Back Room Blues – Brian Lynch
This hard-bop swinger has an irregular form, but the melody is quite simple compared to some other Brian Lynch compositions. A condensed score and second parts are available for the two-horn arrangement.
- Recording: Ralph Moore - Round Trip
- Recorded on: December 21, 1985
- Label: Reservoir (RSR CD 104)
- Concert Key: F minor
- Vocal Range: , to
- Style: Swing (medium)
- Trumpet - Brian Lynch
- Tenor Sax - Ralph Moore
- Piano - Benny Green
- Bass - Rufus Reid
- Drums - Kenny Washington
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Video
- Description
- Historical Notes
- Solos
- Piano Corner
- Bass Corner
- Drum Corner
- Guitar Corner
- Inside & Beyond
- Minus You
The rhythm section vamp stays on Fm7 through the A section. The B section changes descend (and sometimes rise) in seconds and thirds, coming back to Fm7 for the vamp again at C. At D the vamp returns for four measures on a D♭ triad with B in the bass, followed by four measures back on Fm7. The rhythm section plays hits throughout the head, not just on the vamp sections; at B, most of the chords are anticipated on the "and" of beat 4. The solo form is the same as the head, but with a 4-feel throughout; the vamp figure is played on the last four measures of the last solo chorus to set up the out head. There is a coda that tags the D section two more times, with added dynamic contrast between the two melody phrases; it ends on D♭/B.
About the arrangement: This first recording has a slightly different arrangement from the other two. Our condensed score, lead sheets and second parts reflect this version, but have footnotes explaining how the others are different. The lead sheets are the first parts. Rhythm section players should read the condensed score. In this recording, the drums begin the intro with eight measures of the vamp (with a one-beat pickup); the piano and bass come in on beat 4 of the last measure and vamp for eight more measures before the head. The horns are voiced in fourths throughout the A section both times; they start the B section in octaves, but the long notes through the rest of the melody (and the entire D section) are voiced, mostly in fourths. The tenor sax catches the hits with the rhythm section in the 8th through 11th measures of B.
Because the horns on the other recordings play the A section in unison the first time, both melody and harmony lines are shown here in our second parts. Click on the "Back Room Blues" album cover for more details.
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- Recording: Brian Lynch - Back Room Blues
- Recorded on: December 30, 1989
- Label: Criss Cross Jazz (1042)
- Concert Key: F minor
- Vocal Range: , to
- Style: Swing (medium)
- Trumpet - Brian Lynch
- Tenor Sax - Javon Jackson
- Piano - David Hazeltine
- Bass - Peter Washington
- Drums - Lewis Nash
Purchase Back Room Blues - Brian Lynch
Purchasing this song through our affiliate links with certain retailers provides jazzleadsheets.com with additional support to help keep us bringing you the best lead sheets available. Thank you!
Video
- Description
- Historical Notes
- Solos
- Piano Corner
- Bass Corner
- Drum Corner
- Guitar Corner
- Inside & Beyond
- Minus You
The same lead sheets (which are the first parts), condensed score, and second parts can be used for both arrangements; the differences between them are explained in footnotes.
"Back Room Blues" was Lynch's second album as a leader; this and his 1986 debut "Peer Pressure" are his only ones (so far) recorded at the Van Gelder Studio.
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- Recording: Phil Woods - Phil Woods - 20th Anniversary Set
- Recorded on: August 3, 1992
- Label: Mosaic (MD5-159)
- Concert Key: F minor
- Vocal Range: , to
- Style: Swing (medium)
- Trumpet - Brian Lynch
- Alto Sax - Phil Woods
- Piano - Jim McNeely
- Bass - Steve Gilmore
- Drums - Bill Goodwin
Video
- Description
- Historical Notes
- Solos
- Piano Corner
- Bass Corner
- Drum Corner
- Guitar Corner
- Inside & Beyond
- Minus You
Related Songs
Email Send Back Room Blues to a friend

Brian Lynch
born on September 12, 1956
Grammy Award-winner Brian Lynch is one of the most influential and well-respected trumpeters in both Latin and straight-ahead jazz. Brian grew up in Milwaukee and apprenticed with Midwest-based keyboardists Buddy Montgomery and Melvin Rhyne; he went on to earn his degree from the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. After moving to New York in 1981, he earned his stripes working with jazz giants such as Art Blakey, Horace Silver, Barbarito Torres, and Phil Woods. Lynch recorded many records as a leader—23 since he began recording in 1986. Read more...