Stride Piano Techniques – “Body and Soul” Breakdown

Welcome to this deep dive into the stride left-hand style used in the jazz standard Body and Soul. In this lesson, we analyze the approach of jazz pianist Bia Jare, focusing on how she creates a rich and dynamic sound through stride piano techniques, chord substitutions, and melodic embellishments.

This session contrasts the laid-back lounge style of another pianist, Pianist Italiano, with Bia Jare’s more rhythmically driven and harmonically adventurous interpretation. By the end of this lesson, you’ll have a clearer understanding of stride piano, how to construct left-hand patterns, and how to incorporate sophisticated fills and voicings into your playing.

Understanding the Stride Left-Hand Approach

Stride piano is a foundational jazz technique where the left hand alternates between bass notes and full chords. Bia Jare’s stride style is characterized by:

• Large left-hand leaps: Playing bass notes followed by full chord voicings.
• Rolling into chords: Instead of striking all notes simultaneously, she slightly rolls into them, adding swing and energy.
• Tightly connected voicings: Ensuring smooth voice leading when moving between chords.
• Subtle timing variations: Pushing and pulling on beats to add a natural, swinging feel.

An important part of stride is knowing when to deviate from it. Throughout the performance, Bia Jare momentarily breaks from the strict stride pattern to insert fills and melodic embellishments.

Melody Interpretation – Single Notes vs. Octave Lines

Bia Jare frequently switches between single-note melodies and octave doubling. This choice depends on the expressive effect she wants:

• Single-note melodies allow for more flexibility with ornamentation, such as turns, slides, and grace notes.
• Octave doubling adds a strong, full-bodied sound and emphasizes important melodic moments.

For example, in the first A section, she starts with single-note phrases and later reinforces them by playing in octaves, creating contrast and dynamic variation.

Chord Voicings and Substitutions

A key feature of Bia Jare’s playing is how she enhances basic chord progressions with substitutions and altered harmonies. One of the most striking re-harmonizations occurs in the 2-5-1 progression:

Original Progression:
E♭-7 → A♭7 → D♭maj7

Bia Jare’s Variation:
E♭-7 → E♭-7 (instead of G♭7) → F-7 → E diminished → E♭-7

This substitution creates a more fluid, stepwise bass motion while still maintaining the harmonic integrity of the tune.

Additionally, she frequently employs altered dominant chords, such as:

• A♭7 with a ♯9 and ♯5
• A♭7 with a ♯11 and ♭9

These extensions add tension that beautifully resolves into the tonic (D♭maj7).

Three Essential Fill Techniques

Throughout the performance, Bia Jare incorporates three distinct fill techniques during moments of melodic space. These fills add variety and harmonic complexity:

1. Chord-Based Fill (Harmonic Approach)

A♭7(♯11) → A♭7(♭9) – This movement creates an inner voice resolution and a smooth chromatic descent.

2. Melodic Fill (Linear Approach)

A phrase outlining the altered scale of A♭7, incorporating the ♯9, ♭9, and ♯5. This gives a bluesy, chromatic feel to the resolution.

3. Arpeggiated Fill (Rhythmic Approach)

A rolling, broken-chord arpeggio leading into the resolution of the phrase. This technique breaks the rigid stride pattern, momentarily freeing up the left hand.

Mastering Bia Jare’s Melodic Turns

One of the standout features of Bia Jare’s style is her fast, clean melodic turns. These embellishments add a virtuosic flair to her phrasing.

Key Takeaways for Playing Turns:

• The initial attack is fast and strong, ensuring clarity.
• The notes gradually decelerate, creating a natural, fluid sound.
• These turns usually resolve into stable chord tones, preventing them from sounding out of place.

For example, in bar 5 of Body and Soul, she plays a rapid turn between the 3rd and 5th of the chord, adding an expressive flourish before resolving into the next phrase.

Practice Tips

1. Slow Down the Stride Pattern – Start by isolating the left hand and focusing on hitting bass notes cleanly before jumping to chord voicings.
2. Experiment with Altered Dominants – Try adding ♯9, ♯5, and ♭9 extensions over dominant 7th chords to create tension and resolution.
3. Alternate Between Single Notes & Octave Melodies – Use single-note melodies for expressive phrasing and octaves for power and emphasis.
4. Drill Fill Variations – Practice different fills over the same 2-5-1 progression so you can vary your playing dynamically.
5. Master Melodic Turns – Pay attention to the articulation and speed of embellishments, ensuring they remain crisp and controlled.

Final Thoughts

By analyzing Bia Jare’s approach to Body and Soul, we uncover a masterclass in stride piano, melodic embellishments, and harmonic creativity. Whether you are a beginner in jazz piano or looking to refine your stride technique, incorporating these elements into your playing will significantly enhance your sound.

Stay tuned for more lessons where we continue to break down stride techniques, voicings, and improvisation strategies for jazz piano. Happy practicing! 🎹