AOS 3: Pop Music And Miles Davis - All Blues

Question 0

Context of All Blues

Answer 0

Jazz originated in the southern states of America.
A main element of jazz is improvisation.
Miles Davis is a well known trumpeter -
He experimented with modal jazz in the 1950s.
It was recorded with almost no rehearsal and no score.
The group is a sextet

Question 1

Melody of All Blues

Answer 1

The trumpet (with Harmon mute) plays the ‘head’ - main fixed melody idea.
Improvised solos are played firstly by the trumpet (without a mute), alto sax, tenor sax, and then piano.
- Trumpet solo made up of short syncopated motifs.
- Alto sax solo uses quicker notes and wider range, more complex.
- Tenor sax solo uses fast scales and quick runs.
- Piano solo uses simple melodies and parallel chords.

• The head melody is quite simple and is characterized by a rising 6th (from D to B). The head is then followed by 4 solos.
• Trumpet: Lasts for four choruses and is made up of short syncopated motifs.
• Alto Sax: Lasts for four choruses and uses quicker notes and a wider range than the trumpet.
• Tenor Sax: Lasts for four choruses and uses fast scales and quick runs. It’s very virtuosic.
• Piano: Lasts for 2 choruses. This is a much calmer improvisation that the others with a simple melody and a string of parallel chords.

Question 2

Structure of All Blues

Answer 2

Head arrangement:
-----------------------
Intro (rhythm section) 
Head 1
Solos
Head 2
Coda

Intro
Turnaround / bridge
Head
Turnaround / bridge
Head 
Turnaround / bridge
Trumpet solo
Turnaround / bridge
Alto sax solo
Turnaround / bridge
Tenor sax solo
Turnaround / bridge
Piano solo
Turnaround / bridge
Head
Turnaround / bridge
Head
Turnaround / bridge
Coda

Question 3

Texture of All Blues

Answer 3

Melody dominated homophony

Always a solo part e.g. Solo trumpet in melody in head, other parts accompany.

Layers of sound build at the beginning with piano, drums and bass. Saxes enter then trumpet.

Question 4

Tonality and harmony of All Blues

Answer 4

Chords used:
G7 G7 G7 G7 Gm7 Gm7 G7 G7 D7 Eb7/D7 G7 G7

It uses 12 bar pattern, similar to standard 12 bar blues but avoids chord 4.

It uses the mixolydian mode - based on scale rather than key.

Similar to G major but with a flattened 7th.

Uses added note chords (jazz harmony feature)

Question 5

Tempo and metre of All Blues

Answer 5

Tempo described as fast and a jazz waltz

Metre is 6/4

Rhythms are swung

Rhythms get more complicated in the solos

Rhythms are longer and more sustained in the head

Lots of syncopation

Question 6

Instrumentation and instrumental features of All Blues

Answer 6

Frontline: trumpet, alto sax, tenor sax
Rhythm section: double bass, piano, drum kit

Trumpet - uses a Harmon mute
Piano - uses tremolo in the start
Piano - accompanies in a chomping style
Drums - uses brushes instead of sticks
Bass - plays pizzicato

Question 7

Dynamics of All Blues

Answer 7

Generally quiet and few crescendos and diminuendos.