"Bolivia" is a jazz standard written by American jazz pianist Cedar Walton. [1] [2] [3] It is regarded as his best-known composition. [4]
Bolivia was first recorded on Eastern Rebellion's self-titled album released in 1976 with Cedar Walton on piano, George Coleman on tenor saxophone, Sam Jones on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums.
Bolivia is composed in G major and typically played in an Afro-Cuban style.
The song contains a bass ostinato [5] that is repeated throughout the first 16 bars of the song. The first 16 bars are entirely based upon a G7(13) chord.
The B section—or the final 16 bars—contains the following form. After the B-section, the song repeats with the same bass ostinato.
E♭Δ7 | A13(7) | DΔ7 | A♭7 |
GΔ7 | F♯7 (♯9) | B-7 | C7 (♯11) |
B-7 | B-7/A | A♭-7♭5 | G-7 C7 |
FΔ7 | B7 | B♭Δ7 | A7 |
Ronald Levin Carter is an American jazz double bassist. His appearances on 2,221 recording sessions make him the most-recorded jazz bassist in history. He has won three Grammy awards, and is also a cellist who has recorded numerous times on that instrument.
In music, an ostinato is a motif or phrase that persistently repeats in the same musical voice, frequently in the same pitch. Well-known ostinato-based pieces include classical compositions such as Ravel's Boléro and the Carol of the Bells, and popular songs such as Donna Summer and Giorgio Moroder's "I Feel Love" (1977), Henry Mancini's theme from Peter Gunn (1959), The Who's "Baba O'Riley" (1971), and The Verve's "Bitter Sweet Symphony" (1997).
Cedar Anthony Walton Jr. was an American hard bop jazz pianist. He came to prominence as a member of drummer Art Blakey's band, The Jazz Messengers, before establishing a long career as a bandleader and composer. Several of his compositions have become jazz standards, including "Mosaic", "Bolivia", "Holy Land", "Mode for Joe" and "Ugetsu/Fantasy in D".
Billy Higgins was an American jazz drummer. He played mainly free jazz and hard bop.
Eastern Rebellion is an album by Eastern Rebellion led by pianist Cedar Walton which was recorded in late 1975 and became the first release on the Dutch Timeless label.
The Electric Boogaloo Song is an album by pianist Cedar Walton, which was recorded in 1969 and released on the Prestige label.
David "Happy" Williams, is a US-based Trinidadian jazz double-bassist, who was a long-time member of Cedar Walton's group. Williams has also worked with many other notable musicians, including Woody Shaw, Bobby Hutcherson, Stan Getz, Kenny Barron, Duke Jordan, Monty Alexander, Frank Morgan, Hank Jones, Charles McPherson, Larry Willis, George Cables, Abdullah Ibrahim, David "Fathead" Newman, Sonny Fortune, John Hicks, Louis Hayes, Jackie McLean, Clifford Jordan, Abbey Lincoln, Ernestine Anderson, and Kathleen Battle.
Firm Roots is a live album by pianist Cedar Walton recorded in 1974 and released on the Muse label in 1976.
Pit Inn is a live album by pianist Cedar Walton recorded at the Pit Inn jazz club in Tokyo in 1974 and released on the Japanese East Wind label.
First Set is a live album by pianist Cedar Walton recorded in Denmark in 1977 and released on the Danish SteepleChase label.
Second Set is a live album by pianist Cedar Walton recorded in Denmark in 1977 and released on the Danish SteepleChase label.
Third Set is a live album by pianist Cedar Walton recorded in Denmark in 1977 and released on the Danish SteepleChase label.
Eastern Rebellion 2 is an album by Eastern Rebellion led pianist Cedar Walton which was recorded in early 1977 and released on the Dutch Timeless label.
Eastern Rebellion 3 is an album by Eastern Rebellion led by pianist Cedar Walton which was recorded in late 1979 and released on the Dutch Timeless label.
Eastern Rebellion 4 is an album by Eastern Rebellion led by pianist Cedar Walton which was recorded in 1983 and released on the Dutch Timeless label.
One Flight Down is an album by pianist Cedar Walton which was recorded in 2006 and released on the Highnote label.
Roots is an album by pianist Cedar Walton which was recorded in 1997 and released on the Astor Place label.
Something in Common is a studio album by American jazz bassist Sam Jones which was released on September 13, 1977 via the Muse label. Later the record with three bonus tracks was re-released on CD in 2000 and as a digital download in 2009.
Mosaic is an album by Eastern Rebellion, led by pianist Cedar Walton, recorded in 1990 and released by the MusicMasters label in 1992.
Simple Pleasure is an album by Eastern Rebellion, led by pianist Cedar Walton, recorded in 1992 and released by the MusicMasters label.