Little Busy – Bobby Timmons
This uptempo, funky piece has Bobby Timmons written all over it—it has his unmistakable bluesy flair. Lead sheets, second parts and Bobby Timmons's transcribed piano solo available.
- Recording: Bobby Timmons - Easy Does It
- Recorded on: March 13, 1961
- Label: Riverside (RLP 363)
- Concert Key: C
- Style: Funky 2-feel & swing
- Piano - Bobby Timmons
- Bass - Sam Jones
- Drums - Jimmy Cobb
Video
- The New Jazz Messengers: Julius Rodriguez, drums and leader; Liam Werner, trumpet; Ryan Park-Chan, alto sax; Isaiah J. Thompson, piano, Nick Dunston, bass
Both of our audio excerpts start with the melody pick up. How about that: two different keys, two different arrangements, two sets of musicians, successive days! Both arrangements are set up with the two-measure bass pattern you hear under the melody. On the trio arrangement, after the bass and drums set it up, the piano joins, then expands upon the idea. All this is notated in the C treble clef lead sheet.
The Messengers arrangement has an eight-measure intro. Aside from different keys, there are plenty of other differences between these two arrangements, so you can have some fun comparing them.
For the Blakey recording we're including second parts, so you can have the complete arrangement for a two horn (or guitar) combo.
The Messengers arrangement has an eight-measure intro. Aside from different keys, there are plenty of other differences between these two arrangements, so you can have some fun comparing them.
For the Blakey recording we're including second parts, so you can have the complete arrangement for a two horn (or guitar) combo.
Don Sickler: "Bobby Timmons' first recording with Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers was the famous "Moanin'" album, which also launched his popularity as a composer. That was in 1958, and Bobby was twenty-three years old. By 1961 he had recorded quite a few albums as a Jazz Messenger. He had also done two albums as a leader prior to his "Easy Does It" session. What I find fascinating about the two recordings of A Little Busy on jazzleadsheets.com is that they were two different arrangements, recorded in different keys, on two successive days, with, except for Bobby, totally different personnel, and for two different record companies.
"We have more proof that jazz is alive and well: check out the video above of 15-year-old drummer/leader Julius Rodriguez and his quintet as they perform the Bobby Timmons hit on our YouTube channel. This group is all high school students!"
"We have more proof that jazz is alive and well: check out the video above of 15-year-old drummer/leader Julius Rodriguez and his quintet as they perform the Bobby Timmons hit on our YouTube channel. This group is all high school students!"
Transcribed Piano Solo: This is Timmons' incredible six-chorus piano solo from his "Easy Does It" trio album. Interestingly, after playing the melody down once, it seems like he starts to repeat the melody, but instead, he uses the first seven measures of the melody as an eight-measure interlude section to set up his solo. The transcribed solo starts with the pick up to his solo piano. The pick up is also indicated in the C treble clef lead sheet so you can see how everything fits together. As you can hear, Timmons' solo immediately starts challenging the funky 2-feel bass and drum patterns and spins its way through six choruses of alternating funky 2-feel and swing sections. Our audio teaser starts from the interlude that sets up the solo and gives you just a taste of what's to come.
- Recording: Art Blakey - The Witch Doctor
- Recorded on: March 14, 1961
- Label: Blue Note (BST 84258)
- Concert Key: F
- Style: Funky 2-feel & swing
- Trumpet - Lee Morgan
- Tenor Sax - Wayne Shorter
- Piano - Bobby Timmons
- Bass - Jymie Merritt
- Drums - Art Blakey
Video
- The New Jazz Messengers: Julius Rodriguez, drums and leader; Liam Werner, trumpet; Ryan Park-Chan, alto sax; Isaiah J. Thompson, piano, Nick Dunston, bass
Both of our audio excerpts start with the melody pick up. How about that: two different keys, two different arrangements, two sets of musicians, successive days! Both arrangements are set up with the two-measure bass pattern you hear under the melody. On the trio arrangement, after the bass and drums set it up, the piano joins, then expands upon the idea. All this is notated in the C treble clef lead sheet.
The Messengers arrangement has an eight-measure intro. Aside from different keys, there are plenty of other differences between these two arrangements, so you can have some fun comparing them.
For the Blakey recording we're including second parts, so you can have the complete arrangement for a two horn (or guitar) combo.
The Messengers arrangement has an eight-measure intro. Aside from different keys, there are plenty of other differences between these two arrangements, so you can have some fun comparing them.
For the Blakey recording we're including second parts, so you can have the complete arrangement for a two horn (or guitar) combo.
"The Witch Doctor" was recorded at the legendary Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs.
Don Sickler: "Bobby Timmons' first recording with Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers was the famous "Moanin'" album, which also launched his popularity as a composer. That was in 1958, and Bobby was twenty-three years old. By 1961 he had recorded quite a few albums as a Jazz Messenger. He had also done two albums as a leader prior to his "Easy Does It" session. What I find fascinating about the two recordings of A Little Busy on jazzleadsheets.com is that they were two different arrangements, recorded in different keys, on two successive days, with, except for Bobby, totally different personnel, and for two different record companies.
"We have more proof that jazz is alive and well: check out the video above of 15-year-old drummer/leader Julius Rodriguez and his quintet as they perform the Bobby Timmons hit on our YouTube channel. This group is all high school students!"
Don Sickler: "Bobby Timmons' first recording with Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers was the famous "Moanin'" album, which also launched his popularity as a composer. That was in 1958, and Bobby was twenty-three years old. By 1961 he had recorded quite a few albums as a Jazz Messenger. He had also done two albums as a leader prior to his "Easy Does It" session. What I find fascinating about the two recordings of A Little Busy on jazzleadsheets.com is that they were two different arrangements, recorded in different keys, on two successive days, with, except for Bobby, totally different personnel, and for two different record companies.
"We have more proof that jazz is alive and well: check out the video above of 15-year-old drummer/leader Julius Rodriguez and his quintet as they perform the Bobby Timmons hit on our YouTube channel. This group is all high school students!"
Bobby Timmons
December 19, 1935 – March 1, 1974
A beloved pianist with one of the most easily recognizable styles, Bobby Timmons is responsible not only for bringing his unique gospel-tinged voice to the piano, but also for his funky compositional masterpieces that have become jazz standards, like Moanin’ and This Here (Dis Here). These two are by no means the only memorable original works of Bobby’s—nearly all of his works are instantly recognizable as Bobby Timmons originals, as they all have his signature style of soul, funk, and gospel, while maintaining the hallmarks of true hard-bop jazz. Born in Philadelphia to a religious family, Bobby studied piano with his uncle, who also taught McCoy Tyner. He moved to New York at age 20 to start his recording career with Kenny Dorham’s Jazz Prophets. Read more...