Melancholy – Meade Lux Lewis

As mentioned above, this piece was recorded at the first Blue Note session on January 6, 1939. Alfred Lion, owner of Blue Note Records, discovered Lux and his fellow pianist Albert Ammons at the legendary concert "From Spirituals To Swing" in Carnegie Hall several weeks earlier. Blue Note went on to become a leader in jazz recording, releasing some of the most important albums in jazz history, and it all started with the release of two marvelous Meade Lux Lewis blues,Melancholy on side A and Solitude, which was on side B.

To learn more about Albert Ammons, Lewis's partner on that session, check out Changes In Boogie Woogie.

Solo Piano Transcription: Eight pages, the entire performance, transcribed by pianist Glenn Zaleski.

Transcription Notation: We strive for accuracy in our transcription notations. An arrow pointing to the left indicates a note that falls slightly before the beat, whereas a right-pointing arrow signals the pianist to lay back on the beat. Small note heads represent notes that are barely played, in between a ghost note and a regular note. Small accents indicate a note that is slightly accented.

Click the Solos tab to see details about the Solo Piano Transcription.