Chords for Street Life Saxophone solo analysis

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_ [Ab] _ _ [E] Hi, [B] _ _ [Fm]
welcome to the breakdown of this phenomenal tenor saxophone solo of Wilton Felder, recorded
in 1979.
This is the shorter single version of Street Life.
The first thing to point out
is that the beginning A section of the solo is based on simple harmony.
1 minor 7, [Bbm] 4 minor
7, [Cm] 5 minor 7, [Fm] back to 1 minor 7.
In F minor, the key of the piece, those chords are F minor
7, [Bbm] B flat minor 7, C [Cm] minor 7, back to F minor [Fm] 7. _ _ _
Here we go, phrase 1.
[Fm] _ _ _ _
This tightened entry
to the solo stamps authority and groove.
The business of Wilton Felder is to funk.
By playing
_ _ _ _ _ He establishes the key from the out.
This is the musical equivalent of a firm handshake.
He has already gained our confidence.
I love this rhythm as well.
_ _ _ Phrase 2, bar 2.
_ _ _ [Cm] _ _ [Fm]
Wow, what a beautiful liquid phrase, very pleasing on the ear.
All the
notes come from the F minor pentatonic.
[Eb] _ _
[Fm] _ _ However, the phrase is played over a B flat minor 7
chord, highlighting the gorgeous 9ths and 11ths of this B flat minor 7 [Bbm] chord. _ _ _ _
_ [Eb] _ _ [Bb] _ _ [Cm] _ Phrase 3.
_ _ _ [Fm] _ _ _ [Cm]
So juicy this phrase, not a note out of place, it's like it was written beforehand.
I love the way it ends, the way it resolves beautifully onto the F minor 7.
Here it is _ _ _ _ _
[Fm] _ _ _ _ _ _ _
That last phrase on the F minor 7, it's so simple but effective.
There are so many ways
to play and re-sucker this gem, see the PDF for examples. _ _ _ _ _ _
[Cm] _ Previous to this phrase is a lovely bebop-ish line, essential to know.
Here it is over the
C minor 7. _
_ _ _ _ _ I play these phrases softly so I can hear how the notes blend with the chords.
_ Now the entire phrase 3, those last two bits put together. _ _ _
_ [Fm] _ _ _ _ _ _ _
I highly recommend singing each
phrase as it is the best way to internalise these melodic gems.
Once digested, play around
with the phrases, make them your own.
Phrase 4.
Notice the lines are getting longer each time. _ _ _ _ _
[Bbm] _ _ _ [Cm] _ _ _ [Fm] _
Wow.
Let's break that into two.
Here's the first half. _
_ _ _ _ [Bbm] _ Here it is, slower.
_ [Fm] _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ [Bbm] _ _ _ _ _ [Ab] So much beauty.
I love the high F note here
and the phrase running down the scale, resolving so well onto the 4 minor 7 chord, the B flat
minor 7.
Let's listen and feast ourselves on that gem again.
_ _ _ _ _ [Bbm] _
The entry to this phrase is tremendous as well.
The three note pick up.
[Fm] _ _ _ _ _ _ [Bbm] _
Bar 6 is a must
for all jazz lovers to know.
_ _ _ _ [Bb] _ _ _
_ [Bm] On this [A] B flat minor 7 [Ab] then, Wilton is spelling out a B [Bbm] flat
minor 9th by going up to that C. _
[G] _ Here is the entire phrase 4 on the alto sax.
I don't have
[Fm] a tenor. _ _ _ _ _ _
[Bbm] _ _ _ _ _ [Cm] _ _ _
_ _ Can you hear how beautifully the notes blend with each changing chord?
For
me this is why it is so important to study harmony so [Fm] we can be acquainted with the relationship
between the notes we play and the harmony.
Let's listen once more. _ _ _ _
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_ [Cm] _ _ _ _ _ [B] Phrase 5 brings this first A section logically and majestically to a conclusion.
[Fm] _ _ _ Let's listen
slower. _
_ _ _ _ _ [F] These notes are very similar to phrase 3.
The _ _ [Eb] _
_ last bar of the A section is really a pick up to the B section.
Listen.
_ _ [Bbm] _ _
Again it's
so well sculptured, it's like he [Fm] wrote it beforehand.
_ _ _ [Bbm] _ _ _ [Fm] The rhythm is so tight and the
notes just perfect.
I love that bebop phrase with the triplet.
Did you hear the way the
phrase leads perfectly into the B section on the 4 minor 7 chord? _ _ _
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[Fm] _ I [Bbm] think that is a
great place to stop and digest.
[Eb] If you would like the full analysis you can get it at [Ab] jazzduets
shop or by becoming a jazzduets patron.
In addition to the full solo [Bbm] video analysis,
you will get access [F] to slow and medium play along tracks plus the PDF in various keys.
Thanks for watching, [Db] really appreciate it.
[G] Until next time.
[Eb] Cheers.
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