Sims A-Plenty – Elmo Hope
One of Elmo Hope's most complex songs, this one's form is largely unbroken into discrete phrases. The New Stories recording is available in Minus You format for all instruments. Bobby Porcelli's amazing alto sax solo is also available.
- Recording: Harold Land - The Fox
- Recorded on: August, 1959
- Label: HiFi Jazz (J 612)
- Concert Key: A minor
- Vocal Range: , to
- Style: Swing (medium up)
- Trumpet - Dupree Bolton
- Tenor Sax - Harold Land
- Piano - Elmo Hope
- Bass - Herbie Lewis
- Drums - Frank Butler
Video
- Description
- Historical Notes
- Solos
- Piano Corner
- Bass Corner
- Drum Corner
- Guitar Corner
- Inside & Beyond
- Minus You
Though relatively little known, this song is arguably Elmo Hope's masterpiece. It is certainly one of his most complex, intricate compositions, with a remarkable form that seems ahead of its time. The head is 36 measures long, with no obvious phrase beginnings or endings in the first 27 of these measures. The 28th through 34th measures are a repeat of the first seven measures, but other than that the form does not repeat. There are several rhythm section figures that occur at key checkpoints in the form, for example measures 20 through 27 which we have labeled as a B section—though the beginning of this section (marked by two measures of pedal point on beats 2 and 4) seems to be in the middle of a melodic phrase. The melody is classic Elmo, with many unexpected twists tied together by a bouncy rhythmic feeling. The ambiguity of the form is accentuated by the changes, which also make several unpredictable twists involving stepwise root motion and deceptive II-V7s; though the key is relatively recognizable as A minor, a C minor tonality is hinted at in the middle of the form. However you go about it, this song is an obstacle course.
Our tenor sax lead sheet shows the melody as played by Harold Land, including the harmony notes on the intro. Our Condensed Score also works as a piano and bass part; a separate drum part is available. Click on Drum Corner for more details.
There is an eight-measure intro with a pedal point on B on beats 2 and 4 throughout. This intro is also played before the out head. The solo form is notably different from the head form, being truncated to 33 measures in a very unusual way. Specifically, a different three measures replace the first four measures of the head changes, and the F section (corresponding to the C section in the head) has a new first two measures replacing the first three measures of C. Each solo chorus has the same rhythm section hits in the first two measures of E and the last two of F, corresponding to hits in the B and C sections of the head.
On this recording, the horns play the intro voiced in major 2nds, with the drums also doubling the melodic rhythm. The horns are in octaves or unison for the melody (the tenor sax lead sheet shows the part as played by Harold Land), while the piano doubles the melody for the first eight measures of A and the first four of C. The drums also double the melodic rhythm in the first three measures of these sections.
Our tenor sax lead sheet shows the melody as played by Harold Land, including the harmony notes on the intro. Our Condensed Score also works as a piano and bass part; a separate drum part is available. Click on Drum Corner for more details.
There is an eight-measure intro with a pedal point on B on beats 2 and 4 throughout. This intro is also played before the out head. The solo form is notably different from the head form, being truncated to 33 measures in a very unusual way. Specifically, a different three measures replace the first four measures of the head changes, and the F section (corresponding to the C section in the head) has a new first two measures replacing the first three measures of C. Each solo chorus has the same rhythm section hits in the first two measures of E and the last two of F, corresponding to hits in the B and C sections of the head.
On this recording, the horns play the intro voiced in major 2nds, with the drums also doubling the melodic rhythm. The horns are in octaves or unison for the melody (the tenor sax lead sheet shows the part as played by Harold Land), while the piano doubles the melody for the first eight measures of A and the first four of C. The drums also double the melodic rhythm in the first three measures of these sections.
This song has only been recorded twice, but deserves wider recognition. "The Fox" is the only Harold Land-led studio album with Elmo Hope, though Land also recorded Hope's Nieta on his debut album "Harold In The Land Of Jazz" a year and a half earlier. There is also a live album from The Cellar in Vancouver, recorded in late 1958, of Land with Hope, Scott LaFaro, and Lennie McBrowne. Four out of the six songs on "The Fox" were written by Hope, including One Second, Please. Like Sims A-Plenty, One Second, Please was later recorded by the New Stories trio and Bobby Porcelli on their 1998 tribute album "Hope Is In The Air."
For another recording of trumpeter Dupree Bolton check out Bennie Harris' Mid Nite Lament.
For another recording of trumpeter Dupree Bolton check out Bennie Harris' Mid Nite Lament.
Our drum part reflects what Frank Butler plays on the recording. As he plays slightly differently on the in and out heads, both are included. The drums are unison with the melody for the intro as well as the first three measures of A and C in the head; Frank catches many of the melody rhythms in other parts of the head as well. After his open solo—not on the form—he sets up the D.C. to the intro by playing the first two measures of the intro rhythm.
This part begins as a fully notated drum staff on the intro and the beginning of A; the horn melody is cued starting at the seventh measure.
This part begins as a fully notated drum staff on the intro and the beginning of A; the horn melody is cued starting at the seventh measure.
Related Songs
Email Send Sims A-Plenty to a friend
Send this page to a friend via email. Add your name or email in the first field. In the second, add one or more email addresses, separated by a comma.
- Recording: New Stories - Hope Is In The Air
- Recorded on: April 28, 1998
- Label: Origin (82434)
- Concert Key: A minor
- Vocal Range: , to
- Style: Swing (medium up)
- Alto Sax - Bobby Porcelli
- Piano - Marc Seales
- Bass - Doug Miller
- Drums - John Bishop
Video
- Description
- Historical Notes
- Solos
- Piano Corner
- Bass Corner
- Drum Corner
- Guitar Corner
- Inside & Beyond
- Minus You
This tribute version is just different enough from the original to warrant a second lead sheet. The drums never double the melodic rhythm. In the intro, only the piano plays the melody (still voiced in major 2nds), with the drums comping around the pedal point. Only the alto sax plays the melody. The hits on the first three measures of the A and C sections are clean breaks, without the added bass notes of the original. Several of the rhythm section hits are set up more than in the original arrangement, notably on the 3rd, 4th, 7th and 8th measures of the B section right after the pedal point measures.
After the alto and piano solos, there is a new trading section that alternates eight measures of drum solo with the intro; the alto plays the lower part with the piano here. This occurs twice, leading to the out head from A.
Minus You tracks are available for all instruments; click on Minus You for more details.
After the alto and piano solos, there is a new trading section that alternates eight measures of drum solo with the intro; the alto plays the lower part with the piano here. This occurs twice, leading to the out head from A.
Minus You tracks are available for all instruments; click on Minus You for more details.
The New Stories Trio came from the state of Washington to the state of New Jersey, for a week of intense recording with Rudy Van Gelder at the Van Gelder Recording Studio. Don Sickler had been in communication with the Trio, supplying lead sheets for Elmo Hope's music. The Trio rehearsed and internalized Elmo's music, developing their own approach to his compositions. The Trio had bed-and-breakfast lodging in NYC, so both Trio and Don & Maureen Sickler traveled from NY to NJ to NY every day. Long days, but very satisfying for all concerned.
For another Elmo Hope song on this album that was also originally recorded on Harold Land's "The Fox," check out One Second, Please. Bobby Porcelli is featured on several other projects on jazzleadsheets.com with Minus You recordings, including "The Gigi Gryce Project" and "The K.D. Challenge."
For another Elmo Hope song on this album that was also originally recorded on Harold Land's "The Fox," check out One Second, Please. Bobby Porcelli is featured on several other projects on jazzleadsheets.com with Minus You recordings, including "The Gigi Gryce Project" and "The K.D. Challenge."
Our Bobby Porcelli melody/solo transcription CLIP includes both the in melody and his two-chorus solo. Bobby navigates the tricky melody and changes with ease and elegance. This transcription has detailed articulations throughout for an in-depth look at his unique, fluid style of phrasing.
There are no separate Minus You parts for piano, bass, and drums; rhythm section players should read the Concert Condensed Score. The format of the full track is:
-- intro
-- melody
-- alto sax solo 2 choruses
-- piano solo 2 choruses
-- exchanges with drums 2 times
-- out melody
MP3 minus melody
-- tacet for the intro
-- play the melody
-- solo 2 choruses
-- play the "intro" parts of the drum exchanges 2 times
-- play the out melody
MP3 minus Piano
-- count off sets up the intro
-- play the intro
-- play figures and comp for the melody
-- comp for the alto solo 2 choruses
-- play the "intro" parts of the drum exchanges 2 times
-- play figures and comp for the out melody
MP3 minus Bass
-- count off sets up the intro
-- play figures and walk for the intro and melody
- -walk for the alto and piano solos (2 choruses each)
-- play figures for the "intro" parts of the drum exchanges 2 times
-- play figures and walk for the out melody
MP3 minus Drums - sticks throughout
-- count off sets up the intro
-- play figures and comp for the intro and melody
-- comp for the alto and piano solos (2 choruses each)
-- exchanges 2 times (8s with ensemble "intro)
-- play figures and comp for the out melody
-- intro
-- melody
-- alto sax solo 2 choruses
-- piano solo 2 choruses
-- exchanges with drums 2 times
-- out melody
MP3 minus melody
-- tacet for the intro
-- play the melody
-- solo 2 choruses
-- play the "intro" parts of the drum exchanges 2 times
-- play the out melody
MP3 minus Piano
-- count off sets up the intro
-- play the intro
-- play figures and comp for the melody
-- comp for the alto solo 2 choruses
-- play the "intro" parts of the drum exchanges 2 times
-- play figures and comp for the out melody
MP3 minus Bass
-- count off sets up the intro
-- play figures and walk for the intro and melody
- -walk for the alto and piano solos (2 choruses each)
-- play figures for the "intro" parts of the drum exchanges 2 times
-- play figures and walk for the out melody
MP3 minus Drums - sticks throughout
-- count off sets up the intro
-- play figures and comp for the intro and melody
-- comp for the alto and piano solos (2 choruses each)
-- exchanges 2 times (8s with ensemble "intro)
-- play figures and comp for the out melody
Related Songs
Email Send Sims A-Plenty to a friend
Send this page to a friend via email. Add your name or email in the first field. In the second, add one or more email addresses, separated by a comma.
Elmo Hope
June 27, 1923 – May 19, 1967
An imaginative pianist who valued subtlety over virtuosity in the landscape of bebop, Elmo Hope never achieved the fame that his close friends did, perhaps because he so rejected stylistic norms of the time. Elmo was a classically trained pianist with technique rivaling that of his childhood friend Bud Powell and a composer of music whose inventiveness and complexity approaches that of Thelonious Monk. In fact, Elmo, Thelonious and Bud used to hang out so much together in the late 1940s they became known as "The Three Musketeers." Powell, in Francis Paudras' book "Dance of the Infidels" is quoted as saying, "You gotta hear Elmo. He's fabulous. His stuff is very hard. He does some things that even I have trouble playing." Read more...
There was a problem.
...