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I've heard that terminology used by Jerry Coker in his Hearin' the Changes book. His M.W. bridge is the one that goes to the IV and S.R. is the typical dominant chord cycle of I Got Rhythm. He uses those terms to indicate how common those two variations are. Of course, both MW and SR are disappearing from popular culture, so the reference is probably lost on younger people. I use that book for my jazz ear training class, I like it a lot.

I think you meant Giant Steps there. I like that What Is This Thing bridge- that's pretty much the same as Trane's Fifth House bridge, right? You can also use the Countdown sequence on the A sections of that tune: lG-7 Ab7 l Db E7 l A C7 l F- / / / l D-7 Eb7 l Ab B7 l E G7 l C / / / l EDIT: Are those also the changes Trane uses/implies for Fifth House "A" sections? I've got to check that out. Here's my rhythm changes progression: l F Ab7 l Db E7 l A / / / l G-7 C7 l C-7 F7 l Bb Db7 l Gb / / / l G-7 C7l l F Ab7 l Db E7 l A / / / l G-7 C7 l C-7 F7 l Bb Db7 l Gb C7l F / / / l l C-7 / / / l F7 / / / l Bb / / / l Ab-7 Db7 l Gb / / / l E-7 A7 l D / / / l G-7 C7l l F Ab7 l Db E7 l A / / / l G-7 C7 l C-7 F7 l Bb Db7 l Gb C7l F / / / l I based my bridge on the rhythm changes bridge that goes to the IV chord.

I put my sleeve in water the other day, by accident.

Thanks for posting that, Tom! An AABA tune using the Giant Steps form for the "A" sections of the blowing changes, very nice.

Bill Holman?

I wrote a rhythm changes tune this week (by coincidence on Trane's birthday!) using the Giant Steps chord sequence in a few spots. Have to say it turned out pretty nice, I'm looking forward to playing it w/the jazz faculty group. I wanted to write a tune that contained some of the Trane changes but still kept the essence of a "rhythm changes" progression. I like the idea of using the Trane changes as PART of the tune as opposed to ALL of the tune. I tend to like Trane tunes like Moment's Notice and Lazybird more than Giant Steps and Countdown. I've heard some impressive performances of the latter two (by others as well as Trane), but the tunes themselves still seem like basically "modulation exercises" to me and I've never really connected with them musically. Did Trane ever play Giant Steps and/or Countdown again after recording them? I'm not aware of a rhythm changes-type tune that uses the Giant Steps or Countdown sequences. Anyone come across one? I'm sure there have got to be some out there......maybe someone like Dave Liebman wrote one. Trane's 26-2 is a variation of Confirmation (AABA) and Satellite is a variation of How High the Moon (ABAB). Both are 32 bar tunes but neither is considered a "rhythm changes" tune. The bridge of Have You Met Miss Jones? contains probably the best known example of that major third modulation and some say that it might have influenced Trane's explorations- I don't know if that's actually true or not. HYMMJ is a very hip tune considering it was written in the mid 1930s. It's fun to play around with those chords. Modulation by major thirds is a very interesting sound, but it's really hard to do something with it that doesn't sound totally Trane-esque.

How's everyone doing? Once I felt like I was over it, it took another week to get rid of the cough. That was a nasty little bug. Lots of students getting the flu at school. I don't think I've yet had a big band rehearsal with everyone there.

I suffer from kleptomania- when it gets to me I take something for it.

The Office I've become a fan.

Robert Loggia's also in a current Mac ad.

Trane & Brother Ray sharing a birthday! How about THAT! :party:

It still is as far as I'm concerned! Happy Birthday Trane!

Ferris also recorded with Billy Cobham on 'Shabazz'. He also played on several Don Ellis recordings.

Although you have to be able to spell it before you're allowed to play it.

Flying is already an uncomfortable and unpleasant experience. I don't think this would be much worse.

Didn't realize he was in town. Quartet?

Nice work Al! Do you do bar mitzvahs?

.....in a quintet with fellow trombonist John Fedchock at the Globe Jazz Club. I think we start @ 9PM on Saturday. Should be big fun. Come by if you can and say hello!

Some very nice WK moments on this one, plus some excellent Vic Feldman.

Yes you does!

Another great looking collection- I've really been enjoying this series. Nice to see some Errol Garner- it seems like those who are managing his estate have been so slow to release recordings/videos. Maybe we'll start to see some more Garner audio releases too!

I really try not to worry about categorizing what I like so much anymore. If you like it, what does it matter?

Miles Live at the Blackhawk! If you're not already familiar with this one, it's some of my favorite WK (and Mobley, Cobb & Chambers)