Jose's Lament – David Hazeltine

A medium-tempo song in David Hazeltine's signature melodic, modern post-bop style. Jose's Lament alternates between a laid-back swing and a 12/8 Latin groove, the latter used on the last eight measures of the head. The 32-measure form is divided into uneven sections: 14-measure A, 10-measure B and 8-measure C. The A and B sections start similarly but go in different directions in the fourth measure.

The melody is relatively simple, complemented and occasionally broken up by rhythm section figures throughout A and B. Though these sections establish an F minor key center, the last eight measures alternate two measures each of F7 and E♭7. In the second measure of each of these chords, a triad is added a major sixth above; written for example as D/F7, this chord is the same as F13(♭9) but with a more obvious upper structure. The piano doubles the melody for a brief blues-scale lick in the fourth measure of B.

The last eight measures are also used as an intro; our lead sheets show the top line of the piano voicings. Solos are on a simplified version of the head changes, swinging throughout. The ending vamps the last eight measures of the head.