No holiday season is complete without Ella! “Jingle Bells” (1960) features a key change at 1:45. Enjoy!
Tag: jazz
Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band | Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Changing it up with an instrumental selection today — “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band. Modulation at 1:29.
Jerome Kern | The Way You Look Tonight
“The Way You Look Tonight,” co-written by Jerome Kern and winner of the Oscar Awards for Best Original Song in 1936 for its appearance in the movie “Swing Time,” was first performed by that film’s star, renowned dancer Fred Astaire. Multiple singers have covered this standard in the years since, from Ella to Billie to Sinatra to Tony Bennett, who is featured here. Modulation at the beginning of the middle section at 1:36, then back to the original key at 2:17.
Frank Sinatra | That’s Life
Featuring Frank Sinatra with “That’s Life” (1966) today, from an album of the same name. The track was a top-5 hit during an era otherwise dominated by rock acts. Key change at 2:25.
Chet Baker | The Song is You
“The Song is You” is a jazz standard covered by everyone from Charlie Parker to Stan Getz to Frank Sinatra — and this 1959 version by trumpeter/vocalist Chet Baker. The tune modulates in its middle section and then back to its original key (the first middle section runs from 0:49 to 1:11).
Keith Jarrett | Danny Boy
Today, we feature Keith Jarrett playing “Danny Boy” (2002). There is a brief modulation from F major to A-flat major at 1:37, before returning to F for the remainder of the song at 2:25. An absolutely stunning performance.
Ella Fitzgerald | Mack the Knife
No words needed for this 1960 release. Modulations are at 1:05, 1:32, 1:58, 2:24, 2:50, and 3:16.
US3 | The Love of My Life
Us3, a hiphop group with members from both the US and UK, is probably best known for the sample-heavy 90s hit “Cantaloop/Flip Fantasia.”
Like most of Us3’s output, “The Love of My Life” (2009) draws heavily on dense jazz-infused textures and chord progressions. But the sound is also driven by Hiphop grooves and lyrical traditions. The tune modulates up two whole steps at 0:38, pivoting between these two keys throughout: 0:56, 2:30, and 2:49.
Al Jarreau | Mornin’
Al Jarreau, the only vocalist in history to win Grammy Awards in three different categories (jazz, pop, and R&B), released his top-10 album Breakin’ Away in 1981, at perhaps the peak of his career. A standout track from the album was the feel-good tune “Mornin’,” featuring plenty of modulations in the bridge (1:55 – 2:49). Then we land back in the orignal key with an instrumental verse at the bridge’s conclusion. 3:32 features a classic direct modulation into the final verse.
Sergio Mendes | Pipoca
Like much contemporary Brazilian jazz, Sergio Mendes‘s “Pipoca,” composed by Hermeto Pascoal, is loaded with modulations. This 1992 track starts off with a tumbling, mischievous feel, throwing us its first modulation at only 0:16 (!) after a playful ascending chromatic run.
The intro sets the scene for key changes which continue to to turn on a dime as they arrive frequently throughout the track.
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