THE MOST PERECT SMALL JAZZ GROUP TRACK

JAZZ MASTERS WORKSHOP
From September onwards we shall run the Workshop for the Jazz Smugglers band and their friends, every two weeks. Sundays at 7.00 Creek end, Smugglers Lane, Bosham po188qp.
It will be quite demanding and will bring in specialist tutors from time to time.


THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL JAZZ TRACKS EVER BY A SMALL GROUP.
In my view anyway, ok?

This group played together for 16 years.

This tune  is played by Desmond on alto with Brubeck on piano echoing. Brubeck's chords on his solo are downbeat as befits the tune with tension built into the bridge. This song was the anthem of the Depression. Notice how often he replays a phrase and displaces it. Desmonds solo follows the shape of the tune, Brubeck is playing fills in the background not comping. Desmond goes into characteristic repeats of his phrases and uses parts of the tune. Both play the final section, echoing each other, Desmond responding to Brubeck then switching around. Counter point, all the time. Both of them are still downbeat. Finally they play out the last 16 of the tune.

The tension in the group owes much to the airy, light, melodic alto sax and the heavier chord play of Brubeck with tension built into his voicings. It was very painful for him to play fast notes in his right hand after a bad accident damaged his nervous system.

How worthwhile that a group plays hundreds of time together.

Boys would you care to copy this in our workshop one night? Get it spot on and then transfer the technique to some new somgs?

John