AOS 3: Pop Music And Miles Davis - All Blues Flashcards

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0
Q

Context of All Blues

A

Jazz originated in the southern states of America.
A main element of jazz is improvisation.
Miles Davis is a well known trumpeter -
He experimented with modal jazz in the 1950s.
It was recorded with almost no rehearsal and no score.
The group is a sextet

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1
Q

Melody of All Blues

A

The trumpet (with Harmon mute) plays the ‘head’ - main fixed melody idea.
Improvised solos are played firstly by the trumpet (without a mute), alto sax, tenor sax, and then piano.
- Trumpet solo made up of short syncopated motifs.
- Alto sax solo uses quicker notes and wider range, more complex.
- Tenor sax solo uses fast scales and quick runs.
- Piano solo uses simple melodies and parallel chords.

  • The head melody is quite simple and is characterized by a rising 6th (from D to B). The head is then followed by 4 solos.
  • Trumpet: Lasts for four choruses and is made up of short syncopated motifs.
  • Alto Sax: Lasts for four choruses and uses quicker notes and a wider range than the trumpet.
  • Tenor Sax: Lasts for four choruses and uses fast scales and quick runs. It’s very virtuosic.
  • Piano: Lasts for 2 choruses. This is a much calmer improvisation that the others with a simple melody and a string of parallel chords.
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2
Q

Structure of All Blues

A
Head arrangement:
-----------------------
Intro (rhythm section) 
Head 1
Solos
Head 2
Coda
Intro
Turnaround / bridge
Head
Turnaround / bridge
Head 
Turnaround / bridge
Trumpet solo
Turnaround / bridge
Alto sax solo
Turnaround / bridge
Tenor sax solo
Turnaround / bridge
Piano solo
Turnaround / bridge
Head
Turnaround / bridge
Head
Turnaround / bridge
Coda
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3
Q

Texture of All Blues

A

Melody dominated homophony

Always a solo part e.g. Solo trumpet in melody in head, other parts accompany.

Layers of sound build at the beginning with piano, drums and bass. Saxes enter then trumpet.

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4
Q

Tonality and harmony of All Blues

A

Chords used:
G7 G7 G7 G7 Gm7 Gm7 G7 G7 D7 Eb7/D7 G7 G7

It uses 12 bar pattern, similar to standard 12 bar blues but avoids chord 4.

It uses the mixolydian mode - based on scale rather than key.

Similar to G major but with a flattened 7th.

Uses added note chords (jazz harmony feature)

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5
Q

Tempo and metre of All Blues

A

Tempo described as fast and a jazz waltz

Metre is 6/4

Rhythms are swung

Rhythms get more complicated in the solos

Rhythms are longer and more sustained in the head

Lots of syncopation

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6
Q

Instrumentation and instrumental features of All Blues

A

Frontline: trumpet, alto sax, tenor sax
Rhythm section: double bass, piano, drum kit

Trumpet - uses a Harmon mute
Piano - uses tremolo in the start
Piano - accompanies in a chomping style
Drums - uses brushes instead of sticks
Bass - plays pizzicato
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7
Q

Dynamics of All Blues

A

Generally quiet and few crescendos and diminuendos.

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