Dragonfly – Peter Bernstein
A laid-back, rather funky song based on a vamp with a few variations. Melody transcriptions are available for both studio and live versions.
- Recording: Peter Bernstein - Earth Tones
- Recorded on: December 14, 1997
- Label: Criss Cross Jazz (1151)
- Concert Key: C minor
- Style: Even 8ths (medium)
- Guitar - Peter Bernstein
- Organ - Larry Goldings
- Drums - Bill Stewart
This laid-back medium tempo song has a groove somewhere between bossa and boogaloo. This groove lacks a backbeat or a clave but uses the kind of drum pattern that has cross stick on each beat. Over this is an organ vamp, a slightly funky repeating one-measure figure with voicings in fourths. The melody descends in a bluesy, mostly pentatonic spiral.
It may at first seem like a 24-measure blues, with A♭7 (♭VI) instead of a IV chord, but it is actually a 16-measure A section that does not go to the V. After two of these A sections there is an eight-measure bridge that rises and falls based on alternating dominant 7♯9 chords with sus chords a half step lower. The eight-measure C section is the same as the first half of the A section.
It may at first seem like a 24-measure blues, with A♭7 (♭VI) instead of a IV chord, but it is actually a 16-measure A section that does not go to the V. After two of these A sections there is an eight-measure bridge that rises and falls based on alternating dominant 7♯9 chords with sus chords a half step lower. The eight-measure C section is the same as the first half of the A section.
For more from "Earth Tones," check out Pivot and Metamorphosis. This album was Peter’s fourth as a leader; his first five were all released on the Criss Cross label. “Earth Tones” was also the sixth album on which Peter played alongside Larry Goldings and Bill Stewart.
As one of the master melody interpreters on guitar, Peter Bernstein is an ideal model for guitarists of all abilities to study.
Our Melody Transcription of Dragonfly from""Earth Tones" captures all the idiosyncrasies that make Bernstein's playing so tasteful: articulations, slurs, embellishments and rhythmic nuances. In particular, guitarists should notice how Bernstein judiciously chooses to play chords to bring out the hits on the B section.
Our Melody Transcription of Dragonfly from""Earth Tones" captures all the idiosyncrasies that make Bernstein's playing so tasteful: articulations, slurs, embellishments and rhythmic nuances. In particular, guitarists should notice how Bernstein judiciously chooses to play chords to bring out the hits on the B section.
- Recording: Peter Bernstein - Live At Smoke 2004
- Recorded on: 2004
- Label: Smoke Records (live 2004)
- Concert Key: C minor
- Style: Even 8ths (medium)
- Guitar - Peter Bernstein
- Organ - Larry Goldings
- Drums - Bill Stewart
This live version is a little faster and has a different organ vamp, accenting beat 2 and the "and" of 3 instead of the "and" of 2 and 4 as in the first recording. Peter's melody interpretation, as shown by our Melody Transcription, is looser and more laid back. On the 2nd and 9th measures of the A sections, he frequently starts the melody on the downbeat and stretches it out to quarter note triplets; in the first version this part often starts on the "and" of 1 in eighth notes. He adds three-note voicings at the beginning of the bridge. Unlike the original recording, where the out melody starts at the bridge, this version's out melody has one A section for an ABC form.
This live recording included the same personnel from the 1997 "Earth Tones" CD.
Smoke Jazz Club established its own record label, Smoke Sessions, in 2014. Peter Bernstein has so far played on six Smoke Sessions albums: two by Jimmy Cobb, one each by Harold Mabern, and Peter’s own albums "Signs Live!" and "Let Loose."
Smoke Jazz Club established its own record label, Smoke Sessions, in 2014. Peter Bernstein has so far played on six Smoke Sessions albums: two by Jimmy Cobb, one each by Harold Mabern, and Peter’s own albums "Signs Live!" and "Let Loose."
This Melody Transcription of Dragonfly from a later live version provides additional insight into Peter Bernstein's phrasing. Compared to the take from "Earth Tones," here Bernstein takes a more laid back approach to rhythm. In addition, notice his more extensive use of chords to outline rhythm section hits on the B sections.
This transcription is a great starting place for intermediate guitarists to practice interpreting melodies.
This transcription is a great starting place for intermediate guitarists to practice interpreting melodies.
Peter Bernstein
born on September 3, 1967
Jazz guitarist Peter Bernstein has been a part of the jazz scene in New York and abroad since 1989. During that time he has participated in over 80 recordings and numerous festival, concert and club performances with musicians from all generations. Read more...