miles davis all blues

Background

• Miles Davis
• wrote in 1959, America
• main key is thought to be based around G major
• has improvised solos
• called All Blues
• recorded once, first time
• album Kind of Blue
• Modal Jazz
• whole album recorded in 3 , 3 hours sessions
• just instruments

Melody

• the head melody is quite simple and characterised by rising 6ths (an interval from B to D )
• followed by 4 improvised solos
• Trumpet solo- lasts for 4 repetitions of the 12 bar blues chord sequence . Mostly made up of short syncopated motifs ( tune )
• Alto sax solo- 4 repetitions. Uses quicker notes and a wider pitch range. More virtuosic (difficult)
• Tenor sax solo- 4 repetitions. fast scales and quick runs. very virtuosic.
• Piano solo- 2 repetitions. calmer with simple melody that leads to parallel chords.

instrumental / playing techniques

• the snare drum is played with wire brushes at the start but switches later on to sticks
• the bass plays pizzicato (plucked) throughout
• the trumpet is played with a Harmon Mute for the head-alters the tone
• the piano plays a tremolo/trills at the start of the piece. when solos begin, piano starts comping
• tenor sax has vibrato

Harmony/tonality

• based on the 12-bar blues sequence using extending and altered chords
• G7 G7 G7 G7
• C7 C7 G7 G7
• D7#9 Eb7#9 G7 G7
• D7#9
• 19 repetitions on total
• thought to be in G major but with a flattened seventh called a blues note
• Mixolydian mode
• Modal Jazz

Rhythm/metre/tempo

• 6/4
• ./ = 156
• frequent syncopation
• frequent triplets
• swung quavers
• Jazz waltz

structure

• intro - drums played with brushes, bass riff, piano trill, alto and tenor sax riff in thirds
• head 1- original tune
• riff- 4 bars between repetitions of 12 bar blues. breaks up repetitions and provides contrast
• head 2- melody slightly more developed
• riff- ride cymbal added by drums
• trumpet solo- mute removed, 4 reps
• riff
• alto sax solo- 4 reps, very chromatic and technical
• riff
• tenor sax solo- 4 reps, virtuosic playing
• riff
• piano solo- 2 reps, continues comping in left hand, right hand plays melody
• riff- alto and tenor sax play riff in thirds

Folie 7

• head 3- same as head 1, trumpet muted
• riff- trill returns in piano part
• head 4- melody is now developed, minor feel
• riff- drums back down contributing to a diminuendo
• outro- short solo on trumpet on tonic note G over the sax riff and piano trill before the song fades out
• head arrangement