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@nigeld asked me to host the Song of the Month for August and I have chosen what is probably the most popular set of chord changes in jazz, usually known as "Rhythm Changes" and used as the basis of many, many jazz standards.
Rhythm Changes have a 32 bar form in AABA structure and originate from George & Ira Gershwin's song "I Got Rhythm". There are many variants of the chord changes - Jamey Aebersold's Vol. 47 Playalong book is devoted to "Rhythm Changes|" and lists 43 variants for the A section and 26 for the Bridge (B section) !
I have used the chords from iReal Pro for "Rhythm Changes" and provided six backing tracks in different styles (Swing, Gypsy Jazz, Bossa Nova, Ballad, Stride, Funk) and tempos as well as lead sheets for the original "I Got Rhythm" and "Meet the Flintstones" which is one of the tunes using these changes. All of the music and sheets can be found and downloaded from here.
I Got Rhythm was written in Concert Bb which is a good key for saxophones and also by far the most popular key for "Rhythm Changes", but please don't feel you have to restrict yourself to this key for your own recordings.
There are many resources available for other backing tracks, melodies on the changes and tips for improvising on them, so do feel free to use any of those or make your own backing tracks and recordings.
Jazz standards that use Rhythm Changes include:
Don Byas (tenor sax) duetting with Slam Stewart (bass):
View: https://youtu.be/VvuvtAcTMss
Duke Ellington's orchestra featuring Ben Webster playing Cottontail:
View: https://youtu.be/zbOseBw-fnU
Thelonious Monk featuring Charlie Rouse playing Rhythm-a-ning:
View: https://youtu.be/ZtCFjAwoZLA
Please share you favourite "Rhythm Changes" tunes, recordings and particularly your own versions.
Rhys
Rhythm Changes have a 32 bar form in AABA structure and originate from George & Ira Gershwin's song "I Got Rhythm". There are many variants of the chord changes - Jamey Aebersold's Vol. 47 Playalong book is devoted to "Rhythm Changes|" and lists 43 variants for the A section and 26 for the Bridge (B section) !
I have used the chords from iReal Pro for "Rhythm Changes" and provided six backing tracks in different styles (Swing, Gypsy Jazz, Bossa Nova, Ballad, Stride, Funk) and tempos as well as lead sheets for the original "I Got Rhythm" and "Meet the Flintstones" which is one of the tunes using these changes. All of the music and sheets can be found and downloaded from here.
I Got Rhythm was written in Concert Bb which is a good key for saxophones and also by far the most popular key for "Rhythm Changes", but please don't feel you have to restrict yourself to this key for your own recordings.
There are many resources available for other backing tracks, melodies on the changes and tips for improvising on them, so do feel free to use any of those or make your own backing tracks and recordings.
Jazz standards that use Rhythm Changes include:
- Lester Leaps In (Lester Young)
- Cottontail (Ellington)
- Anthropology (Charlie Parker)
- Five Guys Named Moe (Louis Jordan)
- Oleo (Sonny Rollins)
Don Byas (tenor sax) duetting with Slam Stewart (bass):
Duke Ellington's orchestra featuring Ben Webster playing Cottontail:
Thelonious Monk featuring Charlie Rouse playing Rhythm-a-ning:
Please share you favourite "Rhythm Changes" tunes, recordings and particularly your own versions.
Rhys
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