Final Exam Assignment – Piano Lab, Semester V

Name: Rahul Jhunjhunwala

BATCH – TYBPA - Semester V, 2020

Topic: Study analysis of playing styles of Red Garland & Herbie Hancock

Introduction

As part of my study analysis of two piano players, I have selected Red Garland &
Herbie Hancock. The reason why I have selected these two artists is because they
both have been part of the Miles Davis Quintet and it would be nice to look at what
changes or what new they offered as part of the quintet and how did they approach
playing in the quintet with Miles.
The Miles Davis Quintet was an American jazz band from 1955 to early 1969 led
by Miles Davis. The quintet underwent frequent personnel changes toward its
metamorphosis into a different ensemble in 1969.
Most references pertain to two distinct and relatively stable bands: The First Great
Quintet from 1955 to 1958; and the Second Great Quintet from late 1964 to early
1969, Davis being the only constant throughout.
The members of the First Quintet were -  Sonny Rollins on tenor saxophone, Red
Garland on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums.
The Second Quintet with Herbie Hancock on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Tony
Williams on drums. Initially with George Coleman or Sam Rivers on tenor sax, the
final piece of the puzzle would arrive in late 1964 with saxophonist Wayne Shorter.

Study Analysis of piano playing by Red Garland & Herbie Hancock

If I Were a Bell - YouTube – Red Garland

If I Were A Bell - Miles Davis - YouTube – Herbie Hancock

These are two different recordings of the same jazz standard.

First one is with Miles & his first quintet which has Red Garland in it.
Second one is with his second quintet which has Herbie Hancock in it.
Red Garland’s solo on If I were a bell

Example 1 – Bar 43 & 44 – showcasing Garland’s one of the signature lick & overall
in the pocket playing over the chord changes.

Example 2 – showcasing snippet of Garland playing chord melody over the chord
changes of If I were a bell.
Rhythm – The first thing that we immediately notice is the tempo in which the piece
is being performed in. With the Red Garland, the tune is played at a medium swing
and the entire piece maintains a steady groove. Whereas when we listen to the
version with Herbie Hancock, the band decides to play the tune at up-tempo swing.
This definitely brings a change in approaching the same tune in two different ways.
Also, the band goes into half time when the piano solo begins and come backs to up-
tempo which keeps the entire thing super interesting.

Comping – The most obvious thing we hear when Red Garland plays the piano is
the way he used to comp with his left hand. The steady comping that he maintains
throughout the piece when Miles is soloing or Coltrane is taking a solo is quite easy
to hear.
Whereas when Herbie plays the tune, he isn’t keeping his comping that busy.
Wherever there is a space he might play a block chord or two. It is more like an
accented block chords and not a continuous pattern.

Voicings – Red Garland typically has shell voicings in his left hand which has a
steady rhythmic pattern. The right hand is mostly playing counter melodies or
extensions of the chords and supporting the comp.
Herbie is playing rootless voicings in the recording. He is also responding to the
soloists and playing counter melodies.

Articulations & Dynamics – Red Garland has got a very legato playing. His touch
is soft and he keeps on varying it which builds interest. He plays short phrases and
some of well-known licks can be heard by him.
Herbie on the hand has got a very textural playing. He uses the high registers
extensively to create more colour in his playing. Overall, the touch of both the
pianists is quite similar in this particular recording.

Solo - Red Garland is playing the changes very clearly in the solo. He is also comping
with his left hand and soloing with right hand. Very in the pocket playing. We also
see some instances of chord-melody used in his solos. There is a use of pentatonic
scales. (Reference: Example 1 & 2 above)
Herbie is got a very melodic playing. He plays small motifs and then develops that
idea. He is got a very textural playing and uses high registers. You will hear him
going out in certain places.
 Original Compositions
Red Garland

Red Garland Quintet - Red's Good Groove - YouTube

I couldn’t find many tunes composed by Red Garland. But this one tune that he
wrote “Red’s Good Groove” is quite famous. It’s a standard 12 bar blues. The head of
the tune is very melodic. He recorded this tune with is quintet in 1962 and released
on Jazzland label.

The solo played by Red is also very melodic. Lot of chord-melody used in it. Use of
chromatic lines and unison playing with both the hands at least in few parts of the
form. This piece says that Red had a lot of scope in composition as well but he was
more of a classic interpreter. He used to play standards in his way and his piano solos
are extremely melodic in all his other albums where he is playing jazz standards.

Herbie Hancock

Herbie Hancock on the other hand composed a lot of tunes. He has lot of original
albums in his name. My personal favourite from his compositions being “Sonrisa”.

Herbie Hancock - Sonrisa - YouTube

But let us take a look at Watermelon Man from Takin’ Off, debut album that he
released in 1962 with Blue Note Records.

Watermelon Man - YouTube

Hancock joined bassist Butch Warren and drummer Billy Higgins in the rhythm

section, with Freddie Hubbard on trumpet and Dexter Gordon on tenor saxophone.
Example 1: showcasing piano vamp on Watermelon Man by Herbie Hancock.

Example 2: showcasing piano vamp on Maiden Voyage by Herbie Hancock.

Herbie wrote lot of pieces where a constant vamp was played by one of the
instruments. In this case, piano is playing and establishing the groove by that vamp.
His tune Maiden Voyage also has a vamp that is constant in the entire tune.
(Reference: Example 1 & 2 above)

The debut album has lot of bluesy solos and lot of melodic character into it. Herbie
also is playing some really interesting lines considering it was his first album as a
band leader.
Herbie experimented a lot with his sound. He recreated this same tune and added
funk elements to it later for his album Head Hunters in 1973.
Watermelon Man - YouTube (Head Hunters)

To conclude...

Herbie experimented a lot with his sound playing clavinet & Rhodes. He was very
young compared to Red Garland, who was always on the piano. They indeed have lot
of similarities but the main difference would be time period. Herbie got more
opportunities to try new sound because of the differences in time period. Red
Garland was more of an interpreter and always played on the piano. His solos are
something every piano student should study and transcribe.