Jazz Improvisation – Slick Licks That Stick! – Intervalic ii-V7 Pattern

Here's a nice little fourth / pentatonic type intervalic ii-V7 pattern, a la Woody Shaw,  that slipped into my fingers the other day as I was doing my saxophonic due diligence.

A quick analysis of the first line reveals that on beats 3 & 4 and 1 & 2 of measures one & two respectively, there's a brief tonality shift into B Major, or one half step below the target key, C.

Beats 3 & 4 of measure two are an altered four note grouping, relative to the dominant (G7), leading back to the targeted tonic chord C minor (or Major).

There are a bunch of ways you could reharmonize this line, superimpose it over different key centers, etc., but I haven't messed with that so far.

In any case, it's a cool device for momentarily steppin' "out", and then slidin' back "in".

Have fun!

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Treble Clef                   Bass Clef

B.Stern


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