Owen Davis - Junior Recital
The tune “Oleo” by Sonny Rollins was a hard bop standard performed by many popular artists including Miles Davis, Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett. This tune is a contrafact of George Gershwin’s “I Got Rhythm” with a complex rhythmic melody
Originally recorded for the classic Walt Disney film “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves”, it eventually snuck its way into the jazz repertoire. With Popular acts like Bill Evans and Miles Davis popularizing it, this tune has become an extremely popular jazz waltz.
Written by Dizzy Gillespie while he was still playing in Benny Carter’s Band. This standard has been played by many popular jazz musicians over the years, namely Art Blakey, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis. This tune is unique because it shifts between a latin mambo feel and swing feel to give the A sections, B section, and interlude a different feeling from their counterparts.
Recorded on the infamous “Giant Steps” album by John Coltrane this tune is one of John Coltrane’s most popular ballads. With a rich chord progression and slow controlled melody this tune became popular among jazz musicians as well. Coltrane recorded this tune a number of other times later on in his career.
Written by Pat Metheny for the fusion album “Offroad”, James was inspired by the singer-songwriter James Taylor, hence the name. Pat Metheny’s tunes are known for their fantastic melodies and this tune is no different. The tune has a well written melody over a straight 8th feel, giving the whole tune a unique feel that is not found in the jazz idiom very often.
The title track off of Freddie Hubbard’s “Red Clay” is the go to funk standard for jazz musicians. This album was one of the first soul-jazz combinations in the jazz idiom and it still stands the test of time. With a half-time backbeat feel and a powerful group of soloists this tune is an absolute powerhouse.
The tune “Equinox” off John Coltrane’s album “Coltrane’s Sound”, is one of Coltrane’s most popular recordings. With a slow bluesy baseline, piano ostinato and the sound of Coltrane drawing the audience in, this tune is easily recognizable and is a mainstay in the jazz musician’s repertoire.
Recorded on Sonny Rollins’ album “Saxophone Colossus”, this tune became an instant classic. This tune has an extremely catchy melody over a perky calypso feel laid down by famous drummer Max Roach, giving it an extremely unique sound. This tune is also based off of Randy Wesson’s “Fire Down There” but Sonny’s version became the standard that can be found in the Real Book
Personnel
Owen Davis - Drum set
Darren Thompson - Trumpet and Flugelhorn
Brendan Gage - Piano
Ian Kinnaman - Bass