Lonely Town Flashcards
Verse
14 bars (F Ab F) in free time, rhythmically complex dissonant piano interjections, no pulse, piano and vocal feel independent but piano give harmony, two phrases second extended, F to Ab chromatically moves back down to F
Refrain A
12 bars (Ebm Cb FB Eb) begin Eb bass falls chromatically under vocal, piano reminds of verse, sax chromatically moves to ii-V-I in Cb, brief move to Ebm then Cb act as V for Fb, third cadence moves into Eb after frequent seventh chords
A
12 bars (Db Cb Fb Eb) 4 falling notes in mute tpt link to second A, first phrase harmonically altered (Db) moves back to Cb and remains similar, saxs go from sustained chords to countermelodies in second half, rare French horn notes in texture creep through
B
16 bars (Ab G Gb Gm Bb) more intense feel, mention of “love” and highest note of song, brighter, sync rhythms, move up to G, major 7 chords for brighter outlook, moves Gb Gm, brass appear in climactic phrases, music winds down, falls chromatically to Bb major cadence, pause on Ab 9 chord, mute tpt decoration
Coda
Free time, no clear key, this is final song on album so feels like late-night jam between piano and bass, reflects small band modal jazz popular in the 50s and 60s, brings song back to stylistic vernacular of the intro
