with Irving Ashby, yet
another unsung great who replaced Moore around 1947. As for books
about Moore's style, there's next to nothing. The only one I know
about but don't own myself is a folio of OM solos from the 40s. Anyone
come across this before?:

http://tinyurl.com/7mb28bv

TD

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Feb 22, 2012, 6:16:28 PM2/22/12
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On Feb 22, 6:04 pm, Paul Mitchell Brown <paulmitchellbr...@gmail.com>
wrote:
He had a wonderful sense of melody and a great tone. Appreciate your
retrospective.

-TD

james seaberry

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Feb 22, 2012, 6:53:05 PM2/22/12
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I have 2 very old books of his solos that I found long ago in Pietro Diero's music store. I will look for them and send them to you. I don't remember which stack of music books they are in......but I will find them.

Gerry

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Feb 22, 2012, 7:24:51 PM2/22/12
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Are you going to scan them? If so, put me on th list!

thomas

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Feb 22, 2012, 7:28:35 PM2/22/12
to
On Feb 22, 7:24 pm, Gerry <addr...@domain.com> wrote:
> On 2012-02-22 23:53:05 +0000, james seaberry said:
>
> > I have 2 very old books of his solos that I found long ago in Pietro
> > Diero's music store. I will look for them and send them to you. I don't
> > remember which stack of music books they are in......but I will find
> > them.
>
> Are you going to scan them?  If so, put me on th list!

Looks like you can buy one on the ebay link above. Dig that beautiful
CC pickup on his guitar.

Paul Mitchell Brown

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Feb 22, 2012, 7:46:57 PM2/22/12
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On Feb 23, 10:53 am, james seaberry <jseabe...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I have 2 very old books of his solos that I found long ago in Pietro Diero's music store. I will look for them and send them to you. I don't remember which stack of music books they are in......but I will find them.

Thanks James.

Paul Mitchell Brown

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Feb 22, 2012, 8:25:09 PM2/22/12
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The comping on this live session with Lester Young (check out the
spicy chordal stabs at each bridge) is pretty hip for 1946:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXGZo8Ehmsw

Paul Mitchell Brown

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Feb 22, 2012, 8:18:39 PM2/22/12
to
Agreed Tony and Moore's command of tone and melody is particularly
apparent on the original "Lament in Chords" recorded at his last
session with the trio:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrynCna-cjc

TD

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Feb 22, 2012, 8:49:16 PM2/22/12
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On Feb 22, 8:18 pm, Paul Mitchell Brown <paulmitchellbr...@gmail.com>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrynCna-cjc- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Great find.

get...@gmail.com

unread,
Feb 23, 2012, 9:58:14 AM2/23/12
to
Great thread. I really dig Oscar Moore's playing and have spent a lot
of time listening to him.
Ken Willinger

joel fass

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Feb 23, 2012, 10:14:04 AM2/23/12
to
On Feb 22, 12:42 pm, Gerry <addr...@domain.com> wrote:
> On 2012-02-22 08:24:30 +0000, KW said:
>
> > I am a budding jazz player and a bid fan of Oscar Moore and the Nat
> > Cole Trio. Several articles (by guitarists) mention how Moore was the
> > first to use the "modern chord voicings that are so common today". I
> > find this interesting because his swing style is anything but modern.
>
>
> I wish. I find both Moore's and George Barnes playing consistently
> satisfying regardless of when in life they played.  Great guitarists
> and both pretty much forgotten.
> --
Add to the list another forgotten man and great musician, John
Collins----speaking of guitarists in the Nat Cole Trio, among his
other achievements.

TD

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Feb 23, 2012, 10:38:47 AM2/23/12
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Indeed.

joel fass

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Feb 23, 2012, 11:03:39 AM2/23/12
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I heard him live in '86 with Monty Alexander. A Nat Cole Tribute. He
sounded great. A class act all the way.

james seaberry

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Feb 28, 2012, 9:33:41 AM2/28/12
to
I have not forgotten about scanning those 2 old books I have, I just haven't been able to locate them yet. I will keep looking and send them to you ASAP (or whoever else wants them).

Gerry

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Feb 28, 2012, 9:42:05 AM2/28/12
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Yay!

KW

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Feb 29, 2012, 11:46:31 PM2/29/12
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Yes Please!

james seaberry

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Mar 1, 2012, 9:38:45 AM3/1/12
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I will scour the house this weekend. I will find them!!! I got too many books here, there, and everywhere!

Gerry

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Mar 1, 2012, 12:20:06 PM3/1/12
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I'm thinking about cataloging my whole mess and unloading them on
unsuspecting passers-by. Perhaps we can swap some stuff out.

james seaberry

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Jul 30, 2012, 11:35:07 PM7/30/12
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Oho!!!! I finally found my Oscar Moore books!!!! They were hiding among the stacks of "Gonna-Get-To-It" sheet music. I'll scan them and send them to you tomorrow AM.

Gerry

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Jul 31, 2012, 1:38:48 AM7/31/12
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On 2012-07-31 03:35:07 +0000, james seaberry said:

> Oho!!!! I finally found my Oscar Moore books!!!! They were hiding among
> the stacks of "Gonna-Get-To-It" sheet music. I'll scan them and send
> them to you tomorrow AM.

I assume you "got to" some other interesting sheet music while boring
your way down to Oscar.

Clearly there's no rush.
--
Music is the best means we have of digesting time. -- W. H. Auden

james seaberry

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Jul 31, 2012, 12:43:54 PM7/31/12
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Gerry, send me your email to: jsea...@gmail.com

Mr Maj6th

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Jul 31, 2012, 3:48:43 PM7/31/12
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Is this offer open to everyone?

Maj6th

thomas

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Jul 31, 2012, 7:47:56 PM7/31/12
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Woohoo! Tnx, James!

thomas

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Jul 31, 2012, 7:54:05 PM7/31/12
to
On Wednesday, February 22, 2012 3:24:30 AM UTC-5, KW wrote:
> I am a budding jazz player and a bid fan of Oscar Moore and the Nat Cole
>
> Trio. Several articles (by guitarists) mention how Moore was the first
>
> to use the "modern chord voicings that are so common today". I find this
>
> interesting because his swing style is anything but modern. Is anyone
>
> aware of a teaching resource that would shine some light on his
>
> particular style? I would love to know what chord voicings he used. Is
>
> there a book, dvd, or website that specializes in his playing style?
>
>
>
> Any help would be appreciated.

In the Lester Young record linked above, you can hear Oscar using some three-note voicings such as 3 b7 9 and b7 3 13 (low to high), occasionally adding a fourth note to the chord. They are pretty much garden-variety voicings today, but they were avante-garde back in the 40s.



thomas

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Jul 31, 2012, 8:04:37 PM7/31/12
to
Listening a second time, and a little more closely, I think Oscar is thinking more in terms of four-note voicings. With my contemporary ear, I hear them as basic three-noters with an extra color note added, but I'll bet Oscar was working with a four-note model. For example, you can hear this one -- 3 b7 9 13 -- quite a bit. You can also hear him altering the interior color note in his voicings on one of those bridges.

My suggestion is that you take your guitar and learn Oscar's part off of that record, and then you'll have a great idea of how he was thinking about chords. It's really the only way to do it.

james seaberry

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Jul 31, 2012, 10:01:03 PM7/31/12
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Of course!!! Just send me your email
James

Jsea...@gmail.com

Gerry

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Jul 31, 2012, 11:51:57 PM7/31/12
to
On 2012-08-01 02:01:03 +0000, james seaberry said:

> Of course!!! Just send me your email

If others would like, I'll be glad to post it at rmmgj.blogspot.com.

tom walls

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Aug 1, 2012, 10:44:52 AM8/1/12
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On Tuesday, July 31, 2012 11:51:57 PM UTC-4, Gerry wrote:
> On 2012-08-01 02:01:03 +0000, james seaberry said:
>
>
>
> > Of course!!! Just send me your email
>
>
>
> If others would like, I'll be glad to post it at rmmgj.blogspot.com.
>

Would you please? I'd appreciate it.

alexse...@gmail.com

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Aug 1, 2012, 11:02:49 AM8/1/12
to

> > If others would like, I'll be glad to post it at rmmgj.blogspot.com.

I'm a big fan of Oscar Moore and would like to see that book. shwa...@hotmail.com

MWC

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Aug 5, 2012, 6:32:36 PM8/5/12
to
I'd also appreciate a copy: mcr...@yahoo.com
Unless it's coming to rmmgj.blogspot.com; then I can wait....
Thanks!
Mike

rom...@gmail.com

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Sep 21, 2013, 5:49:59 AM9/21/13
to
I'd like to see the book, too!

rom...@gmail.com

charlieguitar

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Sep 21, 2013, 9:31:20 AM9/21/13
to
Well there is always the book....soon we will see find out what secrets will be revealed! Thanks James!

ott...@hotmail.com

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Sep 21, 2013, 10:08:05 AM9/21/13
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> In the Lester Young record linked above, you can hear Oscar using some three-note voicings such as 3 b7 9 and b7 3 13 (low to high), occasionally adding a fourth note to the chord. They are pretty much garden-variety voicings today, but they were avante-garde back in the 40s.

I only heard the first bridge and had to go, but it seems I heard a Sus 4 chord as well as a #11 in there somewhere.
Bg

Gerry

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Sep 21, 2013, 10:55:09 AM9/21/13
to
On 2012-02-22 08:24:30 +0000, KW said:

> I am a budding jazz player and a bid fan of Oscar Moore and the Nat
> Cole Trio. Several articles (by guitarists) mention how Moore was the
> first to use the "modern chord voicings that are so common today". I
> find this interesting because his swing style is anything but modern.
> Is anyone aware of a teaching resource that would shine some light on
> his particular style?

I think the two-volume Micky Baker books pretty much cover it.

> I would love to know what chord voicings he used. Is there a book, dvd,
> or website that specializes in his playing style?
>
> Any help would be appreciated.
>
> KW


--
Those who wish to sing always find a song. -- Swedish proverb

albertoma...@gmail.com

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Dec 19, 2018, 5:50:14 AM12/19/18
to
Il giorno mercoledì 22 febbraio 2012 09:24:30 UTC+1, KW ha scritto:
> I am a budding jazz player and a bid fan of Oscar Moore and the Nat Cole
> Trio. Several articles (by guitarists) mention how Moore was the first
> to use the "modern chord voicings that are so common today". I find this
> interesting because his swing style is anything but modern. Is anyone
> aware of a teaching resource that would shine some light on his
> particular style? I would love to know what chord voicings he used. Is
> there a book, dvd, or website that specializes in his playing style?
>
> Any help would be appreciated.
>
> KW

Hi guys, i've read the messages above, i'm looking for some trancription of Oscar More. But it seams that links that you put on this conversetion some years ago now are not avaiable.. can someone repost a new link or just send me the documents?
thank you!

Gerry

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Dec 19, 2018, 3:34:52 PM12/19/18
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On 2018-12-19 10:50:12 +0000, albertoma...@gmail.com said:
Check your email.

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