Coaster – Grachan Moncur III
A catchy uptempo song, not quite modal but with an open-ended sound. We have a Minus You version that can be used by instrumentalists or vocalists.
- Recording: Grachan Moncur III - Evolution
- Recorded on: November 21, 1963
- Label: Blue Note (BST 84153)
- Concert Key: G minor
- Style: Groove (medium)
- Trumpet - Lee Morgan
- Trombone - Grachan Moncur III
- Alto Sax - Jackie McLean
- Vibes - Bobby Hutcherson
- Bass - Bob Cranshaw
- Drums - Tony Williams
The sextet arrangement from this original recording is available as a print publication only.
-- from halleonard.com 3 Horns plus Rhythm (Grade 4-5)
-- from ejazzlines.com
-- from your favorite music distributor
Lead sheets and minus you tracks in a different key are available under the second album cover above right.
A great one for alternating from swing to latin while getting your uptempo chops together.
The Coaster is more tonal than many other Moncur compositions, but has an open-ended quality characteristic of his style. Each section of the form alternates between two chords for two measures each. The eight-measure A and C sections use Gm6 and E♭9, while the 16-measure B section alternates between a D triad and Cm7. The bridge has a Latin groove and a rhythmic accompanying figure that can be used as a background for the solos.
Grachan's own lyric is available in our Sing JAZZ! songbook, a collection of stunning, lesser-known vocal selections from the Second Floor Music repertoire (Sing JAZZ! contents).
"Evolution" was Grachan's first album as a leader. It was his third recording alongside Jackie McLean; the first two were Jackie's albums "One Step Beyond" and "Destination...Out!". Both albums also feature vibist Bobby Hutcherson. Besides "Evolution," the only other recording with Grachan and Lee Morgan was Lee's last album from 1971, posthumously released as "The Last Sessions."
- Recording: Don Sickler - Further Explorations Vol. 1
- Recorded on: April 4, 2003
- Label: jazzleadsheets.com (JLS 1034)
- Concert Key: D minor
- Style: Swing (uptempo)
- Trumpet - Don Sickler
- Piano - Cecilia Coleman
- Bass - Tim Givens
- Drums - Vince Cherico
In the original arrangement, the rhythmic figure of the bridge also appears in the rhythm section on the first measure of the A and C sections of the head. On this version, the rhythm section plays with a 4-feel throughout these sections. The chord here is Dm6; in the original arrangement the hit on beat 3 is a IV minor triad, and the natural 6th would not be played in these first two measures.
Grachan Moncur III has been a Second Floor Music composer for many years; his appearance on 28th Street is always a welcome sight. This composition was recorded by our jazzleadsheets.com trio in 2003, as part of an attempt to make lyric versions of SFM titles available. Just recently, Don Sickler decided to add his trumpet melody, so our minus you tracks and lead sheets can be enjoyed now. It's a great composition, fun to play.
CLIP Format of this track:
-- intro
-- melody
-- trumpet solo 2 choruses
-- out melody
-- coda
mp3 minus melody
-- tacet for the intro
-- play the melody
-- solo 2 choruses
-- play the out melody and coda
mp3 minus Piano
-- count off sets up the intro
-- solo on the intro
-- comp and play figures for the melody
-- comp and play figures for the trumpet solo 2 choruses
-- comp and play figures for the out melody and coda
mp3 minus Bass
-- count off sets up the intro
-- walk for the intro
-- walk and play figures for the melody
-- walk and play figures for the trumpet solo 2 choruses
-- walk and play figures for the out melody and coda
mp3 minus Drums - sticks throughout
-- count off sets up the intro
-- comp for the intro
-- comp (swing/Latin) for the melody
-- comp (swing/Latin) for the trumpet solo 2 choruses
-- comp (swing/Latin) for the out melody and coda
mp3 Bass & Drums only - to feature piano, guitar, vibes, or any melodic instrument that likes to play without harmonic accompaniment
-- count off sets up the intro
-- solo on the intro
-- play the melody
-- solo 2 choruses
-- play the out melody and coda
Grachan Moncur III
June 3, 1937 – June 3, 2022
Grachan Moncur has been one of the leading jazz trombonists throughout the past fifty years. He has played with many jazz legends including Ray Charles, Wayne Shorter, Blue Mitchell and Jackie McLean. Moncur first learned the cello at the age of nine. Inspired by his father, bassist Grachan Moncur II, who played with the likes of the Savoy Sultans, Billie Holiday and Dinah Washington, he turned to the trombone at the age of eleven. He began attending the Laurinburg Institute, honing his skills and attending shows where he sat in with drummer Art Blakey and alto saxophonist Jackie McLean. While studying at the Manhattan School of Music and Julliard, he began performing as a leader with greats including Wayne Shorter, Gary Bartz and Blue Mitchell. He took part in two classic Jackie McLean albums, "One Step Beyond" and "Destination Out," contributing multiple compositions. He recorded two albums as a leader for Blue Note: "Evolution" with McLean and Lee Morgan and "Some Other Stuff" with Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter. Read more...