|
|
OCTOBER 28, 1940 |
Monday |
COLUMBIA RECORDING
STUDIOS, NYC |
|
|
12-BAR BLUES |
Key of |
|
C |
Quarter Note = |
|
156 |
Time: |
|
3:22 |
|
11 CHORUSES |
(11th chorus cuts off at 10 bars): |
|
» |
2 chor – CC |
(unaccomp on 1st 4 bars of each
chorus) (sax riffs on last 8 bars) |
|
|
2 chor –
trumpet |
(unaccomp on 1st 4 bars of each
chorus) |
|
|
2 chor –
tenor sax |
(unaccomp on 1st 4 bars of each
chorus) |
|
|
2 chor –
piano |
(unaccomp on 1st 4 bars) |
|
» |
1 chor –
tenor sax |
(riffs) (over piano
comping) (CC joins in on last 2 bars) |
|
» |
1 chor –
tenor sax & CC |
(riffs) |
|
» |
10 bars – CC |
(riffs) (fade-out) |
|
False Start Preceding “Ad-Lib
Blues” |
Key of |
|
Bb |
Quarter Note = |
|
212 |
Time: |
|
0:13 |
|
» |
4 bars –
piano |
(Intro) (CC off tempo
in background) |
|
Personnel: |
Issued Recordings: |
|
CHARLIE CHRISTIAN.....Guitar |
[ LP ] |
Cicala |
BLJ 8021 |
|
FREDDIE GREEN...............guitar |
|
Jazz Archives |
JA-6 |
|
LESTER YOUNG................tenor
sax |
|
Jazz Archives |
JA-42 |
|
BUCK CLAYTON..............trumpet |
|
Jazz Document |
va-7997 |
|
COUNT BASIE...................piano |
|
|
|
|
WALTER PAGE.................bass |
[ CD ] |
Archives of Jazz |
380106 2 |
|
JO
JONES............................drums |
|
Archives of Jazz |
389106 2 |
|
|
|
Masters of Jazz |
MJCD 9004 |
|
|
|
Vintage Jazz Classics |
VJC-1021-2 |
|
|
The releases listed above contain
the false start followed by “Ad-Lib Blues” on the same track |
|
|
|
Columbia/Legacy |
AC4K 65564 |
(disc 2, track 3) |
|
|
|
Columbia/Legacy |
C4K 65564 |
(disc 2, track 3) |
|
|
The false start on these two CDs
is on a separate track
listed as “Tune Up &
Blues” (disc 4,
track 15) |
|
|
“Ad-Lib Blues” only (no false start): |
|
|
|
Le Chant du Monde |
274 1459.60 |
|
|
|
Masters of Jazz |
R2CD 8004 |
|
|
|
Proper / musisoft |
EMCD 21 |
|
|
|
Warner Music France |
3007-2 |
|
Composed by: |
Charlie Christian - Lester Young |
First Page: Guitar Solo
Second Page: Riffs
& False Start (“Tune Up & Blues”)
C&A:
“Ad-Lib Blues” is a classic—with one of Charlie Christian’s great
blues solos and one by Lester Young comparable to CC’s.
After a three-month summer break in 1940, Benny Goodman was trying out different
personnel to augment himself and Charles in a new combo. At this rehearsal in the
Columbia Studios, none other than Prez himself participated along with Count Basie and
Buck Clayton, all of whom solo on this medium-tempo blues. Freddie Green, Walter
Page, and Jo Jones round out the nonpareil, all-star rhythm section. BG prudently
sat this one out.
CC starts the proceedings unaccompanied for the first four bars. The rhythm
section joins in for the last eight of the chorus, then drops out for the first four bars
of the next chorus. This time the tenor sax joins the rhythm section on the last
eight bars with some riffs behind Charles.
CC’s entire solo is exquisite. Very melodic, though bluesy, and perfectly
structured with each phrase leading ideally, almost inevitably, into the next. He
lays way behind the beat on some of his upbeat notes, placing them just shy of falling on
the downbeat. The highlight of the solo comes at mm 15-17 where he drops from the
high to the low frets in the middle of his C7 phrase. After the climax, CC
takes it out with some of his familiar blues licks. The Blues!
Buck follows with a solo, then Prez, then Basie, each with two choruses—every solo
chorus starts with a four-bar break except for the second piano chorus. The next two
choruses get some Young riffs, presently joined by CC. The final chorus fades out
after ten bars with Charles riffing by himself over the rhythm section.
[ Up ] [ SOLO FLIGHT Home Page ]
|
