Malaga Moon – Renee Rosnes
A meditative ballad full of Renee's signature harmonic detail. Condensed score and second parts are available for the recorded quintet arrangement.
- Recording: Renee Rosnes - For The Moment
- Recorded on: February 15-16, 1990
- Label: Blue Note (CDP 7 94859)
- Concert Key: C minor
- Style: Ballad
- Soprano Sax - Steve Wilson
- Tenor Sax - Joe Henderson
- Piano - Renee Rosnes
- Bass - Ira Coleman
- Drums - Billy Drummond
Video
- J.J. Johnson and Renee Rosnes, both performing Renee's MALAGA MOON. J.J. Johnson Quintet performing Renee Rosnes' MALAGA MOON at William Paterson University, 1996. JJ Johnson, trombone; Dan Faulk, soprano sax; Renee Rosnes, piano; Rufus Reid, bass; Bruce Cox, drums.
This ballad has a meditative sound due to its slow melodic rhythm and pedal points. With such a wide-open melody, this song is a worthy vehicle for heartfelt personal interpretation. In the first four measures, the harmonies shift over a G pedal; later in the form there are similar harmonies on a B♭ pedal. The changes are characterized by that level of detail that defines Renee Rosnes' compositions, equal parts logical and unpredictable. Though the melody focuses on a C minor tonality, the last chord is an unexpected Dm9. The form is slightly irregular, a 16-measure A section followed by a 13-measure B section that begins like A but moves in a different direction starting in the pickup to the fifth measure.
Our lead sheets include notable piano rhythms from the original recording. The last phrase of the melody is played with slight pauses (indicated by breath marks) between each note on both the in and out heads. Rhythm section players should use the C lead sheet unless playing with a quintet, then the Concert Condensed Score would be useful.
About the arrangement: A Concert Condensed Score and second parts are available for the two-horn arrangement on this recording. The tenor sax second part consists mostly of whole and half notes outlining the changes below the melody. The tenor does not play in the first four measures of the A and B sections; in these places the melody is written in the second parts as a cue.
Our lead sheets include notable piano rhythms from the original recording. The last phrase of the melody is played with slight pauses (indicated by breath marks) between each note on both the in and out heads. Rhythm section players should use the C lead sheet unless playing with a quintet, then the Concert Condensed Score would be useful.
About the arrangement: A Concert Condensed Score and second parts are available for the two-horn arrangement on this recording. The tenor sax second part consists mostly of whole and half notes outlining the changes below the melody. The tenor does not play in the first four measures of the A and B sections; in these places the melody is written in the second parts as a cue.
After this successful pairing in "For The Moment," saxophonists Joe Henderson and Steve Wilson recorded together again in a quintet setting in August 1990, on pianist Kevin Hays' album "El Matador."
J.J. Johnson also recorded Malaga Moon in 1994 on his album "Tangence," with orchestral accompaniment arranged and conducted by Robert Farnon.
For a vocal version of this song, check out Without You.
J.J. Johnson also recorded Malaga Moon in 1994 on his album "Tangence," with orchestral accompaniment arranged and conducted by Robert Farnon.
For a vocal version of this song, check out Without You.
Renee Rosnes
born on March 24, 1962
Few can deny that Renee Rosnes is one of the most important pianists and composers in contemporary jazz. As a child, Renee was initially attracted to classical piano, but became interested in jazz during high school. She went on to study classical piano performance at the University of Toronto but returned to Vancouver to pursue jazz. Renee quickly rose to the top of Vancouver's active jazz scene and performed as a sideman with Joe Farrell and Dave Liebman while still in her teens. Read more...