John Coltrane, “Blue Train”

John Coltrane, “Blue Train” (John Coltrane), Hackensack, NJ, September 15, 1957.  John Coltrane, tenor saxophone (ts); Lee Morgan, trumpet (t); Curtis Fuller, trombone (tb); Kenny Drew, piano (p); Paul Chambers, bass (b); Philly Joe Jones, drums (d)

Topic 1:  The order of solos in this piece is: Coltrane, Morgan, Fuller, Drew, Chambers.  Regarding the solos of Coltrane and Morgan:  Listen to the recording and provide counter numbers for the beginning and end of these two solos.  Describe their solo styles.  Listen to how they phrase or create musical lines over the chord changes.  Try to include some detail.  Last week you heard Coltrane soloing along side Miles Davis.  Compare and contrast the solo style of Lee Morgan with Davis.  Describe the comping of Drew during Morgan’s solo.  Does he use block chords?  Describe the backgrounds that are played during Coltrane’s solo.  The drummer Philly Joe Jones plays a “double-time” feel during both of their solos.  This is when he plays a feel that is twice as fast as the tempo being played by Chambers on the bass.  When does this happen in Coltrane’s solo?  Provide the counter numbers.  Would you describe the style of these soloists as bop, hard bop or elements of both?  Explain in detail using what you’ve learned from the Lessons about these particular styles.

Topic 2:  There is no introduction; the melody, or “head,” begins at 00:00 and ends at 00:38.  What is the form?  Use letters and counter numbers to designate the sections.  Note:  The melody is played twice between 00:00 and 00:38.  Is the melody played the same way both times?  Describe how Coltrane, Morgan and Fuller phrase the melody together.  Describe how Drew uses chords to support them during the melody.  Does is sound written?  Is it harmonized?  Is it unified?  Describe what the bass and drums are playing during the melody.  The use of 3 horns was common with some hard bop groups.  Compare/contrast this use of 3 horns in “Blue Train” with that of the collective improvisation of the New Orleans polyphony (Discussion Board #1). Coltrane begins his solo at 00:39.  How many choruses does Coltrane solo?  The bassist Chambers begins his solo at 09:06.  How many choruses does he play?  How is the melody played at the end of the piece?  What aspects of this piece would you characterize as hard bop?  Explain in detail using what you’ve learned from the Lessons about these particular styles.