So What (composition)

So What ( German: Na and ) is a jazz composition by Miles Davis from 1959 The first version was released on the album Kind of Blue. . The " easy to play " song was " the epitome of modal jazz " and a jazz standard that is " like by amateur bands " played.

The composition

So What is one of the best known examples of modal jazz, set in the Dorian mode. It is conceivable simple: "One riffartigen melody from the bass respond Winds and Piano with two chords - this is a total of sixteen times. " The wind chords can be in response ( call and response ) interpret. The composition has no passage harmonies, but also has standing scales ( modes); it consists of 16 bars D dorian, eight bars it Dorian and eight bars d- dorian. With his song form AABA and its thirty-two bars it formally corresponds to the structure of American popular song.

The piano and bass introduction for the piece was written by Gil Evans for Bill Evans and Paul Chambers on Kind of Blue. The distinctive intonation of Bill Evans for the chords, a fünftöniger chord with three superimposed fourths and a third above, was designated by the theorist Mark Levine as So -What- chord.

John Coltrane used the same chord structure later for its standard impressions.

Other recordings

Davis took the composition even more times, in 1961 with the Orchestra of Gil Evans, 1964 with George Coleman. While the piece on Kind of Blue is played at a very moderate pace, it was played much faster on later live recordings such as Four and More. Numerous trumpeter followed Davis and took the piece on. Bill Evans played it with his trio. George Russell left off in 1987, the theme and built his composure on the solo by Davis.

In 1991, saxophonist Candy Dulfer recorded the song for her debut album " Saxuality ". In 2005, the Larry Coryell Trio recorded the song for the album " Electric". Drummer Jimmy Cobb founded in 2009 to fifty-year recording of Kind of Blue, the So What Band, with whom he went on tour.

Versions with text

Singer Frank Minion took the piece in January 1960, with the rhythm section of the first recording. On the bass line he sang the lyrics " If I Should choose to sing the blues" he answered in the Multitrack method with " So what? ". For Eddie Jefferson Chris Hall betexte also the trumpet solo for a vocalese; this is about Davis and his habit, the solos of his teammates to leave during the stage.

Reception

Thomas Ward wrote for allmusic: "So What" opens the album, and it is probably the most striking piece. With the long introduction by Paul Chambers, culminating in Davis minimalist solo, applies "So What" as a blueprint for all the pieces of the modal jazz .... The rhythmic style is very clear, and although the structure is simple, it opens every time new complexities and subtleties.