Daahoud

In the Bebop Workshop, we began working on Daahoud, a Clifford Brown tune (named after a friend of his). The song substitutes Eb- maj7 for the home key of Eb maj, which gives the song an exotic flavor. Here is a transcription of a trumpet solo by Terell Stafford and you can find the song on Spotify and iTunes. Listen to how he uses the maj 3rd (G) at the end of the A section to transition to the G flat (min 3rd of Eb) when returning to the Eb- maj7 at the beginning of the A section. And while the D (maj 7th of Eb) gives the A section a foreign sound, he creates contrast by stressing D flat (the min 3rd of Bb-7, the ii of Ab maj) in the first bar of the bridge.

We’ve also begun to focus on phrasing. I guess both workshops are just at that stage when it makes sense to focus on the subject.