Al Cohn

• Transcriptions, vocals, and much more

  This diverse update has a bit of something for everyone. If you've been waiting for new vocal music, this is your week! We're excited to add new pieces by Sergio Mihanovich and Ruby Braff for voice this week. Instrumentalists can enjoy these pieces as well, of course -- as well as the other six new additions this week. With a solo transcription of Art Farmer, David Hazeltine's own solo piano arrangement, and new original quintet arrangements, these new titles have it all.

  SERGIO MIHANOVICH: Sometime Ago
  A wistful classic for singers and instrumentalists. Art Farmer's solo transcription available, as is a vocal lead sheet.

  AL COHN: Something For Lisa
  Medium swing in a cool jazz style. Chet Baker's quintet arrangement available.

  GIGI GRYCE: Exhibit A
  A rhythm changes head with a twist on the bridge. Try Gigi's own arrangement.

  DAVID HAZELTINE: Ann's Mood
  Tonal and beautiful with a cyclical form.

  DAVID HAZELTINE: Pentimento
  Charming post-bop bossa. Solo piano arrangement available.

  RUBY BRAFF: We're All Through
  A sultry medium swing with a lyric describing a relationship's end. Vocal lead sheet available.

  ERIC ALEXANDER: Little Lucas
  A modal composition with great flexibility.

  IDREES SULIEMAN: Tell Me What's Your Name 
  A thoughtful, tender ballad.

• Welcome to the new jazzleadsheets.com!

  The wait is over . . . it's here!

  The big day has finally come: our new website is live on jazzleadsheets.com!

  Visit us now to see the brand new look and new features -- and new composers and music! Our new website includes an easy search function always at the top right of every page, embedded videos, expanded instrumental sections, new payment options (now including PayPal), and a mobile-friendly design. We now feature special content on our homepage, so be sure to click the dots at the bottom of the new arrivals graphic to browse this week's exclusive videos.

  We hope you enjoy this revamp as much as we do. If you have any suggestions, click here to let us know what you think. We'd love to hear from you.
  It wouldn't be a news update from jazzleadsheets.com without new music. Here are our first releases of the summer.

  RAHSAAN ROLAND KIRK: Serenade To A Cuckoo
  A sunny and whimsical swing featuring a video of Rahsaan Roland Kirk on flute.

  SLIDE HAMPTON: Frame For The Blues
  This sultry slow blues is a classic. See three moving video performances.

  ROY HARGROVE: Mental Phrasing
  A fusion of modern jazz, hard bop, and Latin.

  JIM MCNEELY: Over The Edge
  A versatile samba with video of Jim McNeely & Stan Getz. Solo piano arrangement and exclusive audio track available.

  DON SICKLER: Tempo di Max
  A Don Sickler original with Minus You audio and a solo piano arrangement. See a 13 year-old Daryl Johns play at lightning speeds!

  RICHARD WYANDS: Yes It Is
  A syncopated swinger with exclusive audio and video.

  DOUG WATKINS: Bet
  Bass and trumpet play this medium swing melody. There's Minus You audio for every instrument.

  JIM ROTONDI: Miller Time
  A cool and relaxed hard bop.

  BILL BARRON: Tone Colors
  Modern and striking!

  AL COHN: The Note
  Uptempo swing from a melodic master. This chart comes from the Al Cohn/Zoot Sims book -- make your own arrangement with our 1st and 2nd parts.

  Enjoy the music,
  Don Sickler and the jazzleadsheets.com team

   

• April showers bring new composers

  It’s a new month, a new batch of lead sheets, and most exciting of all, two new composers added to our roster!

  We’re very excited to be welcoming GEOFFREY KEEZER and VALERY PONOMAREV to the jazzleadsheets.com family. These two virtuosos represent all that is great about the jazz scene today — not only are they two of the most talented musicians on their respective instruments, but their compositions are out of this world. We’re starting off with one piece from each of their first solo releases.

  Geoffrey Keezer’s first album as a leader was recorded when he was only 17 — a fact that is all the more incredible when you hear his complex, edgy, irresistible composition Babes In McCoyland. With elements of Latin, rock, and gospel all mixed together, this piece is nothing short of addictive.

  Valery Ponomarev’s first solo release came a bit later in life, but his composition Take Care is equally impressive. It fits in perfectly with many of our hard-bop compositions even though it was recorded years later — that’s how much soul and style Valery has as both a composer and a player.

  But the new releases from our other composers are just as enticing. If it’s a ballad you need, look no further than Myles. This sensitive, haunting composition by Billy Pierce is simply breath-taking. If it happens to make you tear up a bit on the first listen, you’re in good company.

  It’s been a while since we’ve treated you with a composition from maestro Al Cohn, and there’s no better piece to come back with than Danielle . This versatile composition (recorded as a bossa, slow swing, or ballad) has a plaintive, nostalgic quality to it and a melody so lovely you’ll be humming it for days.

  And singers: we’ve got a great pick for you, too! Over The Brink comes from Judy Niemack’s fantastic tutorial book, Hear It And Sing It: Exploring The Blues, but it’s a great chart in its own right. The instrumental composition, Push Come To Shove, is by Julian Priester, and Julian and Judy make quite a team. Over The Brink is a sultry, unusual, exciting blues (complete with a minus you audio track) that will push your ear and really work your chops.

• A special vocal-only update

  This week we have five fantastic vocal pieces, including vocal transcriptions of legendary singers Anita O’Day, Chris Connor and Rachel Gould!

  If the rainy fall weather has got you down, we have a light, sunny bossa from Gloria Cooper with a lyric by Ira Gitler that immediately transports you back to the summer: Reveling In The Beat.

  For a good dose of Latin funk, check out Lonely Man, a vocal setting of Ray Bryant’s Erewhon with a lyric by Tina May. With a sassy lyric and appealing groove, it’s hard not to love.

  You, Judy Niemack’s lyric to Bob Brookmeyer’s composition Hum, is nothing short of charming. If you’re looking to add something classic to your repertoire without turning to overdone standards, this is the one for you.

  Rachel Gould’s ethereal, fanciful ballad My Magic Ring captures childlike wonder and melodic sophistication at the same time. To better understand how to interpret a free ballad like this one, we offer a vocal transcription of how Rachel sings it on the recording.

  Finally, a special treat: two versions of Al Cohn’s Night Bird by two powerhouse vocalists, Anita O’Day and Chris Connor. The Anita O’Day recording, featuring an arrangement by Gary McFarland, marries classical-inspired dissonance with true swing. Chris Connor’s version is arranged by Al Cohn himself, and has a mysterious Latin feel. We’ve transcribed the way both singers phrase the melody, and also offer a lead sheet for vocalists to try their own hand at it. Both recordings are truly out of this world, but the song itself is also a real gem with a poetic lyric by Kitty Malone.

  To stay up-to-date on our latest vocal lead sheets, be sure to check out Singer's Corner page!

  Just a note for those who like to sing or play along with accompaniment-only tracks: three of the new titles have accompaniment-only versions, and Judy Niemack’s delightful You is available exclusively on jazzleadsheets.com.

4 Items