When Lights Are Low

I agree about not using the Miles version. The piece should be played as Benny wrote it.

Miles often tended to alter a piece, for whatever reason. He recorded "Straight, No Chaser" in F, and at a fairly brisk tempo. Because it's a blues, the performance is great. But Monk wrote that in Bb. He recorded the definitive version of that on the Riverside album "Five By Monk By Five", at a nice, slow groove.

Some Miles recommendations for you: The "Miles Ahead" album, with Gil Evans, and a piece called "Eighty-One", from 1965. That piece has a funky groove alternating with straight 4/4.

One alteration by Miles was a really good idea. Joe Zawinul brought "In A Silent Way" to a session, and they recorded a dreary take of it. Then Miles said why not drop all the chords and play the melody over a sustained E on the bass. That gave them a masterpiece.

Miles forgot the B section of that piece, and just took the A section up a fourth. (That version is on one of the Prestige sessions with Trane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe.)

I think I have heard the whole thing as Benny Carter wrote it, but I don't recall how it goes.

All the best with this. Try to get into Eb (and all the other keys) as soon as you can.

Lol, I was tossed in at the deep end with keys, at the tender age of 14. I used to take my alto saxophone to school, to jam with a friend who had a brand new Fender Stratocaster (guitar). He was into early pop and rock. Like most of those players, he spent most of the time in E, which is C# on an alto saxophone, so I had to get used to that key in a hurry.

Let me look into that. I love Jazz but I concentrate on guitar. I'll check out you review section and see if I can do it.

Geno

Obviously I own a guitar, and I mostly play by myself with backing tracks. They're great. Always on time and never make a mistake. I try to get together with my grandson, who passed me a long time ago. But he occasionally humors me and makes the effort.

By the way, that chart was in the key I wanted.

Thanks again,

Geno

Do you play? Are you a musician?

That last one did it! I found a site that I actually saw before and there it was.

Thanks so much for all your time and effort. You must be retired like me to have the time to do this.

Regards,

Geno

Found this on craigslist.

Bummer, that was a good site, probably got in trouble for copyrite violation.

Here it is, check this thread, I've found some cool lead sheets on here that I couldn't find elsewhere.

No problem, let me look some more. I'll get back to you.