"Good improvisation communicates harmonic progression melodically. Effective melodies manipulate harmonic content through the use of guide tones and preparatory gravity notes, masterfully woven in systematic tension, release, and transparent harmonic definition."
For those of you who might have missed the great mandolin innovator, Jethro Burn's birthday (born March 10, 1920, Knoxville, TN), we swiped a great "Top Ten" list from his most famous protege, Don Stiernberg for you to enjoy (thanks, Don!):
TOP TEN WAYS TO PAY TRIBUTE TO OUR FAVORITE MANDOLIN PLAYER ON HIS BIRTHDAY:
1. Try to play Tico -Tico
2. Arrange a tune chord-melody style
3. Have a baloney sandwich
4. Dig up the old Mandolin World News magazines and re-read "Jethro Speaks" columns. All are great, but perhaps "Recipe for Possum Quiche" would best suit the occasion
5. Try to play "Jethro's Tune". At tempo.
6. Listen again to "Playing it Straight" and "It Ain't Necessarily Square", the Holy Grail of jazz mandolin.
7. Play "When You Wish Upon a Star", his favorite tune (or 'chune,' as Jeffo might say..)
8. Go to YouTube and experience some of the Homer and Jethro magic
9. Listen to Back to Back
10. Revisit his Mel Bay tutorials. You know, the ones Carlo Aonzo has memorized by page number. Any page will do.
11. Play the notes on your mandolin as cleanly as possible.
12. Put a bunch of triplets into your solo. Also quote "Nola".
13. Make a prediction about the likelihood of a Cubs' World Series victory.
14. End on a C7b5
15. Play your mandolin for fun, and to make other people happy.
.....sorry, I couldn't keep it to just ten.
Love You Jethro,
donnie
_________________
sincerely, Don Stiernberg
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March 11, 2009 | Happy Birthday Jethro Burns
