All Blues Flashcards
How long does this piece last?
More than 11 and a half minutes
What is the main Pitch of this piece?
All instruments stick to their middle to lower ranges
What are the key dynamics of All Blues?
Generally, the piece is quite subdued - most of it is moderately loud (MF), except for a few louder trumpet bit.
The ensemble plays even more quietly when a soloist is playing.
What is the tempo of All Blues?
It is marked Jazz Waltz (so should be played at a moderate pace)
What time signature is All Blues in?
Unlike most jazz and blues of the time, All Blues is in 6/4 (six crotchets in a bar)
What is the timbre of All Blues?
Very mellow overall sound.
Davis uses a mute, ghost notes - note that are hinted at instead of played - and rests to make his solos more mellow
What is the texture of All Blues?
Simple texture: The wind plays in 3rds and 4ths, whilst the piano and double basses play a simple riff + chords.
The drums keep a steady beat
What is the structure of the piece?
It is a simple 12-bar blues chord pattern in G which gets repeated throughout the piece. It is played under the solos and melody.
The chords are fancier than a traditional 12-bar blues.
What are the key features of the improvised sections?
The trumpet, alto sax, tenor sax and piano all have solos(in that order). They had a lot of room for improvisation as the piece is modal.
After the solos the head is played again
What are the key features of the introduction?
8 bars long, split into two. In intro 2 the alto and tenor saxes play riff b in 3rds
What are the key features of the head?
The Head is played twice - once before the solos and once after.
The first lasts 32 bars. A muted trumpet plays the 12-bar theme. The saxes play riff B in the background.
Key features of the outro?
All Blues finishes with a 12-bar outro which fades out. The saxophones are playing riff B again but the trumpet introduces a new riff, Riff C.
