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Miles Davis

Miles Davis. ‘ All Blues’ from the Album Kind of Blue. Starter 3. Match the term with the correct definition: Put the correct letter in the answer box. Once you have finished have a quiet and quick discussion with your neighbour. Discuss. In the study of this set work you will learn about:.

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Miles Davis

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  1. Miles Davis ‘All Blues’ from the Album Kind of Blue

  2. Starter 3 • Match the term with the correct definition: Put the correct letterin the answer box. Once you have finished have a quiet and quick discussion with your neighbour. • Discuss

  3. In the study of this set work you will learn about: • The features of AllBlue • The 12-bar blues chord sequence • How the set work All Blues is constructed through an analysis of the music • Jazz harmony.

  4. Recap: Background to ‘Kind of Blue’ • Line-up for the album Kind of Blue: • Miles Davis: trumpet • Julian 'Cannonball' Adderley: alto sax • John Coltrane: tenor sax • Bill Evans: piano • Paul Chambers: bass • Jimmy Cobb: drums

  5. One of the things that makes this album so special - all the musicians were top jazz musicians of the time playing at the peak of their abilities - they all worked so well together. • Davis felt that jazz was becoming too dependent on complex chord sequences • In this album, he wanted to explore the concept of 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 and longer • This track is from the ALBUM, KIND OF BLUES which was recorded in one take in NY in 1959 • Instrumentation: trumpet /alto sax / tenor sax / piano/bass / drums • Unusually for Jazz the time signature is 6/4 and is marked JAZZ WALTZ

  6. 12-bar blues sequence • 'All Blues' is based around a repeated 12-bar bluessequence with a four-bar linking riff in between each section. • The main melody (the head) and the solos are all played over the 12-bar sequence (the changes). • The 12-bar sequence is repeated 19 times in total.

  7. Notice there are DOMINANT sevenths used and that the last line has ALTERED chords - the harmony is made more interesting by adding notes • Adding extra notes to a chord is known as extending the chord. • There are lots of extended chords in jazz.

  8. Structure of ALL BLUES:The piece can be broken down into 5 sections • INTRO: the opening 4 bars, played by the rhythm section is followed by the riff • HEAD 1 – this is where the original tune or melody is played: Head melody followed by the Riff is played 2x • IMPROVISED SOLOS – for trumpet / alto sax / tenor sax / piano each followed by the riff • HEAD 2- the main theme returns Riff is played 2x • OUTRO (Coda)-this fades out…a solo for muted trumpet

  9. RIFFS – what are they? • A RIFF is a short rhythmic ostinato- very common in Jazz, Blues & Pop. • KIND OF BLUE uses 3 short riffs • 1st Riff: G D ED F DED is on Double Bass • 2nd Riff: alto and tenor saxphones play in the intro in 3rds (in harmony) • D/B E/C F/D E/C

  10. 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 Let’s play detective

  11. Important points to note • Jazz soloists often think in terms of chords and arpeggios when soloing, so it is almost as if they are spreading a chord out horizontally instead of playing it vertically like a piano or guitar • But, in this track, the soloists are using scales or modes a lot more than usual, partly because the chords don't change very quickly. • The solos are much more than simple improvisations using a pentatonic scale over a blues sequence - the soloists combine riffs they have learned previously with arpeggio ideas, the use of scales and modes and some clever rhythmic development to create solos with a sense of direction and development. • The soloists never solo at the same time. When the frontline instruments are playing at the same time, they all have very clearly defined parts to play (saxes play the harmonised riff while the trumpet plays the melody).

  12. The link gives the music space to breathe - the contrast in texture between each section builds up a sense of anticipation for the next section. • The bass part repeats riff 1 constantly throughout the song. This makes it become part of the texture so that it doesn't take away from the soloist’s limelight. • The piano part provides chordal accompaniment throughout the piece, but Evans maintains interest by constantly changing the voicings of the chordsand the rhythm of his accompaniment. • The drums provide a constantly shifting backing by Cobb improvising highly syncopated snare drum part, but he also keeps a steady beat throughout on the ride cymbal, varying how he hits it to create changes in dynamics and texture.

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