Goblin Market (70 k) Yes, there really are only two measures. Actually, I think of it as being four measures - the 15/8 is broken up into one 4/4 and one 3.5/4 bar. It is just a vamp. Tempo is about eighth note = 180 bpm, or quarter = 90 bpm. Straight eighths, funky M-BASE-ish kind of feel. The bottom line is for the bass, but the bassist can go into a 4+3.5/4 walk instead of the written line after establishing the line. The trick is in the arrangement - start with the bass line only (plus drums), then add the other layers one at a time. Any player may choose any line. One or two players at a time may improvise over the vamp as well. I envision a series of relatively short solos - each players turn may come several times - rather than a single solo per player. Each soloist should start and end the solo by playing one of the written lines. You're on your own to end it.
Something Else (Called Something Else) (88 k), which has a second page (54 k). Tempo is about quarter note = 160 bpm. The piano should double the bass line during the Cm vamp sections. The written bass line is not used for the solo section; just walk. Solos begin over the Cm vamp, but the soloist should signal the top of the form and complete the solo by playing over the changes. The next soloist takes over when the Cm vamp is reached again; The form ends on the Db chord just before the vamp. Crescendo through that chord each time it is reached, then subito piano at the vamp. For the head out, end at the peak of the crescendo.
Bud-like (92 k) Bebop, as fast you can get away with.
Lazy (80 k), with a second page (46 k). Like the title says. Maybe around quarter note = 110 bpm, but the head should have a relaxed two beat feel. I used a Bb - Gb vamp to open and close the piece, with a Bmaj7 - F7 turnaround. Head should be interpreted freely.
Monk's Got Rhythm (72 k) Fast bop. The whole band should observe the two bar breaks at the end of each phrase (head only).
Patience (92 k), with a second page (58 k). Sam says it sounds good as a bossa. I guess I can picture that. I play it, usually solo or trio (although I'd have loved to hear Charlie Rouse on it!), as kind of a medium slow Monk off-kilter stride kind of ballad, around half note = 60 bpm. It should kind of hover between half time and straight 4 feel. If you've heard Monk do "I Didn't Know About You" from the Columbia "Straight, No Chaser" album, you've got the idea.
Slon-like (80 k), with a second page (38 k). Dedicated to Mark Sloniker, a local and somewhat nationally known pianist (some radio airplay on New Age shows). It's sort of a new-age/fusion/pseudo-latin/rock kind of groove, about half note = 130 bpm. The second half of the A section, together with the bridge, should have a slightly different beat - more toms, maybe, less cymbal - than the first half of the A-section.
Original Jazz Charts / sam@bsharp.org
