Kenny Drew

• Chambers, Drew, Hargrove, Thompson: new titles

  Visitation - Paul Chambers
  March 2 marks the 60th anniversary of Paul Chambers' own recording of his classic bass feature composition, Visitation. Paul was a true "young lion" at age 20 when he recorded this on his first album as a leader (March 2, 1956). In addition to lead sheets, his transcribed bass solo is available from that recording. We also have two different exclusive audio recordings available; each of them have Minus You audio tracks as well. The bassist on both of our recordings is Daryl Johns (who was 13 years old at the time of both recordings). Both are quartet recordings, but very different: the first is a standard quartet (trumpet/piano/bass/drums}; the second quartet is multiple basses (four basses--all performed by Daryl Johns).

  Context - Kenny Drew
  This is a classic Kenny Drew composition, and we're giving you four different performances to explore. Two of the performances include trumpeter Art Farmer videos, so you can now see him play as well as check out his solos in our transcribed solo editions.

  Soppin' The Biscuit - Roy Hargrove
  A great groove head - this one will definitely put a smile on your face and get your head bobbin'. Fun to play. Roy originally recorded it with tenor great Stanley Turrentine.

  Tom-Kattin' - Lucky Thompson
  We're going to get more deeply into "rhythm changes" in the coming months, so this is a good one to get started with. You can also check out Lucky's transcribed tenor sax solo for more rhythm changes ideas.

• New standards to play all summer

  Summer is heating up -- and with new lead sheets and arrangements, things are hotter than ever at jazzleadsheets.com. This week, we're welcoming new composer Sara Cassey, whose beautiful pieces are a favorite of those in the know. Be sure to check out our Recording Anniversaries video to hear the great music we're celebrating every day this week. And if you're looking for a piece to play with your quintet or sextet, check out our Quintet/Sextet list, which you can navigate to by clicking FEATURES then "Quintet/Sextet."

  JAMES WILLIAMS: Alter Ego
  A subtle, classic bossa nova

  SARA CASSEY: Windflower
  A subdued & meditative minor blues variation. Full arrangement available.

  BOOKER LITTLE: Bee Vamp
  A vamp-based uptempo swing. Full arrangement available.

  BOOKER LITTLE: Aggression
  Open-ended and forward-thinking.

  KENNY DREW: Callin'
  A hard bop swinger with a short form.

  Plus, celebrate Philly Joe Jones with a special treat! When you visit his composer page, you can hear a clip of Philly Joe telling his favorite joke.

• Lots of news for the new year!

  Have you noticed all the latest developments on jazzleadsheets.com? 2014 has barely begun, but it’s already proving to be a huge year for us! If you haven’t been on our site in a while, check it out — you’ll see some new categories, with even more exciting changes to come as the year goes on.

  At the beginning of this month, we celebrated the 75th anniversary of Blue Note Records’ first session with the releases of Melancholy and Solitude, both from that historic January 6, 1939 date. But our celebration of the long partnership between our composers and Blue Note Records is far from complete! We’re introducing our Blue Note collection. Now you can easily find all of the compositions that have been featured on Blue Note releases throughout the years. But even more good news — we’ll be adding to this collection every month to celebrate more anniversaries throughout the year!

  This release, we have several anniversaries to celebrate, which means of course another set of top quality lead sheets. January 19th saw the 46th anniversary of a great Hank Mobley session that culminated with the release of “Reach Out!” In honor of Hank (and all of his fans at jazzleadsheets.com), we’re commemorating this anniversary with Lookin’ East, a laid-back medium groove piece with a bit of Latin flavor. Second parts available.

  The next day, January 20th, marked the 52nd anniversary of a lesser-known release: saxophonist Ike Quebec’s “Easy Living,” featuring Congo Lament by Bennie Green. This composition also has a Latin influence — maybe a touch more than Lookin’ East — and features a nice bluesy lick for the melody. Second parts available.

  Just a few days later we celebrated the 64th anniversary of the recording of Kenny Drew’s Fuguetta (Jan. 23rd, 1950). Originally recorded by trumpeter Howard McGhee, Fuguetta is an unexpected combination of Baroque and bebop, which go together surprisingly well. Try it for yourself and see!

  With all that celebrating, we thought we’d add a couple of ballads to cool us off. First, we’re introducing J.J. Johnson to the jazzleadsheets.com family with his classic ballad Enigma. Many musicians are familiar with the way Miles Davis recorded it, but only at jazzleadsheets.com can you find the original leadsheet, drawn from J.J.’s own manuscript and notated the way he first heard it. We’re very excited to offer this exclusive look inside such a tender, lyrical ballad.

  Finally, a treat for vocalists and their accompanists: Rob Bargad’s Another World. This sensitive, dreamy 20-bar ballad comes complete with an accompaniment-only track so singers can practice along with a professional ensemble to back them up. After you hear Dena DeRose’s plaintive rendition of it, we’re sure you’ll want to try it yourself.

• end-of-2013 additions from jazzleadsheets.com

  Here are our last additions to jazzleadsheets for 2013. We’re looking forward to adding many more, plus new features, in 2014. We can't wait to see you then! And we wish you a Happy New Year.

  Freddie Redd’s sunny Latin So, Samba! celebrates its 25th recording anniversary. It’s a lot of fun with one melody instrument, and it was first recorded as a quintet arrangement so second parts are also available.

  The beautiful ballad Dark Beauty by Kenny Drew, trio & quintet versions with second parts, plus Drew’s piano arrangement from his original manuscript.

  Arioso, James Williams’ soaring melody, plus his solo piano arrangement recorded by Kenny Drew, Jr.

  J.R. Monterose’s lilting Waltz For Claire, a quartet version.

  New composer Grachan Moncur III debuts with Riff Raff, from Jackie McLean’s “Destination … Out!” Blue Note album, plus Grachan’s trombone solo.

  A memorable & delightful vocal, All Because Of You, from new composer/pianist/organist/vocalist Rob Bargad.

• Get low with these bass features

  The bass player is very important in all these new compositions, so they also add to our growing Bass Corner repertoire.

  Both Bass-ment by Kenny Drew and The Fuzz by Bobby Jaspar feature the bass playing the melody. Important bass lines that hold the whole arrangement together are found in Bill Hardman’s Jazz Messengers classic Politely and Bobby Watson’s Lemoncello.

  Bertha Hope’s Book’s Bok starts with the bass doubling the melody with the piano, and then moves into an important rhythmic accompaniment line. Bertha’s solo piano arrangement is available, as is a recording of it by pianist Glenn Zaleski.

  Drummer Billy Drummond’s opening 7/4 bass line had been going over in his head for quite some time before the rest of his composition Dubai came to him. As Billy is one of the gifted drummers who is included in our Drum Corner, we explore both a transcription of his playing behind the melody sections and his soloing over the ending bass line vamp. We also have some 7/4 exercises and groove patterns available.

  Check out this video of Billy talking about and playing Dubai! Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more exclusive interviews of composers sharing their perspectives as well as tutorials and performances.
  

• New songs, old year: songs for late December

  Jodi - Dexter Gordon
  A gorgeous ballad by a master of ballad playing.

  Please, Let Me Share This With You - Dexter Gordon (music) / Rachel Gould (lyric)
  Lyrist/singer Rachel Gould’s touching lyric creates a new valuable addition to the singer’s repertory.

  Blue Wail - Kenny Drew
  A great addition to your blues repertory: an intriguing melody with lots of rhythmic variety.

  Minor Scene - Gene Roland
  Another great medium up swinger by an often overlooked great composer/arranger.

  Later For You - Elmo Hope
  A challenging head based on standard jazz changes.

  Now, news about next year. We’ll be making some additions to the “Features” column.

  One addition will be ETUDES, which doesn’t mean you have to have new specially written music. Some heads also make great etudes. For me, Later For You is a perfect example, and I’ll tell you how I think you can best use it to your benefit: follow Charlie Parker’s advice: “Be able to play every melody in any key.” Elmo Hope’s Later For You exercises both your ears and your technical chops. Here is what I suggest:

  B-flat instruments:
  (1) Play the melody in A-flat concert (use your regular instrumental lead sheet). Trumpet players will play the B-flat lead sheet melody down an octave, except for one measure before D.
  (2) Next play the melody from the E-flat lead sheet: you’ll be learning the melody in the key of F.
  (3) Next play the melody from the C treble clef lead sheet: now you’ll be playing it in the key of A-flat.

  After you have the melody together in those three keys, pick any other key. Using your “ear,” see if you can play it in that new key. If you’ve really disciplined yourself in three keys, the next key should be a lot easier,

  If you already play a concert key instrument, then you should learn the melody in B-flat (from the B-flat lead sheet) and in E-flat (from the E-flat lead sheet).

  E-flat instruments, learn the melody in the B-flat instrumental key and the concert version key.

  Another useful category I’m working on is SAME CHANGES, where we’ll list the standard changes titles are based on. For example, Later For You is based on the chord progression of “All God’s Chillun Got Rhythm.”

  And here’s a link I love to browse: the album covers, all on one page.

  Happy New Year!

  Don Sickler
  phone 212-741-1175
  email don@secondfloormusic.com

• new July 18, 2012

  Donnellon Square (Kenny Drew)
  We’ve already made available several of Kenny Drew’s wonderful compositions that he wrote and recorded when he was well established in Europe in the 1970s. Now, we’re returning to his first recording date, in 1950, when he was just 21 years of age. You’ll hear he was already well versed in the bebop vocabulary. Listening to his opening solo piano introduction and hearing the depth of his composition, it’s easy to understand why he was on so many recordings during his career (over 250).

  The Opener (Hank Mobley)
  Here’s another great Hank Mobley composition and arrangement that he contributed to the “Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers” legacy. It’s a sincere tribute to the jazz artist/composer when the leader keeps their music in the repertoire after the artist leaves the group (Wayne Shorter was the tenor saxophonist on this recording).

  Straight Ahead (Gigi Gryce)
  The Jazz Lab was an important Gigi Gryce/Donald Byrd group for which Gigi wrote and arranged many great compositions. This slow swinger is certainly one of them.

  Three For Two (Jeanfrancois Prins)
  A very serious European jazz artist (guitar) and composer with a true melodic gift. We’re honored to be able to make his music and recordings available on jazzleadsheets.com. Also check out his new CD, "El Gaucho."

  Old World, New Imports (Hank Mobley): Philly Joe Jones drum transcription
  We’ve had the lead sheet for this composition available for some time. Now we’re adding the inspiration for the composition, drummer Philly Joe Jones’ valuable contribution. This composition definitely was written to be recorded with Philly Joe, and as usual, he comes through with flying colors. Check this one out, drummers! Also, visit the Jazz Drum Corner Blog.

  --Don Sickler

   

• finally, new music! April 2011

  Una Mas - Kenny Dorham - A Kenny Dorham classic. Lead sheets and second parts from his Blue Note recording (complete with shout chorus). Also, solo piano arrangement by Ronnie Mathews.

  Only You - Kenny Drew - A beautiful ballad that pianist Kenny Drew also recorded later at a medium swing tempo. Check out his original chord voicings.

  A Night In Barcelona - Harold Land - A medium bossa with an interesting recurring bass line figure. Flute/Vibes part (Bobby Hutcherson recorded it) available.

  Fire One - Carl Perkins - Lots of twists and turns in this great question and answer melody by one of the unsung “groove” masters.

  Opus In Turquoise - Gene Roland - A beautiful, simple melody, orchestrated by a master. Kenton band backgrounds in C treble clef version.

• 12/29/10 new from jazzleadsheets.com

  Prince Albert - Kenny Dorham
  A classic melody by Kenny Dorham based on the chord progression of the standard All The Things You Are, plus classic solos (transcribed) by Kenny Dorham and Hank Mobley from the classic Blue Note recording of the then-new quintet ready to explode on the scene in 1955. The Jazz Messengers, with Horace Silver on piano, Doug Watkins on bass, and Art Blakey on drums.

  Reflections In Blue - James Williams
  Pianist James Williams was part of Blakey’s Jazz Messengers in 1978, (actually he was a Jazz Messenger from 1977 through 1981.) The 1978 Messengers also featured trumpeter Valery Ponomarev, saxophonists Bobby Watson and David Schnitter, and bassist Dennis Irwin. Williams wrote this composition to feature the “patented” Art Blakey shuffle.

  Lite-Flite - Kenny Drew
  This was recorded with Thad Jones on cornet and Bob Berg on tenor sax, George Mraz on bass, Jimmy Cobb on drums, and, of course, Kenny Drew on piano. Besides an exciting uptempo tune to play, I think of it as a great etude for working on “changes” (see my notes).

  Meant To Be! - Ray Bryant & Fleurine (vocal)
  The vocal version of Ray Bryant’s Chicken An’ Dumplins, with lyric by Dutch vocalist/lyricist Fleurine. Our version is performed by vocalist Tina May and the composer himself, Ray Bryant, on piano. The only time Ray has ever recorded his own composition—and the complete MP3 recording is available only here.

  De Critifeux - Jack Wilson
  After giving you the blistering tour de force of Jack Wilson’s Jackleg a few weeks ago, we want to next introduce you to the medium up tempo side of this marvelous piano/composer. Lead sheets plus piano arrangement.

  Happy Holidays!
  Don Sickler

• Three new composers

  Hello, music fans. For this week’s jazzleadsheets.com releases, I decided it would be fun to compare compositions by two gifted pianist/composers from Second Floor Music. The compositions start out with some definite similarities, but develop very differently.
  A Touching Affair by James Williams (first recorded in 1984)
  vs.
  Flamands by Don Friedman (first recorded in 1995)

  —- melodic similarities
  Both composers love the minor key, and they both started their compositions with a vamping piano/bass figure. Another striking similarity is the rhythmic shape and melodic contour of the opening phrase of each melody. This is where the similarity ends. Don’s opening G minor melodic phrase moves from the 5th up to the minor 7th then down to the 11th, while James’ opening F-sharp minor melodic phrase moves from the root up to the minor third then down to the minor 7th.
  —- melodic phrase development
  Don repeats the opening phrase melody, then keeps the melody almost intact, but in F minor. James develops his opening phrase over twelve measures.
  Interestingly, Don’s melody was originally spread over twelve measures when he first recorded it on his “Almost Everything” session. On his “Straight Ahead” session it’s developed over sixteen measures.

  You Never Leave My Mind by James Williams and Marc Ostrow
  This is the lyric version of A Touching Affair. It’s in a different, female friendly key. In addition to the vocal lead sheet, an accompaniment-only track is available, complete with full chorus (long form) solo section.
  Besides being a great composer and pianist, James Williams was also a champion for many other artists. He introduced me to Bobby Watson, Billy Pierce (and the other musicians on “Alter Ego”) and later, Donald Brown, Geoff Keezer and many other great artists.

  Horizon Reassembled by Bobby Watson
  The “Horizon Reassembled” CD reunites the exact same personnel that recorded together in 1991 and 1993. You can find more info about Horizon in the Historical Notes for this composition. Also, I want to mention that Second Floor Music has quite a few Bobby Watson “Horizon” combo arrangements available. Search by Recording Leader for "Bobby Watson & Horizon" on SecondFloorMusic.com. I’ve always loved Bobby’s music. He definitely has a strong compositional voice that is easy to recognize. Look for more of his compositions on jazzleadsheets.com soon.

  Sunset by Kenny Drew
  Kenny Drew is probably most known as one of the great rhythm section pianists. It’s hard to find artists that he didn’t record with. He’s also a gifted composer, and we’re introducing him on jazzleadsheets.com with one of his beautiful ballads. Kenny Drew is also the father of another exceptional pianist/composer, Kenny Drew, Jr., who is already represented in jazzleadsheets.com. Obviously, two Kenny Drew’s can be confusing, but we’ll try to make that confusion worthwhile as we bring you more of their great music.

  Thanks for visiting jazzleadsheets.com
  Don Sickler

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