GCSE Music - AoS 3 - "All Blues" Key Features

All Blues-Miles Davies

From the album "Kind of Blue", released in 1959.

Tempo: In 6/4  - Jazz Waltz. Played at a moderate pace, stays the same throughout

Tonality: In the key of G. Improvisations are modal

Instrumentation:

• Trumpet - Miles Davies
• Alto sax -  Cannonball Adderley
• Tenor Sax - John Coltrane
• Piano - Bill Evans
• Double Bass - Paul Chambers
• Drums - Jimmy Cobb

Texture: The rhythm section remain simple and repetitive throughout, so they don't distract from the soloist. The saxes play a simple riff in 3rds during the head, but most of the piece consists purely of soloist with rhythm section accompaniment.

Timbre: The overall timbre is mellow and subdued

• Trumpet is muted in the head
• Drums are played with brushes

Melody:

• Improvisations are based on overall tonality-scales or modes, rather than improvising over the chord changes. This gives the soloist more freedom
• More tuneful melodies than some other Jazz at the time, playing more lyrically rather than lots of fast runs
• During solos many different techniques are used,…