All Blues - Miles Davis

Jazz
1. Originated in the southern states of America during the early 20th century
2. Improvistaion
3. Miles Davis: jazz trumpeter
  1. Influenced modal jazz
4. Bebop was fast and virtuosic, with improvisations based on complex chord progressions
5. Modal jazz was laid-back and uncomplicated, with improvisations based on modes
Album - Kind of Blue
1. Released in 1959
2. The band is a sextet made up of:
  1. The Frontline (play main melody and solos)
    1. Trumpet
    2. Alto saxophone
    3. Tenor saxophone
  2. The Rhythm Section (harmonic and rhythmic backing)
    1. Piano
    2. Bass
    3. Drum kit
3. Recorded with almost no rehersal and no score
  1. Only basic information was given:
    1. Overall structure
    2. Chord sequence
    3. Main melodic idea
    4. Mode/scale
Structure
1. Based on the 12-bar blues progression
  1. A chord sequence lasting for 12 bars and returns throughout the piece. One statement of the chord sequence is called a chorus
2. Main melody is called the head, played by muted trumpet
  1. Lasts for 12 bars, can be heard at the start and end of piece
3. Simple 4-bar riff in parallel 3rds that separates each section
4. Five sections:
  1. 1) Introduction - opening four bars, rhythm section, followed by riff
  2. 2) Head 1 - head melody, followed by riff, played twice
  3. 3) Solos - trumpet, alto sax, tenor sax and piano, each followed by riff
  4. 4) Head 2 - head melody, followed by riff, played twice
  5. 5) Coda - muted trumpet solo
Melody
1. Head melody - simple, characterised by rising 6ths
2. 4 solos:
  1. 1) Trumpet - lasts for 4 choruses, short, syncopated motifs
  2. 2) Alto sax - lasts for 4 choruses, quicker notes, wider range, more virtuosic
  3. 3) Tenor sax - lasts for 4 choruses, fats scales, quick runs, very virtuosic
  4. 4) Piano - lasts for 2 choruses, calmer, simpler melody, leads into parallel chords
Harmony and Tonality
1. Based on 12-bar blues sequence
  1. G7 (x4), Gm7 (x2), G7 (x2), D7, Eflat7/D7, F/G, F/G6
  2. Known as the changes
2. G major with a flattened 7th
Rhythm, Metre and Tempo
1. 6/4
  1. 'Jazz Waltz'
2. Swing quavers
3. Frequent syncopation
Instrumental Techniques
1. Snare drum is played with wire brushes
2. Bass plays pizzicato throughout
3. Trumpet is played with Harmon mute
4. Piano plays tremolo at beginning
  1. Piano uses comping is solo (accompanying with chords and short melodic ideas)

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All Blues - Miles Davis

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	Created by izzykersley01 about 10 years ago