Jazz Ensembles

Examiner comments and recordings

The following exemplar recordings and comments set out to give guidance on the basis on which an assessment will be made at the three different levels.

There are ten performances covering the Initial, Intermediate and Advanced levels, and detailed comments and an overall grading are given for each performance.

Initial Level

Curtain Call Blues
Peter Churchill

You all played with some energy and a basic sense of the swing groove. The drum patterns had some variety and colour but a more secure lock between bass and drums was needed, and the bass could have more connection and control overall to create an authentic walking bass line. Piano comping was descriptive but could use more colourful chords and controlled rhythmic placement. The pushes at the end of the head caused some unsteadiness in the ensemble each time but you found the shape of the melody. The front line played with some control and tightness and some dynamic variety but there was room for further detail to give extra swing and rhythmic authority. Solos all had some melodic contour but could have more controlled rhythmic placement to add to the blues-scale based language you improvised with. However there was a genuine sense of discovery and enthusiasm in the solos and idiomatic shapes in all the solos.

Result: B-

Initial Level

Just a Closer Walk with Thee
Anon

There was a mainly secure pulse here but the drums needed a simpler pattern and the bass more connection in both 2-feel and walking to really give the swing feel groove and consistency. Piano chords spelt the basic harmony but could have more idiomatic voicing and more rhythmic placement. The head needed more embellishment and variety of phrase shape, but some interaction in the front line gave a sense of classic jazz style, despite too many voices in near-unison making the tune unclear in some sections. There was room for more variety of texture behind the solos, which mainly expressed the form clearly but needed a greater sense of conversation and in some cases more stylish melodic shape. However some good harmonic details were found even if the general feeling of comfort with this style could be greater.

Result: C+

Intermediate Level

All Blues
Miles Davis

The general texture was idiomatic and well balanced with an obvious knowledge of the original informing many aspects of the performance. The groove was well maintained and mainly authentic though piano voicings could be lower and the bass could move away from the opening figures to provide more variety and evolution. However the whole rhythm section worked with a sense of interaction between chord instruments and some rhythmic interplay between piano and drums made for a good variety of energy levels. The guitar solos had some welcome contrasts in approach and tone and there was a strong sense of sensitive accompaniment from the piano here. The trumpet could have more authentic vibrato and open tone in the head but much of the solo was well shaped and the melody was accurate, sensitive and well phrased with generally good intonation and some fluent embellishment. The alto solo had some confident energy though could be more restrained with further controlled phrase length in this style. The piano solo had some inventive harmonic choices though could have more melodic identity to fit with good tonal variety and idiomatic rhythmic placement.

Result: A-

Intermediate Level

I Wish I Knew
Billy Taylor

The groove was really well defined and flowed confidently in the rhythm section, with the drums providing stability throughout, though the bass could dig in more solidly for extra energy. However a good variety of colours and comping styles behind solos shaped the overall form. The horn section playing was rather loose in places with a more consistent approach to phrasing needed in opening sections, but the second chorus had some interesting textures and a sense of interaction despite some crowded moments. By the last head section the trumpet led with authority. The alto solo had some assured and stylish shape though some phrases could sit more comfortably with the harmonic detail. The trumpet solo was mainly fluent but needed more controlled pitch in places and could express the groove more consistently. Some inventive formal ideas and a good dynamic build added enjoyable shape to your arrangement though the ending could be tighter and more accurate.

Result: B

Intermediate Level

That Old Feeling
Fain & Brown

This had some confident swing feel in many places but also sections that needed more forward motion for full effect. However a good lock between bass and drums was generally maintained. The piano needed to leave more space and some chords could be more accurate but comping was otherwise effective. Overall in the horns tone in all instruments needed more confidence and flexibility to make the most of some clear stylistic sympathy. There was a lack of improvisation in general - the solos were really paraphrases and repeats of the melody rather than original melodic shapes based on the chord sequence, and for this to be effective more dynamic control and contrast was needed and better ensemble. The ending had some originality in the shaping and the horn section chords were both effective and idiomatic to the melody despite needing more rhythmic punch and variety.

Result: C

Intermediate Level

ID
Dan Monkton

You maintained a good sense of groove through the winding melody though there was room for a fuller tone and more precise intonation. The trumpet mis-pitched from time to time but there was a clear sense of ensemble between the horns. There was some inventive and colourful drumming which maintained the pulse confidently, with a good feeling for space and connection through the whole rhythm section. The bass played fluently and inventively. A good dynamic contour was heard during the opening head section though there was room for more light and shade later on, and at quieter dynamics there was a tendency to lose tonal energy. The guitar played a mainly fluent solo that addressed the harmony and played some good melodic contours, though stronger rhythmic placement would add authority to the solo lines. This was a well-shaped original composition with some interesting harmony and a good chromatic melody.

Result: B+

Advanced Level

Well You Neednât
Thelonius Monk

Bass and drums had a good sense of lock and a well-maintained sense of swing, with good time in the opening bass line. The guitar played fluently through the head and the solo was well-shaped with some mature language and clear, developmental phrase structure over the chord sequence. The bass solo flowed conversationally and also demonstrated a good knowledge of the harmony and a sense of groove and line. Although this was a small ensemble there was room for more dynamic contrast overall, and in places rhythms could be steadier, but some assured swing feel and solos made this a convincing performance.

Result: A

Advanced Level

Skylark
H Carmichael

There was some fluent and mature playing from both piano and saxophone in the first section of the head, with some expressive embellishment of the head by the saxophone and a confident and stylish knowledge of the harmony demonstrated in the piano. The transition into double time was less successful and some of the form and contour of the melody was lost, though you both recovered quickly and ended safely with an expressive use of a final lydian mode. Some saxophone phrases clashed with the harmonic background but tone was stylish and flexible in most phrases.

Result: B

Advanced Level

Nicaâs Dream
Horace Silver

The Latin groove was fluent and the rhythmic detail of the head was well expressed by the rhythm section, though the bass could walk with more energy in the swing sections, and there was some slowing down overall. The horns played tightly in most of the head, with a good sense of balance, accent and ensemble, though for both tone could have further focus and there were some slips of intonation. The trumpet solo was quite fluent with some simple smooth melodic contours though tone became rather hazy and production needed more energy and focus to add rhythmic detail. The saxophone played with a good sense of style with more tonal confidence and expressed many elements of the chord sequence in some flowing lines with a variety of shapes and directions in the language. Overall there was a good sense of form and colour in the arrangement with lots of characteristic detail in the stops and pushes, giving a strong sense of overall ensemble.

Result: A-

Advanced Level

Confirmation
Charlie Parker

The head had energy and detail, though there were some occasional minor fluffs in this demanding melody. Overall some driving rhythms and stylish accents gave strong shape, however. The rhythm section maintained a good swing groove though there was room for more energy and variety from the drums despite good dialogue with the piano. The bass walked confidently and expressed the changes clearly. The piano comped with imaginative rhythmic shape and some stylish voicings. The complex harmony of this tune was mainly handled well by the soloists though the horns needed more fluency and rhythmic variety to add the required chord detail to some diatonic lines, and some rhythms needed more flexible placement. The guitar and piano solos found more authentic bebop language, had some well-structured phrase shapes and led the ear well through the changes. The overall feeling from the group was of confident performance and good ensemble, with a secure and well projected ending.

Result: B+