Through Improvisation, Music Producer Creates Unconventional Mashups
Through Improvisation, Music Producer Creates Unconventional Mashups
Craig Hartley makes unexpected juxtapositions, including Bach with a Miles Davis overlay, and a John Lennon with a Bill Evans backdrop, on his new album, "Books on Tape Vol. II — Standard Edition."
(SOUNDBITE OF MILES DAVIS' "SOLAR")
SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
This is the Miles Davis tune from the 1950s called "Solar" - found its way into a surprising new context for an artist who's created some intriguing mashups of pop, jazz and classical music.
(SOUNDBITE OF CRAIG HARTLEY'S, "SINCLAIR (PRELUDE NO. 2 IN C MINOR + SOLAR)")
CRAIG HARTLEY: My name is Craig Hartley. I'm a music producer, composer and performer.
(SOUNDBITE OF CRAIG HARTLEY'S "SINCLAIR (PRELUDE NO. 2 IN C MINOR + SOLAR)")
HARTLEY: So the beginning - this is the prelude - Bach's prelude in C minor straight-up. This is the tune itself.
(SOUNDBITE OF CRAIG HARTLEY'S "SINCLAIR (PRELUDE NO. 2 IN C MINOR + SOLAR)")
HARTLEY: And then from here, I'll go off and keep the left hand sort of harmony-intact and start improvising in my right hand over the Bach.
(SOUNDBITE OF CRAIG HARTLEY'S "SINCLAIR (PRELUDE NO. 2 IN C MINOR + SOLAR)")
HARTLEY: And now "Solar" is introduced on top of Bach's harmony.
(SOUNDBITE OF CRAIG HARTLEY'S "SINCLAIR (PRELUDE NO. 2 IN C MINOR + SOLAR)")
HARTLEY: When I play my music, I just start playing it. And actually, people are surprised when they start hearing Miles Davis. They're a little bit confused because I think, you know, we start to play classical. And it's - you know, it's sort of a jazz trio-looking ensemble. So when we begin playing - when I begin playing - a classical piece, they're sort of like, whoa.
(SOUNDBITE OF CRAIG HARTLEY'S "SINCLAIR (PRELUDE NO. 2 IN C MINOR + SOLAR)")
HARTLEY: I really love combine sort of multiple influences to create new ideas. So these juxtapositions are - have become sort of like a part of me in a way.
(SOUNDBITE OF CRAIG HARTLEY'S "IMAGINE PEACE PIECE")
HARTLEY: So this is "Peace Piece," which is composed by Bill Evans. This beginning - this left-hand piano part, which was instrumental in terms of harmony and jazz piano that Bill Evans introduced - it's a beautiful chord progression.
(SOUNDBITE OF CRAIG HARTLEY'S "IMAGINE PEACE PIECE")
HARTLEY: And then right there begins the introduction of sort of "Imagine" - John Lennon's "Imagine."
(SOUNDBITE OF CRAIG HARTLEY'S "IMAGINE PEACE PIECE")
HARTLEY: And now the melody of "Imagine" is introduced.
(SOUNDBITE OF CRAIG HARTLEY'S "IMAGINE PEACE PIECE")
HARTLEY: Now, keeping the same theme of "Peace Piece," we'll switch keys and follow sort of the progression of "Imagine."
(SOUNDBITE OF CRAIG HARTLEY'S "IMAGINE PEACE PIECE")
HARTLEY: This sort of developed naturally and spontaneously. This one was eerily spontaneous. And I wrote this one when I was 19. So yes - quite a while ago.
(SOUNDBITE OF CRAIG HARTLEY'S "IMAGINE PEACE PIECE")
HARTLEY: I'm a huge fan of Bill Evans and the Beatles and a variety of music. And sort of being able to combine these things has been more rewarding than I can actually express. I guess that's why I play.
(SOUNDBITE OF CRAIG HARTLEY'S "IMAGINE PEACE PIECE")
HARTLEY: My new album is "Books On Tape Vol. II - Standard Edition." "Standard Edition" is covering standards - so, like, the American Songbook but also standards like John Lennon and the Beatles and Bach - so a variety of standards from multiple influences and genres.
I kind of go along with this theme of books on tapes. There's a "Books On Tape Vol. I." There's actually a precursor to that, which is just "Books On Tape." They're sort of, like, stories. You know, these are stories and books - audio books, really - that I'm writing of my life and my experiences expressed through song.
(SOUNDBITE OF CRAIG HARTLEY'S "IMAGINE PEACE PIECE")
SIMON: Pianist, producer and composer Craig Hartley.
Copyright © 2016 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.