Simple As That – Peter Bernstein
This laid-back, bluesy swinger has an irregular form. Peter has recorded it three times, in two different keys.
- Recording: Peter Bernstein - Heart's Content
- Recorded on: December 14, 2002
- Label: Criss Cross Jazz (1233)
- Concert Key: G minor
- Style: Swing (medium slow)
- Guitar - Peter Bernstein
- Piano - Brad Mehldau
- Bass - Larry Grenadier
- Drums - Bill Stewart
Video
- Peter Bernstein's SIMPLE AS THAT performed by Larry Goldings, organ; Peter Bernstein, guitar; Bill Stewart, drums. Recorded by WBGO at the Village Vanguard, November 13, 2013.
This first version of Simple As That is in G minor, rather than F minor as written in the lead sheet. Despite the different key, it is otherwise quite similar in tempo, mood, and arrangement. The piano plays the melody in the intro, and the guitar melody of the coda is played an octave lower than in the later trio version. It should be noted that concert key instrumentalists can read from the B♭ lead sheet (in the concert key of F minor) to play this song in G minor.
Click on the third album cover for more information about the song itself.
Click on the third album cover for more information about the song itself.
"Heart's Content" is Peter's fifth album as a leader, and the first of two featuring this quartet lineup as Peter Bernstein + 3. Pianist Brad Mehldau had previously played on Bernstein's first two albums, "Somethin's Burnin'" and "Signs of Life." The two Peter Bernstein + 3 albums are the only recordings so far featuring Mehldau and Bill Stewart.
While our C lead sheet for guitar is in the key of F minor, guitarists interested in playing the tune in G minor, as recorded in 2002 and 2009, can reference our B♭ lead sheet. However, since it is written in the sounding register, guitarists will have to read it up an octave.
Suited for intermediate guitarists looking to expand their harmonic vocabulary and advanced guitarists looking for performance repertoire, Simple As That is an elegant yet soulful medium swinger.
Suited for intermediate guitarists looking to expand their harmonic vocabulary and advanced guitarists looking for performance repertoire, Simple As That is an elegant yet soulful medium swinger.
- Recording: Planet Jazz - Live At Smalls
- Recorded on: August 23-24, 2009
- Label: Smalls Live (SL 0011)
- Concert Key: G minor
- Style: Swing (medium slow)
- Trumpet - Joe Magnarelli
- Tenor Sax - Jerry Weldon
- Guitar - Peter Bernstein
- Piano - Spike Wilner
- Bass - Neal Miner
- Drums - Joe Strasser
Here this song, again in G minor, is fleshed out into a "3-horn" arrangement with trumpet, tenor sax and guitar. Much of the head is harmonized, with the guitar playing the melody alone with the rhythm section at A. In addition the rhythm section is more arranged on the head, with a 12/8 groove on the intro, the last four measures of the B section, and the D section/interlude. The coda ends with different chords.
The sextet Planet Jazz was originally founded by drummer/composer Johnny Ellis, who died in 1999 at the age of 44 and never recorded as a leader. "Live At Smalls" is the second Planet Jazz album; the first, "In Orbit," was recorded in 2006 with Grant Stewart instead of Jerry Weldon on tenor sax.
While our C lead sheet for guitar is in the key of F minor, guitarists interested in playing the tune in G minor, as recorded in 2002 and 2009, can reference our B♭ lead sheet. However, since it is written in the sounding register, guitarists will have to read it up an octave.
Suited for intermediate guitarists looking to expand their harmonic vocabulary and advanced guitarists looking for performance repertoire, Simple As That is an elegant yet soulful medium swinger.
Suited for intermediate guitarists looking to expand their harmonic vocabulary and advanced guitarists looking for performance repertoire, Simple As That is an elegant yet soulful medium swinger.
- Recording: Larry Goldings - Ramshackle Serenade
- Recorded on: 2014
- Label: Pirouet Records (PIT 3077)
- Concert Key: F minor
- Style: Swing (medium slow)
- Guitar - Peter Bernstein
- Organ - Larry Goldings
- Drums - Bill Stewart
Peter chose this recent recording as the source for our lead sheet. It's in F minor, unlike the other two versions in G minor (see "Heart's Content" and "Live At Smalls").
This song is laid-back and bluesy with a mostly pentatonic A section melody. The changes are II-V7-based—largely tonal in the head, but more chromatic on the intro. The form is irregular, with a 9-measure A section, 10-measure B, and C based on A but only seven measures long. The four-measure D section is the same as the intro and is played only after the in and out heads, with the solo form ABC. The A, B and C sections all contain a repeating II-V7 near the end, with longer melody notes. This gives the song a unique folkish quality, creating more space around the melodic theme material to let it sink in.
This song is laid-back and bluesy with a mostly pentatonic A section melody. The changes are II-V7-based—largely tonal in the head, but more chromatic on the intro. The form is irregular, with a 9-measure A section, 10-measure B, and C based on A but only seven measures long. The four-measure D section is the same as the intro and is played only after the in and out heads, with the solo form ABC. The A, B and C sections all contain a repeating II-V7 near the end, with longer melody notes. This gives the song a unique folkish quality, creating more space around the melodic theme material to let it sink in.
The trio of Larry Goldings, Peter Bernstein, and Bill Stewart also recorded together on Larry's 2002 album "Sweet Science" and the collaborative 2011 album "Live at Smalls."
Our C lead sheet is the perfect resource for guitarists familiar with the 2014 version of this tune—here in the key of F minor. Written in the appropriate octave for guitar, it includes the basic melody, chord changes, hits and coda. With a slower swing groove and fast-moving, sophisticated changes, Simple As That will force intermediate and advanced guitarists to address harmonic and rhythmic challenges.
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...