Keeping you “cool” this Saturday morning, July 11, as part of “Jazz From Blue Lake,” “Classics in the Jazzroom” presents the laid back, bluesy West Coast Jazz Style of bandleader Gerald Wilson’s Orchestra performing “Lighthouse Blues” from 1965. This week’s piece was selected by Blue Lake jazz faculty member Dr. James Sawyer, who provided the notes below:
I chose this recording to highlight the laid back bluesy style of West Coast Jazz and the Gerald Wilson Orchestra. This piece is reminiscent of the blues feel generated by the Count Basie Orchestra but with more of a West Coast Jazz feel. West Coast Jazz refers to a style of jazz that developed in Los Angeles and San Francisco during the 1950s. West Coast Jazz is often seen as a subgenre of cool jazz, which consisted of a calmer style than bebop or hard bop.
In this 12-bar blues tune, the drummer is barely noticeable early on, using just the hi-hat to accompany the winds. The melody is simple using more of a riff with a question and answer-style led first by the vibes, then coupled by a guitar/vibes blend on the second 12 bars.
Bassist Herbie Lewis is the driving force behind the entire tune. The bass and saxes answer the “question” riffs of the melody by Vibraphonist Roy Ayres and are then joined by guitarist Joe Pass. The chord colors utilize extended chord tones such as raised 5ths and 9ths to add a flavor unlike that of traditional blues.