All Blues- Miles Davis (1959)

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  • Created by: Phoebe
  • Created on: 22-05-13 13:30

STRUCTURE

HEAD ARRANGEMENT 

1. Intro played by the rhythm section 

2. Head 1 played by a muted trumpet (Miles D). Repeated twice with a riff in between.

3. Solos x4. trumpet, alto sax, tenor sax, piano

4. Head 2, same as before

5. Coda played by the trumpet

FOLLOWS THE 12-BAR BLUES PATTERN

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MELODY

HEAD MELODY- simple, characterised by rising 6ths.

TRUMPET SOLO- short, syncopated motifs

ALTO SAX SOLO- quick, wide range, more virtuosic than the trumpet solo.

TENOR SAX SOLO- fast scales and quick runs, v virtuosic also.

PIANO SOLO- calmer, simple melody.

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HARMONY AND TONALITY

-Based on a 12-bar blues sequence repeated througout the piece.

G7 G7 G7 G7

C7 C7 G7  G7

D7#9 E7#9 G7 G7

D7#9

-A type of MODAL JAZZ.

-In G major (but with a flattened 7th note) / MIXOLYDIAN MODE.

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INSTRUMENTATION

FRONTLINE:

1. Trumpet- Miles Davis

2. Alto Sax- 'Cannonball' Adderley

3. Tenor Sax- John Coltrane

RHYTHM SECTION: 

1. Piano- Bill Evans (only rhythmic instrument to have a solo)

2. Double Bass- Paul Chambers

3. Drums- Jimmy Cobb

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RHYTHM, METRE AND TEMPO

RHYTHM:

Frequent use of SWUNG QUAVERS and SYNCOPATION

METRE:

6/4

TEMPO:

Described as a 'jazz waltz'

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TIMBRE

Snare drum: played with brushes at the start and later changes to sticks.

Double bass: played pizzicato throughout.

Trumpet: played with a harmon mute for both of the head sections

Piano: plays tremolo at the beginning and once the solos begin it starts comping.


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