Ice White Blues – Jeanfrançois Prins & Judy Niemack

This contemporary blues with a bridge features a saucy Latin groove with a double-time feel, making it a nice set-ender. The unusual melodic movement in the accompaniment, a suspended fourth moving to the third, provides a unique flavor on the "A" sections which build up to an energetic Funk groove on the bridge.

The notation reflects Judy's performance; feel free to interpret it your way.

Lyric Description: One day, a close friend of Judy's told her that they'd have to put their friendship "on ice" for a while, with no explanation of why or when the friendship might resume. Judy was hurt, and the phrase kept coming back to her, so she decided to turn it into a blues. She wrote the lyrics and melody, Jeanfrançois Prins re-harmonized a 12-measure blues, added a bridge, and the Ice White Blues was born. The lyric tells the story of a betrayal by a lover who then thinks they can return to the relationship later as if nothing has happened. The singer's heart is running hot and cold; she's "burning with the ice white blues."

No-Vocal Version: This song works well performed in duo, with a guitar trio, or with a guitar trio plus piano, as we have done in the recorded version available here, featuring pianist Jim McNeely. Soloists can improvise over the 12-bar blues section ("A"), and a vocal repetition of the bridge can be used as an interlude between solos. After the instrumental solos, the vocalist can return with the bridge, the final "A" section, and tag. The song can also be performed without any improvised solos, simply singing one chorus, returning to the bridge, and singing through to the tag ending for a more compact version like the recorded version here.

If another key would be better for you, send the key you'd like to Don and we'll post the transposition on the website for purchase. If you're not sure which key is best, send us your range and we'll work with you to figure out the best key.