Posted in: Jazz by Joey Manfredo on June 13, 2009 | 0 Comments
A brief discussion of jazz in fast tempo that makes reference to Miles Davis and John Coltrane.
Jazz tunes in fast tempos – or any music in a fast tempo creates special performance concerns. In jazz, the player is concerned with usual performance challenges, like articulation, note execution, phrasing, shaping the improvisation – but also improvising in tempo, fast while defining a swing “groove.”
Bass players – like all players – need their chops in shape but the bassist must maintain a fast walk establishing a line behind the soloist. There is nothing like the sound of a bass in a fast walk with a drummer swinging hard in the “pocket.”
The Miles Davis composition Tune Up is a fast tempo in four. The melody is written with half notes suggesting a count and feel in two, rather than four. But, once a bassist starts walking, the feel of a fast swing in four is established. What a feel! The John Coltrane composition Giant Steps is similar in its rhythmic and metric design: a melody written with half notes but a fast tempo in four. Both are great compositions and standard jazz repertoire.
Check out my excerpt of Tune Up at fitzpatrickjazz.com
