Games And Codes – Herbie Nichols

As suggested by the title, Games And Codes is Herbie Nichols at his most advanced—a subtle, intricate challenge with plenty of surprises. There are mixed meters, irregular phrase lengths, and unpredictable harmonies to navigate throughout. All is held together by Herbie's signature elegance and lyricism. Each section of the AABCD form is extended beyond the expected eight measures, either by added measures, meter changes, or both.

The two A sections are each set up by a pickup measure of 6/4—three half notes in the melody—which also reappears at the end of B to lead into C. The first A is nine measures, with the last two being one measure of 3/4 followed by the 6/4 pickup to the second A. This second A is extended to 10 measures all in 4/4, with a swing-styled circle-of-fourths phrase at the end. B is also 10 measures; the ninth is 5/4 leading to the 6/4 pickup again which sets up a 10-measure C section nearly identical to the second A. The final section, D, is eight measures but ending in one measure each of 5/4 and 6/4. The circle-of-fourths phrase reappearing at C sets up more tonal harmonies in D♭ major at D than in the other sections, but with a spiraling, ambiguous triplet melody.

Our lead sheet is based directly on Herbie's manuscript; all we added were the rehearsal letters to mark sections of the form. Check out David Berkman's recording for inspiration interpreting this song. In this solo piano setting he gives the 6/4 pickup measures rhythmic definition by voicing the melody as quarter-note chords, alternated with quarter notes in the bass. In ensemble settings these measures in particular are open to other possibilities of interpretation. For an ending, Berkman vamps and solos over the first seven measures of D before playing the D section melody out one last time.