Dienda (Kenny Kirkland)

#Modernjazz #vibraphone #jazzvibes

This is a composition by the brilliant pianist Kenny Kirkland. It was first recorded on Branford Marsalis' 1986 record "Royal Garden Blues". Several years after Kirkland's untimely death in 1998, Sting wrote lyrics and recorded the song as well.

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Kenny Kirkland always occupied a strange place in my memory - I had heard of him when I was a kid, but it was before I was really experienced with jazz. I knew his playing only through Sting's record "Ten Summoner's Tales", which came out when I was still in high school and totally focused on playing drums. It wasn't until probably 2003 or 4 that I became more familiar with his music, and especially this tune "Dienda". Thank goodness for YouTube - now we can go back and watch so many concerts. You kids these days don't know how good you have it! (argh, pirate voice)

"Dienda" is one of those tunes that when written out in lead sheet form, looks extremely complicated.. and indeed on a certain level it really is. It took me years to figure out how to navigate changes like this (to the extent that I even can at all!). I realized that there are two layers - when Kenny would play this tune, his right hand would play simple harmony - F major, F minor, D minor, and C. Ahh, but the chords underneath all of that simplicity - that's where the real tension is. For example, if you play some F major shapes in the right hand, but a G13sus in the left hand, followed by a Dbma7#5 - whoa... this is where the beauty lies!

I had fun making this video. Here is how I did it:

1. I spent a few days playing this song on the vibes, singing melodies, just practicing, trying to avoid playing BS licks and really only play singable melodies..
2. I started with a scratch piano track - just chords on the downbeat.
3. Then I added a MIDI bass track.
4. I re-recorded the piano track, while reacting to the MIDI bass track...deleted the old piano track from step 2.
5. Then I recorded a REAL bass track - my bass playing isn't great but I thought that a real instrument is better than the MIDI bass, even if my lines aren't as interesting.
6. Added the vibes solo.
7. Added the drums.

It's difficult to capture a musical feeling without actually playing live with other musicians, but I think I'm getting better at it on tunes like this. I hope you enjoy! Thank you for listening/watching.

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