Las Cuevas de Mario

I've never bought the Art Pepper LP "Smack Up", but I did manage to find the 45 somewhere. I've always rather liked the flip side of the record, "Las Cuevas de Mario". The song is a blues in 5/4 time, the title refering to a friend and drug supplier known by Art back in the day. He talks about Mario Cuevas in his book "Straight Life".

Like "Take Five", "Las Cuevas" features an odd meter, a simple repetitious riff in the piano and a catchy melody on alto sax. Because it was released the year after Brubeck's "Time Out" album, I assume that's no coincidence, and that the song was indeed patterned on "Take Five".

"Las Cuevas" was recorded twice by Art, the first time with Jack Sheldon on trumpet. That's the version I'm posting here. It's from my "House Advantage (Fake) Book".

Download

Take Five

"Take Five", recorded by Paul Desmond with the Dave Brubeck Quartet, must be the most popular jazz record ever made. The album (Time Out) sold over a million copies when it came out, tons of singles were pressed and the song was everywhere back in the 60's.

So I'm sure the sheet music is not particularly rare. I don't remember buying this copy, but I'm happy to own it.

This selection is a prelude to my next posting, a somewhat similar song which didn't have nearly the same popularity.

Download

Walk Tall

Here's another one from my House Advantage (Fake) Book.

When I set out to buy my first jazz record I was guided by a source I considered to be impeccable - Playboy magazine. Back in the 60's their yearly Jazz poll was essential advice to the would-be hipster. Cannonball Adderley was the perennial winner in the alto sax slot, so I considered him a safe bet for my three and a half dollars.

I probably picked his 74 Miles Away - Walk Tall album because of the cover photo, with its double image of Cannon in a helicopter. "That's out there!", as he might say. The record is heavily in the gospel-blues soul-jazz vein, and really appealed to me right away.

Joe Zawinul's "Walk Tall" is in one of the fake books, of course, but that version is too sketchy to use. I've written it out here the way I hear it - with the bass line, the 2-part alto/trumpet harmonies, the circle of fifth major triad progression, etc. I've included some of the piano fills, as well.

Download

52nd Street Theme

This copy of Dizzy Gillespie's 52nd Street Theme came from an incredible estate sale where I bought at least 5000, maybe 6000 78's - along with sheet music, record catalogs, etc. Several other people did well at that sale, but I did most of the heavy lifting.

I have more sheet music in this series. I'll post it later.

By the way, the "5" written on the cover is the price that someone paid 25 or 30 years ago. He got this at a thrift store for 5 cents!

Download