Change Up – Roland Alexander

This medium-up song is built around a funky two-measure bass figure. Like some other Roland Alexander compositions, stepwise alternation of chords gives Change Up a modal sound without staying in a definite mode. The bass vamp alternates A minor and G minor chords, though the overall impression is an A minor tonality. Besides this vamp, there is a 12-measure A section with no key center; every chord here is a major seventh, descending for four measures (as does the melody), alternating Dmaj7 and E♭maj7 for the next four, and then rising (again with the melody). On the head the A section is followed by three eight-measure phrases of the vamp (B sections), with an A minor pentatonic melody on the second of these; the piano solos on the first and third vamp phrases.

The solo form is 20-measure AB. As an intro, the bass plays the vamp for eight measures, followed by 16 measures of piano solo over the same vamp. The drum solo is also over the vamp, played by the horns, piano, and bass; this section is marked as E on the lead sheets and parts. The pentatonic B section melody is used as an ending, repeated four times; the second and fourth time are a half step up (B♭ minor).

Second parts are available for the two-horn arrangement. The horns are harmonized throughout the A section. The piano, bass and drum parts are condensed scores so all players can see the whole picture; first pages are pretty much identical, the second pages differ for each instrument at E and G.

Check out other compositions from the "Kojo Time" album.