AOS 3: Pop Music And Miles Davis - All Blues Flashcards
Context of All Blues
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
Melody of All Blues
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.
Structure of All Blues
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
Texture of All Blues
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.
Tonality and harmony of All Blues
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)
Tempo and metre of All Blues
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
Instrumentation and instrumental features of All Blues
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
Dynamics of All Blues
Generally quiet and few crescendos and diminuendos.