Boplicity

Boplicity

1. Instruments

   • Trumpet* (Miles Davis)
   • Trombone (J.J. Johnson)
   • Bari Sax* (Gerry Mulligan)
   • Piano* (John Lewis)
   • French Horn (Sandy Siegelstein)
   • Tuba (Bill Barber)
   • Alto Sax (Lee Konitz
   • Double Bass (Nelson Boyd)
   • Drums (Kenny Clarke)

2. (New York, 1949, Capitol Records)

3. Structure

   • 32-bar Song Form
   • 3x AABA Choruses
   • No Introduction
   • 3 minute limit of 78rpm disc
   • Ends with quiet, long chords

4. Davis/Evans' Style

   • Soft, understated sound
   • Almost no vibrato
   • French Horn to blend Brass & Wind
     • Use of other classical instruments (bassoons, oboes etc.)
   • Close Harmony
   • Ensemble in Rhythmic Unison
   • Unusual: only 2 Sax
   • Accompaniment fully written out
   • Middle Registers
   • Cool Jazz
     • Reaction to fast Bebop
   • Use of Silence
   • Anticipate/Delay Notes, Syncopation

5. Instrumental Techniques

   • Walking Bass
   • Fall-offs at the end of phrases
   • Wire Brushes on Drums
   • Mostly detached, off beat chords in piano
   • Cymbals create off beat accents
   • Pitch Bends/Slides
   • Acciaccaturas
   • Glissando

6. Harmony/Tonality

   • Vague, starts in Gm7
     • V pedal (C) in Tuba b.6-7 suggests cadence in F
   • Chromaticism
   • Added 7ths, 9ths, 11ths
     • Cool Jazz
   • Circle of 5ths in Trumpet Solo, Ch.2
   • Ends on opening three chords
   • Trumpet adds 6th (D) to final chord

7. Context

   • Decline in demand for Big Bands after WW2
     • Changes in audience's lifestyles
   • Multiple Microphones
     • Up to 4 tracks could be balanced separately
   • More artistic style
     • Not well received by audiences at first