Loop – Jon Davis
As the title implies, this song has a cyclical form—in this case only six measures long. This slow bluesy swinger is available in Rhythm Section Workshop format with Minus You tracks for piano, bass, and drums. In addition to Jon's trio recording, his Solo Piano version is also available, with a Melody Transcription.
- Recording: Jon Davis - Jon Davis Trio
- Recorded on: September 4, 2010
- Label: jazzleadsheets.com (JLS 1043)
- Concert Key: C minor
- Style: Swing (slow)
- Piano - Jon Davis
- Bass - Daryl Johns
- Drums - Steve Johns
Loop indeed—this song has a cyclical form whose end loops back to the beginning. It's only six measures long, but with at least two chords per measure it's perfect for the slow swing tempo. The melody uses mostly the pentatonic or "blues" scale, and like the changes it resolves back to the beginning. The changes have a mix of chromatic and 4th-based resolutions, with an unusual root motion in the third and fourth measures ascending in minor 3rds. Though the third measure begins with Fm7 (the IV chord), this song does not sound like a six-measure blues. The coda has a vamp, as in many other Jon Davis compositions; in this case, it is a two-measure phrase that continues the resolution of the last measure downwards—G7 in the last measure (the same as the second measure of the vamp) resolves to G♭7 as a tritone substitution for the tonic.
On this recording, Jon plays the melody twice, rubato, by himself before cueing in the bass and drums for the melody once more, in time. This rubato part is not included in the audio excerpt above, nor in the Minus You tracks, except for the last measure which is in time. This measure appears in all three Minus You tracks, including the Minus Piano track where it is left in as a cue.
The piano part shows the melody as it appears in the lead sheet. The bass and drum parts have the melody as Jon plays it on the in head on this recording. Both the piano and drum parts show the bass rhythms for the in head.
On this recording, Jon plays the melody twice, rubato, by himself before cueing in the bass and drums for the melody once more, in time. This rubato part is not included in the audio excerpt above, nor in the Minus You tracks, except for the last measure which is in time. This measure appears in all three Minus You tracks, including the Minus Piano track where it is left in as a cue.
The piano part shows the melody as it appears in the lead sheet. The bass and drum parts have the melody as Jon plays it on the in head on this recording. Both the piano and drum parts show the bass rhythms for the in head.
"I grew up listening to blues" and "I always liked Ramsey Lewis and Les McCann, blues guitar players, Leon Russell," says Davis. As to pentatonics, "Wayne Shorter is an inspiration to everybody who listened to his records." The song's title, The Loop, was inspired by a late-night-after-many-late-nights conversation with pianist David Kikoski in which the pair would find themselves repeating the same statements over and over again, or "looping" as Davis dubs their antics. The title also informs the nature of the composition, "a small little six-bar tune that loops."
See other titles on the "JON DAVIS TRIO"
See other titles on the "JON DAVIS TRIO"
Exploring the Minus Bass audio track and Rhythm Section Workshop Bass part
The Loop is a slow swing tune where the bass can play in 2—like Daryl Johns does on the recording—or in 4, as the drums play quarter notes on the ride for the whole tune. Experiment and see which way feels best to you, as you play along with the Minus Bass track. This is also the kind of composition where you should start to get comfortable with triplet fills, which will work well in this context and help to establish the overall vibe of the song. On the vamp at the end—repeated six times—the drums and bass go into a 6/8 feel. You can go along with this and play a little busier to build some energy, or you can try sticking to straight quarter notes.
The Loop is a slow swing tune where the bass can play in 2—like Daryl Johns does on the recording—or in 4, as the drums play quarter notes on the ride for the whole tune. Experiment and see which way feels best to you, as you play along with the Minus Bass track. This is also the kind of composition where you should start to get comfortable with triplet fills, which will work well in this context and help to establish the overall vibe of the song. On the vamp at the end—repeated six times—the drums and bass go into a 6/8 feel. You can go along with this and play a little busier to build some energy, or you can try sticking to straight quarter notes.
Exploring the Minus Drums audio track and Rhythm Section Workshop Drum part
The Loop is a gospel style piece great for practicing maintaining a slow tempo that swings. Try playing along with the Minus Drums track. The interesting six-bar form and great bass and piano solos are sure to keep you highly engaged. The drummer on this recording experiments with a 12/8 feel as well as a standard swing feel which is a great way to build and release energy/tension.
The Loop is a gospel style piece great for practicing maintaining a slow tempo that swings. Try playing along with the Minus Drums track. The interesting six-bar form and great bass and piano solos are sure to keep you highly engaged. The drummer on this recording experiments with a 12/8 feel as well as a standard swing feel which is a great way to build and release energy/tension.
Exclusive Minus You audio tracks and parts
Our Minus You tracks each begin with one measure of solo piano (the last measure of Jon's intro) to cue in the melody. The coda vamp repeats eight times; the first and last of these have the melody notated.
CLIP The form is:
-- one measure of solo piano intro
-- melody
-- bass solo 2 choruses
-- piano solo 2 choruses
-- out melody
-- coda: vamp 8 times and last chord
mp3 minus Piano
-- one measure of piano intro is left in as a cue for the melody
-- play the melody
-- comp for the bass solo 2 choruses
-- solo 2 choruses
-- play the out melody
-- coda: play the melody the first time, solo 6 times, play the melody the last time and last chord
mp3 minus Bass
-- one measure of piano intro sets up the melody
-- 2-feel for the melody
-- solo 2 choruses
-- 2-feel or walk for the piano solo 2 choruses
-- 2-feel or walk for the out melody
-- walk for the coda: vamp eight times and play last chord
mp3 minus Drums - sticks throughout on the recording, but brushes could also be used
-- one measure of piano intro sets up the melody
-- comp for the melody
-- comp for the bass solo (2 choruses)
-- comp for the piano solo (2 choruses)
-- comp for the out melody
-- comp for the coda: vamp eight times and play last chord
Our Minus You tracks each begin with one measure of solo piano (the last measure of Jon's intro) to cue in the melody. The coda vamp repeats eight times; the first and last of these have the melody notated.
CLIP The form is:
-- one measure of solo piano intro
-- melody
-- bass solo 2 choruses
-- piano solo 2 choruses
-- out melody
-- coda: vamp 8 times and last chord
mp3 minus Piano
-- one measure of piano intro is left in as a cue for the melody
-- play the melody
-- comp for the bass solo 2 choruses
-- solo 2 choruses
-- play the out melody
-- coda: play the melody the first time, solo 6 times, play the melody the last time and last chord
mp3 minus Bass
-- one measure of piano intro sets up the melody
-- 2-feel for the melody
-- solo 2 choruses
-- 2-feel or walk for the piano solo 2 choruses
-- 2-feel or walk for the out melody
-- walk for the coda: vamp eight times and play last chord
mp3 minus Drums - sticks throughout on the recording, but brushes could also be used
-- one measure of piano intro sets up the melody
-- comp for the melody
-- comp for the bass solo (2 choruses)
-- comp for the piano solo (2 choruses)
-- comp for the out melody
-- comp for the coda: vamp eight times and play last chord
- Recording: Jon Davis - Solo Piano: Jon Davis
- Recorded on: May 26, 2012
- Label: jazzleadsheets.com (JLS 1044)
- Concert Key: C minor
- Style: Swing (slow)
- Piano - Jon Davis
Video
- Jon Davis performs THE LOOP on Rudy Van Gelder's Steinway D. May 26, 2012.
This solo piano version starts with a rubato introduction not included in the clip above. A very tender exploration of this melody.
The Loop was first recorded by trombonist Howard Prince on his 1994 "Double Take" album, then in 1995 by bassist Paul Gabrielson on "This Is New."
On May 26, 2012, Jon recorded solo piano versions of 15 original compositions at the Van Gelder Studio. These include six of the ten songs recorded at the 2010 trio session with Daryl and Steve Johns. In addition to The Loop, Jon recorded solo versions of But Jon, What If?, First Love, Just Because Of You, One Up Front, and Wedding Waltz. All will be available here soon.
On May 26, 2012, Jon recorded solo piano versions of 15 original compositions at the Van Gelder Studio. These include six of the ten songs recorded at the 2010 trio session with Daryl and Steve Johns. In addition to The Loop, Jon recorded solo versions of But Jon, What If?, First Love, Just Because Of You, One Up Front, and Wedding Waltz. All will be available here soon.
Jon Davis
born on July 22, 1957
Jon Davis is a pianist and composer based in New York. He has performed with and contributed compositions to many of the top jazz musicians worldwide throughout his career, which has spanned over 35 years, and has recorded several albums as a leader. Jon took up piano and guitar as a young teenager; he was inspired to play jazz after hearing records of Red Garland and Miles Davis. He briefly studied with Lennie Tristano then attended New England Conservatory, where his teachers included Ran Blake, Jaki Byard, and Madam Chaloff. After six months, he left to begin gigging around Boston. Read more...