Overview
In this section, we will focus on the late 1950s and early 1960s to learn more about Miles Davis and two of his most influential sidemen: Bill Evans and John Coltrane. We will consider the significance of Davis' musical compositions and those of his fellow musicians, and examine how their works continue to impact jazz even to the present day.
Objectives
Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to do the following:
- Identify many of the contributions of Miles Davis to jazz
- Define modal jazz
- Recognize the contributions of Bill Evans to jazz—most especially to jazz piano
- Recognize the contributions of the members of Bill Evans’ most celebrated trio
- Recognize the contributions of John Coltrane as saxophonist, composer and bandleader
- Recognize the contributions of the members of John Coltrane’s classic quartet
Modal Jazz
Kind of Blue ♫ is the best-selling jazz album of all time, and many would say deservedly so. With this album, Miles Davis and his sidemen brought a newly emerging style of jazz to magnificent fruition — modal jazzA type of jazz that utilizes musical modes instead of chord progressions for harmony. . The concept of modal jazz is one of simplicity: rather than changing scales with each frequent chord change (as was done in bop and hard bop), the musicians instead use a series of modes for more extended periods of time.
A modeA type of musical scale. is a type of scale, such as the majorA diatonic scale that features the following pattern of whole (W) and half-steps (H): W W H W W W H W or minor scaleA diatonic scale that features the following pattern of whole (W) and half-steps (H): W H W W H W W W . However, there are additional modes that may be derived from the piano keyboard configuration. Just as C to C on the white keys of the piano delimit the major scale (and A to A the minor scale), so, too, do D to D, E to E, F to F, and G to G yield additional modes.
For example, the mode from D to D (D-E-F-G-A-B-C-D) is known as dorian modeA mode, such as from D to D, featuring the following sequence of whole steps (W) and half-steps (H): W H W W W H W W. The dorian mode sounds "minor-ish" because only the sixth note of the scale is different from the minor scale (the sixth note is one-half step higher in dorian). The dorian mode beginning on D is referred to as "D dorian."
Look again at the keyboard, and compare the sound of the A minor scale to D dorian. Can you identify how the series of whole stepsThe combination of two semitones; also known as a tone or whole tone. and half stepsThe smallest pitch difference between two sounds in most Western music systems; also known as a semitone. differs from one to the other?
A pedal point can also be called a pedal tone, pedal note or an organ point. It is called "pedal" point referring to the notes sustained by using the pedals on an organ.
