I'm tearing my hair out at this stage. I want to work on a slow jazz 12-bar blues. Not a delta or a chicago or a rock blues. A jazz blues. And I want it to be slow. And if possible I'd like it to be mildly melancholy or at least pensive. I have recently been working on a jazz blues standard - specifically Tenor Madness. But I consider that to be up tempo. Having spent almost the entire day searching, I conclude that all popular jazz blues heads (google it, the lists roll in - and very fine heads they are too) .. but they're not SLOW. The only tunes I have encountered that might be described as slow are Night Train (but while not slow, neither is it down tempo, if you know what I mean) and Stolen Moments. Stolen Moments - problem with that is the head itself is not 12 bars, but a special 16 bar thingy. Chet Baker has a lovely tune called Almost Blue, based on The Thrill Is Gone - but it's not 12 bar. Coleman Hawkins has Soul Blues - and it's great Coleman Hawkins, but I think it's really just a session name, rather than a recognised head that other people would know. No, what I want is a well-known slow, probably minor, jazz 12-bar blues head. And I want it now! Any ideas?
Slow Blues
That's a great topic, Robin. There really aren't that many slow 12-bar blues I can think of right now. Things Ain't What They Used to Be is sometimes done slowly. Stormy Monday can also be done as a jazz tune in addition to it's traditional blues feel. Coltrane's Equinox is a minor blues that can be done slowly. I'll toss this around in my mind some and maybe some other folks will join in.
That's it, Randy! Equinox .. that'll do it! Have just listened to the Coltrane version - fab .. everyone's heard that .. and also a very interesting Pharoah Sanders version. Stuff to work with. Contemplative and soulful .. but also underneath it all a very straightforward 12 bar blues in D (tenor). About 106 bpm, but feels slower. I can get into that .. thanks! So, not a wasted day after all ;-)
.. in D in my real book. But Coltrane's playing it in Bb? And Pharoah Sanders in G? Back into head-wreck territory .. ah well!
Robin, another one you might like is One for Daddy-O (Nat Adderly wrote it, but Cannonball's recording is more well-known, I think). It's a good 12-bar minor blues with some nice jazz alterations along the way.
JL
You can do it in any key, Robin. I think Trane actually did it in Db minor (concert) if I recall correctly. As long as you know the key you want to do it in and call it appropriately for your rhythm section, that's what matters.
John- That's a killer one! I'm glad you thought to mention it.
Daddy-O: "Is that what you wanted Albert?" Yay! That's a good one! Cannonball tears into it, as usual .. Thanks for suggesting .. again about 106 bpm (compare Tenor Madness, about 170 bpm). Good chart in the Real Book - in C, and played in C by the lads .. so all good! Thanks ..
Alfred actually. At the end of the track you can hear that familiar Miles Davis raspy voice saying "Is that what you wanted Alfred?" .. referring to Alfred Lion, the co-founder of Blue Note records, who was evidently in on the session ..
I had forgotten about that, Robin! That's such a great recording. Dig Cannonballs opening solo lick. He's so bad! (in a good way!)