"Throughout" harmonic help please

[Clifford-D]

This is "Throughout" by Bill Frisell, just the comping not the melody
Very nice tune
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPmzXY3r540

play each measure 4x

.....Bbdim7.........D/A.........C#7/G#........F#m
|-|------------|------------|------------|------------|
|-|------------|------------|------------|------------|
|-|*-----6---6-|-----7---7--|-----4---4--|-----2---2--|
|-|*---5---5---|---4---4----|---3---3----|------------|
|-|------------|------------|------------|---4---4----|
|-|--6---------|-5----------|-4----------|-2----------|

.....Bm7b5..........A/C#
|--------------|-------------|-|
|--------------|-------------|-|
|-------7---7--|-----9---9--*|-|
|--------------|---7---7----*|-|
|-----8---8----|-------------|-|
|---7----------|-9-----------|-|

So how might you think Friz is thinking harmonically, I know he's not bound to anything.
Jims right there also but it's Friz I'm interested in here.

I guess this is a single note improv question as much as a chord family connection type question



Does this remind you of an xmas tune about "city sidewalks"?

 

[sausagefingers]

Does this remind you of an xmas tune about "city sidewalks"?

yes, my favorite Christmas tune, Silver Bells. But Bing didn't sing it quite like Frisell.

 

[deforce]

On paper I'd view the first chord as A7b9 resolving to D. Then you have a a V-I in F#m, and the last 2 I see the Bm7b5 as a fragment of a E7b9 resolving to A.

 

[Clifford-D]

On paper I'd view the first chord as A7b9 resolving to D. Then you have a a V-I in F#m, and the last 2 I see the Bm7b5 as a fragment of a E7b9 resolving to A.

Duh, I see all that. Simple

In a weird way, it completes a diatonic circle of 4ths in A.

I.IV.....vii........III7..vi.....ii..........V.....I
A D (G#m7b5) C#7 F#m Bm7b5 (E7b9) A

The G#m7b5 and the E7b9 are left out (or blurred).
Use of a secondary dom C#7 leading to the F#m, totally common.

My thought would be that it is Bm7b5 as well as suggesting the E7b9, one of the blurry areas.
You don't need the root on the E7b9. But I believe the sound is the Bm7b5.
I really like the effect of going from the last A/C# back to the beginning Bbdim7

I think the end result sound of the progression does a good job of masking the circle.
Actually it becomes an opportunity to expand my undersounding of what the sounds of the circle can be.

Ok, thinking vertically, what exotic scales are available (beyond A major)?
I could/will come up with some on my own, it's just that it's Saturday and
what the heck, if I can chat about this stuff. I mean that mercurial sound
Bill has, can't/isn't just the A major scale. (further masking the circle)
Mercurial is exotic.
Serious transcribing.

So any thoughts on the "Friz scale" options anyone?

 

[Clifford-D]

yes, my favorite Christmas tune, Silver Bells. But Bing didn't sing it quite like Frisell.

Cool, so you hear that theme also, it's not just me.

Very typical of Friz to use hints of themes in his writing. To me when I hear this and other tunes I get this "where have I heard that" hit. Like an old memory.