Part 8/13:
The Craft of Arrangement and Improvisation
Al shares his approach to reimagining familiar tunes such as The Beatles' "Norwegian Wood" or "Yesterday" for instrumental guitar. His process begins with deeply appreciating the original melody, then extending and improvising around it—adding sections, elongating phrases, and emphasizing harmonic colors. His emphasis on respecting the music's soul while exploring personal interpretive variations results in arrangements that are both faithful and innovative.
He discusses how rhythm and harmony are interconnected, often starting with the melody and then building rhythmic counterpoint or contrapuntal layers. His practice involves not just technical execution but also an intuitive feel for the story within each piece.