https://youtube/watch?v=YXL6FDt5L5k Here’s the tune of the week for me: “El Toro”, a Wanye Shorter piece off of Art Blakey’s The Freedom Rider. What’s interesting to hear is that the tune follows the three-tonic system through a specific series of ii-V-I’s. Once it gets to the I, the harmony goes down a whole step to another ii-V-I, and then another, etc. It essentially tonicizes Db, A and F. But the kicker is that the melody is so smooth and fluid that you don’t notice this at all! The harmony almost fails in comparison to the melody. Many would argue that this always needs to be the case. I am one of those people. The solos are great and have many layers to them. Shorter’s solo progresses very well; his story is there and it is solid, even as he goes off the deep end in the flurry of notes that ends the solo. Morgan’s solo is more tame and nonetheless solidly driving. He is very himself here, as only Lee Morgan can be. Timmons is a guy whom I not studied very much. However his ideas are arguably the most solid for me on this particular track. And the Shorter-Morgan trade-off before the head-out; just pure GREATNESS. Wished it lasted longer.
Posted on: Sat, 10 Jan 2015 05:58:39 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015