Foxtrot3

A transcription and performance of Red Garland’s piano solo on When Lights Are Low, recorded by Miles Davis in his album Cookin’ With The Miles Davis Quintet (1956).

A transcription and performance of Red Garland’s piano solo on Straight, No Chaser, recorded by Miles Davis in his album Milestones (1958).

A transcription and performance of Red Garland's piano block chord head on P.S. I Love You, recorded by Arnett Cobb in his album Ballads by Cobb (1960).

A transcription and performance of Red Garland's piano intro and solo on You Say You Care, recorded by John Coltrane in his album Soultrane (1958).

A transcription and performance of Thelonious Monk's piano solo #2 on Just You, Just Me, played live at the Blackhawk in 1960 and released on his album The Complete Riverside Recordings.

A transcription and performance Wave - Antônio Carlos Jobim's complete piano part including head, solo, comping and outro on Wave, recorded by Jobim in his album Wave (1967).

A transcription and performance of Red Garland's piano intro, head, and solo on Ahmad's Blues, recorded by Miles Davis in his album Workin' with the Miles Davis Quintet (1955). An homage to Ahmad Jamal's original "Ahmad's Blues", this features Red Garland's classic block chord style with long delicate lines reminiscent of Jamal's playing.

A transcription and performance of Red Garland's piano solo on Little Melonae, recorded by Miles Davis in his album Basic Miles: The Classic Performances of Miles Davis (1955). Red Garland's solo on this recording is unusual for his style, utilising the lower trombone register of the instrument reminiscent of Lennie Tristano's style and completely omitting the use of left hand comping.

A transcription and performance of Red Garland's piano part in Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year, recorded by Red Garland in his album All Kinds Of Weather (1958). This transcription includes intro and the head with Red's classic block chord style, and the solo where he is quite flexible in his use of left hand chord qualities in an otherwise relatively simple progression and a beautiful light touch in his lines which I attempted to emulate in this performance.

A transcription and performance of Antônio Carlos Jobim's solo in Insensatez (How Insensitive), recorded by Stan Getz & Luiz Bonfá their album Jazz Samba Encore! (1963). Jobim has a nice laid back feel which is integral to his style. The performance tries to emulate this feel. Includes Jobim's left hand as well!

A transcription and performance of Hank Jones's solo in Autumn Leaves, recorded by Cannonball Adderley on his album Somethin' Else (1958). Tried to focus on copying Hank's incredible feel and timing. Includes left hand voicings as well!

An attempt at a transcription + performance of Red Garland's solo in Bye Bye Blackbird, originally recorded by the Miles Davis Quintet on their album 'Round Midnight (1956). Includes left hand voicings!

Here is an interesting video from Kent Hewitt that demonstrates 10th voicings in the left hand quite well. From 3:20 onwards. Seems like Kent rolls some of his 10ths to good effect as well. [video:youtube] Here's another one: [video:youtube]

Thanks for all of the responses guys. It's somewhat reassuring that we are all faced with the same issue of hand span... Are there any examples of good chord rolling done in a jazz context? Perhaps some YouTube videos or specific records would be great.

My jazz teacher showed me some great new voicings with wide intervals last week. To my disappointment, I realised when I tried them out on my own piano that my hands were simply too small to attempt these voicings involving 9th and 10ths on one hand. I have heard some suggestions involving the rolling chord technique, which I have heard being done to great effect in classical pieces. However, I had trouble finding some good inspiring examples of players rolling chords, either as left hand comping during their own solo, or both hands comping for other instruments. Are there any good examples of records that demonstrate some of this technique or any famous players rolling chords to reach wider intervals while comping?