Walter's Ballad – Walter Davis Jr

A lyrical, reflective ballad that deserves to be better known. This song has a 32-measure form, but not divided into eight-measure sections, instead being ABA with 12-measure A sections and an eight-measure bridge in between. The key center is not obvious at the start; the A section changes are a long descent from E♭m7, first in minor thirds and then mostly descending II-V7s, that ultimately resolves in B♭ major. Our lead sheets show no key signature to avoid having too many accidentals.

On Walter Davis Jr.’s recording there is no in head. After a solo piano intro, the bass and drums come in at the top of the form for two choruses of piano solo. There is then a bass solo chorus, and Walter comes back for the out melody. Our audio excerpt starts here.