AOS 3 ALL BLUES MILES DAVIS
Basic facts about ALL BLUES This track is from the ALBUM KIND OF BLUES which was recorded in one take in NY in 1959 Line-up is trumpet /alto sax / tenor sax / piano/bass / drums Unusually for Jazz the time signature is 6/4 and is marked JAZZ WALTZ This is MODAL JAZZ – this means that rather than relying on complicated chord patterns the harmony focuses on a MODE or scale and the improvised solos are freer
KIND OF BLUE 1959
The recording MILES DAVIS gave his band for this track the minimum of preparation before they went into the studio in New York in 1959 They got given some scales ( MODES) and melody lines to improvise on Each track including this one on the album had only one take and the whole album was recorded in just 2 sessions. However all the musicians were at the height of their playing abilities
The band- MILES DAVIS- trumpet CANNONBALL ADDERLEY-alto sax JOHN COLTRANE-tenor sax JIMMY COBB-drums BILL EVANS –piano PAUL CHAMBERS -bass
This is the chord pattern for ALL BLUES 4/4 G7 G7 G7 G7 C7 C7 G7 G7 C7 C7 G7 G7 D7#9 Eb7#9-D7#9 G7 G7 D7#9 Eb7#9-D7#9 G7 G7 Notice there are DOMINANT sevenths used and that the last line has ALTERED chords where basically the harmony is made more interesting by adding notes
Structure of ALL BLUES INTRO HEAD – this is where the original tune or melody is played IMPROVISED SOLOS-trumpet / alto sax / tenor sax / piano HEAD- the main theme returns OUTRO-this fades out
RIFFS – what are they? A RIFF is a short rhythmic ostinato- very common in Jazz, Blues & Pop. KIND OF BLUE uses 3 short riffs The first G D ED F DED is on Double Bass The second the alto and tenor saxes play in the intro in 3rds (in harmony) D/B E/C F/D E/C
THE INSTRUMENTS & THEIR ROLES The RHYTHM section provides the harmony and rhythmic background- in this case it is the DRUMS / BASS / PIANO The frontline instruments are TRUMPET,ALTO SAXOPHONE & TENOR SAXOPHONE THE WORD COMPING means accompanying- playing the background chords & rhythms