Groovin' High

Last updated
"Groovin' High"
Song by Dizzy Gillespie
from the album Dizzy Gillespie and His All Stars
ReleasedMarch, 1947
RecordedFebruary 9, 1945
Genre Jazz, bebop
Length2:38
Label Musicraft
Composer(s) Dizzy Gillespie

"Groovin' High" is an influential 1945 song by jazz composer and trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie. The song was a bebop mainstay that became a jazz standard, [1] one of Gillespie's best known hits, [2] and according to Bebop: The Music and Its Players author Thomas Owens, "the first famous bebop recording". [3] The song is a complex musical arrangement based on the chord structure of the 1920 standard originally recorded by Paul Whiteman, "Whispering", with lyrics by John Schonberger and Richard Coburn (né Frank Reginald DeLong; 1886–1952) and music by Vincent Rose. [2] The biography Dizzy characterizes the song as "a pleasant medium-tempo tune" that "demonstrates...[Gillespie's] skill in fashioning interesting textures using only six instruments". [2]

Contents

The song has been used to title many compilation albums and also the 2001 biography Groovin' High: The Life of Dizzy Gillespie. [4]

Impact

The track appeared on the debut 1947 album, Dizzy Gillespie and His All Stars, the song is one of eight on that album that, according to jazz critic Scott Yanow, "shocked" Gillespie's contemporaries, contributing to that album's "permanently [changing]...jazz and (indirectly) the entire music world". [5] In Jazz: A Regional Exploration, Yanow explained that at the time such songs "were unprecedented...displaying a radically different language" from contemporary swing. [6] But though fans and fellow musicians found the material "very strange and difficult", The Sax & Brass Book notes, they were quickly adopted as classics. [7] According to Yanow, "Parker and Gillespie's solos seemed to have little relation to the melody, but they were connected. It was a giant step forward for jazz". [6]

Thomas Owens highlights the innovative use of source material, pointing out that while it was not uncommon for jazz musicians to utilize existing chord structures in their compositions in 1945, Gillespie's "melodic contrafact was the most complex jazz melody superimposed on a pre-existing chordal scheme", "atypically elaborate". [3]

Performance history

First performed on February 9, 1945, Gillespie reworked the arrangement for a February 28 performance to allow an improvisation by guitarist Remo Palmier, [8] and it is this reworking that became so well known. [3]

In the book Yardbird Suite, music historian Lawrence O. Koch sets forth in detail the structure of the song as performed on December 29, 1945 and preserved by Armed Forces Radio Service, from the two-bar unison figure by Gillespie and Charlie Parker that open the song to the Gillespie coda at the end. [9] Not having to conform to 78 rpm technology, Gillespie and his band were able to add several minutes to the song during that performance. [10] The author praises the "lovely, logical, melodic construction" of Parker's 16-bar solo as well as singling out performances by Gillespie ("excellent"), Slam Stewart ("inimitable") and Palmieri ("adequate"). [9] Noting that the coda "has become a jazz cliché, both in its melody and the chord pattern from which the melody was derived", they also draw attention to Gillespie's "prima donna breath control" on the final E-flat, with only a "slight loss in intonation" in spite of the difficulty of the phrase. [11] The book Charlie Parker: His Music and Life describes this performance, along with the three other songs played in that session, as capturing "much of the vitality of the early Gillespie-Parker partnership. [12]

Other notable performances of the song took place on September 29, 1947, when Parker and Gillespie reunited in concert at Carnegie Hall, [13] and during a 1956 tour sponsored by the US State Department. Owens describes the 1947 recording as among the finest of Parker's career. [14] During the 1956 tour, Gillespie simultaneously performed "Groovin' High" and "Whispering" to demonstrate the way jazz musicians build on the bones of earlier compositions. [15]

Inspiration

According to the book Visions of Jazz: The First Century by Gary Giddins, Gillespie once recounted that he believed the song had been inspired by a film serial he saw at a matinée when he was a child that used the song "Whispering" as its theme. [16] Gillespie offered no details about the serial, except that he believed it might have starred stuntman and rodeo rider Yakima Canutt. [16]

Albums named for the song

There are at least 11 different albums in the Gillespie discography alone named Groovin' High, compilations that include the song along with other notable tracks that Gillespie performed. In addition, several compilations have been released under this title in Parker's name.

Gillespie albums

Parker albums

Other albums

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bebop</span> Subgenre of jazz music developed in the U.S. in mid-1940s

Bebop or bop is a style of jazz developed in the early-to-mid-1940s in the United States. The style features compositions characterized by a fast tempo, complex chord progressions with rapid chord changes and numerous changes of key, instrumental virtuosity, and improvisation based on a combination of harmonic structure, the use of scales and occasional references to the melody.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dizzy Gillespie</span> American jazz trumpeter (1917–1993)

John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, educator and singer. He was a trumpet virtuoso and improviser, building on the virtuosic style of Roy Eldridge but adding layers of harmonic and rhythmic complexity previously unheard in jazz. His combination of musicianship, showmanship, and wit made him a leading popularizer of the new music called bebop. His beret and horn-rimmed spectacles, scat singing, bent horn, pouched cheeks, and light-hearted personality have made him an enduring icon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlie Parker</span> American jazz musician (1920–1955)

Charles Parker Jr., nicknamed "Bird" or "Yardbird", was an American jazz saxophonist, band leader and composer. Parker was a highly influential soloist and leading figure in the development of bebop, a form of jazz characterized by fast tempos, virtuosic technique, and advanced harmonies. He was a virtuoso and introduced revolutionary rhythmic and harmonic ideas into jazz, including rapid passing chords, new variants of altered chords, and chord substitutions. Primarily a player of the alto saxophone, Parker's tone ranged from clean and penetrating to sweet and somber.

"Hot House" is a bebop standard, composed by American jazz musician Tadd Dameron in 1945. Its harmonic structure is identical to Cole Porter's "What Is This Thing Called Love?". The tune was made famous by Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker as a quintet arrangement and become synonymous with those musicians; "Hot House" became an anthem of the Be-bop movement in American jazz. The most famous and referred to recording of the tune is by Parker and Gillespie on the May 1953 live concert recording entitled Jazz at Massey Hall, after previously recording it for Savoy records in 1945 and at Carnegie Hall in 1947. The tune continues to be a favorite among jazz musicians and enthusiasts:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhythm changes</span> Common 32-bar chord progression in jazz

Rhythm changes are a common 32-bar chord progression in jazz, originating as the chord progression for George Gershwin's "I Got Rhythm". The progression is in AABA form, with each A section based on repetitions of the ubiquitous I–vi–ii–V sequence (or variants such as iii–vi–ii–V), and the B section using a circle of fifths sequence based on III7–VI7–II7–V7, a progression which is sometimes given passing chords.

Joe "Bebop" Carroll was an American jazz vocalist who worked with Dizzy Gillespie between 1949 and 1953. His collaborations with Gillespie include the humorous songs "Swing Low, Sweet Cadillac" and "Oo Bla Dee."

<i>Jazz at Massey Hall</i> 1953 live album by The Quintet

Jazz at Massey Hall is a live jazz album featuring a performance by "The Quintet" given on 15 May 1953 at Massey Hall in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The quintet was composed of five leading 'modern' players of the day: Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, Charles Mingus, and Max Roach. It was the only time that the five musicians recorded together as a unit, and it was the last recorded meeting of Parker and Gillespie.

A contrafact is a musical work based on a prior work. The term comes from classical music and has only since the 1940s been applied to jazz, where it is still not standard. In classical music, contrafacts have been used as early as the parody mass and In Nomine of the 16th century. More recently, Cheap Imitation (1969) by John Cage was produced by systematically changing notes from the melody line of Socrate by Erik Satie using chance procedures.

"All the Things You Are" is a song composed by Jerome Kern with lyrics written by Oscar Hammerstein II.

Confirmation is a bebop standard composed by saxophonist Charlie Parker in 1945. It is known as a challenging number due to its long, complex head and rapid chord changes, which feature an extended cycle of fifths. Jazz educator Dariusz Terefenko has pointed out the speed and intricacy of "Confirmation's" "harmonic rhythm", which he notes is typical of the bebop era.

"Salt Peanuts" is a bebop tune reportedly composed by Dizzy Gillespie in 1942, credited "with the collaboration of" drummer Kenny Clarke. It is also cited as Charlie Parker's. The original lyrics have no exophoric meaning. Instead, they are a skat/bebop vocal which matches the octave note interval played predominantly throughout the song. The Pointer Sisters subsequently included vocalese lyrics for their rendition of Salt Peanuts as recorded on their That's a Plenty album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moose the Mooche</span>

"Moose the Mooche" is a bebop composition written by Charlie Parker in 1946. It was written shortly after his friend and longtime musical companion Dizzy Gillespie left him in Los Angeles to return to New York City. Parker had been a long time heroin addict and some historians suggest that the song was named after the drug dealer, Emry "Moose the Mooche" Byrd, who sold him drugs for several years before being arrested.

"Anthropology" is a bebop-style jazz composition that is credited to Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. Parker stated in 1949 that Gillespie had played no part in its writing, and that others had added the trumpeter as co-composer.

"Yardbird Suite" is a bebop standard composed by jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker in 1946. The title combines Parker's nickname "Yardbird" and a colloquial use of the classical music term "suite". The composition uses an 32-bar AABA form. The "graceful, hip melody, became something of an anthem for beboppers."

"Ko-Ko" is a 1945 bebop recording composed by Charlie Parker. The original recorded version lists Parker on alto saxophone with trumpeter Miles Davis, double bassist Curley Russell and drummer Max Roach. Due to the absence of Bud Powell, Dizzy Gillespie was enlisted to play piano, instead of his usual trumpet. Pianist Sadik Hakim, then known as Argonne Thornton, was also known to be present at the session. Rumors persist to this day about precisely who played trumpet and piano on this piece; some claim it's young Miles Davis who plays trumpet and Gillespie comping at piano, on both takes; most claim Gillespie plays trumpet and, or instead of, piano; some claim Hakim is the pianist on all or part of one or both of the takes. However, Miles Davis confirms in his autobiography that he did not play trumpet on "Ko Ko":

"I remember Bird wanting me to play "Ko-Ko," a tune that was based on the changes of "Cherokee." Now Bird knew I was having trouble playing "Cherokee" back then. So when he said that that was the tune he wanted me to play, I just said no, I wasn't going to do it. That's why Dizzy's playing trumpet on "Ko-Ko," "Warmin' up a Riff," and "Meandering" on Charlie Parker’s Reboppers, because I wasn't going to get out there and embarrass myself. I didn't really think I was ready to play tunes at the tempo of "Cherokee" and I didn't make no bones about it."

<i>Groovin High</i> (Dizzy Gillespie album) 1955 compilation album by Dizzy Gillespie

Groovin' High is a 1955 compilation album of studio sessions by jazz composer and trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie. The Rough Guide to Jazz describes the album as "some of the key bebop small-group and big band recordings."

<i>Pop + Jazz = Swing</i> 1962 studio album by Benny Golson

Pop + Jazz = Swing is an album arranged and conducted by Benny Golson featuring performances recorded in 1962 and originally released on the Audio Fidelity label. Record producer Tom Wilson was involved in the sessions and wrote the album's liner notes. The album utilised stereophonic sound to present a jazz group on the right channel and an 11-piece pop orchestra playing the same song or a related tune on the left channel which could be separated or mixed by the listener. The related jazz tunes are contrafacts or borrowed chord progressions where new melodies are overlaid on an existing harmonic structure.

<i>Groovin High</i> (Hank Jones album) 1978 studio album by Hank Jones

Groovin' High is an album by pianist Hank Jones recorded in 1978 for the Muse label.

<i>Anthony Braxtons Charlie Parker Project 1993</i> 1995 studio album /Live album by Anthony Braxton

Anthony Braxton's Charlie Parker Project 1993 is an album featuring live and studio performances of compositions associated with Charlie Parker arranged and performed by saxophonist Anthony Braxton which was recorded in Switzerland and Germany in 1993 and released on the HatART label as a double CD in 1995.

References

  1. ↑ Martin, Henry; Keith Waters (2005). Jazz: The First 100 Years. Thomson Wadsworth. pp. 203, 209. ISBN   0-534-62804-4.
  2. 1 2 3 Maggin, Donald L. (2005). Dizzy: The Life and Times of John Birks Gillespie . Harper Collins. pp.  167. ISBN   0-688-17088-9.
  3. 1 2 3 Owens, Thomas (1996-05-23). Bebop: The Music and Its Players. Oxford University Press. p. 14. ISBN   0-19-510651-2.
  4. ↑ Shipton, Alyn (2001). Groovin' High: The Life of Dizzy Gillespie. Oxford University Press. ISBN   0-19-514410-4.
  5. ↑ Yanow, Scott (2000). Bebop: The Best Musicians and Recordings. Backbeat Books. p. 55. ISBN   0-87930-608-4.
  6. 1 2 Yanow, Scott (2005). Jazz: A Regional Exploration . Greenwood Publishing Group. pp.  111. ISBN   0-313-32871-4.
  7. ↑ Priestley, Brian; Dave Gelly; Tony Bacon; Paul Trykna (2003). The sax & brass book: Saxophones, Trumpets and Trombones in Jazz, Rock and Pop. Backbeat Books. p. 18. ISBN   0-87930-737-4.
  8. ↑ Maggin, 166-167, 169.
  9. 1 2 Koch, Lawrence O. (1988). Yardbird Suite: A Compendium of the Music and Life of Charlie Parker. Popular Press. pp. 50–51. ISBN   0-87972-259-2.
  10. ↑ Maggin, 186.
  11. ↑ Koch, 51.
  12. ↑ Woideck, Carl (1998). Charlie Parker: His Music and Life. University of Michigan Press. p. 118. ISBN   0-472-08555-7.
  13. ↑ Gitler, Ira (2001). The Masters of Bebop: A Listener's Guide. Da Capo Press. p. 58. ISBN   0-306-81009-3.
  14. ↑ Owens, 37.
  15. ↑ Monson, Ingrid (2007). Freedom Sounds: Civil Rights Call Out to Jazz and Africa. Oxford University Press. pp. 114–116. ISBN   978-0-19-512825-3.
  16. 1 2 Giddins, Gary (1998). Visions of Jazz: The First Century. Oxford University Press. p. 285. ISBN   0-19-513241-6.
  17. ↑ Groovin' High (Bandstand) at AllMusic
  18. 1 2 Groovin' High (Collectables) at AllMusic
  19. ↑ Groovin' High (Drive 1994) at AllMusic
  20. ↑ Groovin' High (Drive 1999) at AllMusic
  21. ↑ Groovin' High (Eclipse) at AllMusic
  22. ↑ Groovin' High at AllMusic
  23. ↑ Groovin' High (Indigo) at AllMusic
  24. ↑ Groovin' High (Jazz Hour) at AllMusic
  25. ↑ Groovin' High (Living End) at AllMusic
  26. ↑ Groovin' High (Naxos) at AllMusic
  27. ↑ Groovin' High (Savoy) at AllMusic
  28. ↑ Groovin' High (Japan) at AllMusic
  29. ↑ Groovin' High (BCI) at AllMusic
  30. ↑ Groovin' High (Fabulous) at AllMusic
  31. ↑ Groovin' High (Jazz Time) at AllMusic
  32. ↑ Groovin' High (K-Tel) at AllMusic
  33. ↑ Groovin' High (Total Recording) at AllMusic
  34. ↑ Groovin' High (Sonopress) at AllMusic
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.