> > 1. Modal
> All Blues, Miles; Tune Up, Miles; Footprints Wayne Shorter;
> Impressions, John Coltrane;
OK, first, I should note that the term "modal" is one of the most vaguely
defined terms in jazz, given how it seems to be used. By my own
definition, neither All Blues nor Footprints qualify, and I have trouble
imagining any definition that would include Tune Up. For me, the essence
of a modal tune is one in which the chord changes - however often they
occur - almost always require a change of scale. This tends to be
manifested in one of two ways - either tunes line So What or Impressions,
where each chord lasts a really long time (thus establishing a sense of key
on each chord), or tunes like Nefertiti, where the chords change at least
once a bar, but never settle into any one key. For the former type, the
tunes So What and Impressions (same changes) should be on the list. Maybe
McCoy Tyner's Passion Dance and Herbie Hancock's Canteloupe Island, too.
For the latter type, Dolphin Dance is really the only one I see called
particularly often, and it is kind of borderline in that it does exhibit
signs of tonality (the antithesis of modalism). Oh, yeah, know Giant
Steps.
> > 2. Blues
> at least one of [Blues For Alice, Billie's Bounce, Now's The
Time,
> Au Privave]
> all by Bird; Blue Monk, Monk
Also, add "Straight, No Chaser". Thanks to Miles (and then propagated by
the Real Book), most people these days do it in F, but it wouldn't hurt to
learn it in the original key, Bb. Also add "Tenor Madness". But for many,
it is probably more important to just be comfortable with the changes -
including the possible variations, and in as many keys as practical - than
to actually know a lot of heads.
> > 3. Rythmn Changes
> Oleo, Sonny Rollins; Skip It, Stuff Smith;
Add Bir'ds Anthropology. As with blues, learning lots of different heads
here isn't really the most important thing if you are trying to get a
handle on playing the changes.
> > 4. ii-V-I structure
> How High The Moon (or Ornithology by Bird); Polka Dots and
Moonbeams;
Pretty broad category. I assume this refers to just about any tonal tune
other than blues or rhythm changes. I personally would recommend Stella By
Starlight, All The Things You Are, Autumn Leaves
> > 5. Other?
> Beautiful Love, Autmun Leaves, Stella By Starlight, Funny
Valentine
I wrote the above before reading this, and came *that* close to adding
Beautiful Love. I'm not sure what makes these "other" and not "ii-V-I",
though. In fact, the only real definition of "other" I see at this point
are truly atonal tunes, and here, I don't think there are any common enough
to be included in a list like this. But by all means, feel free (pun
intended) to practice chord-less improvisation!
--------------
Marc Sabatella
marc@outsideshore.com
http://www.outsideshore.com/