Classics in the Jazzroom
Greg Dudzienski is a member of Blue Lake’s Jazz Faculty and selected the Gerry Mulligan Concert Jazz Band’s performance of George Russell’s “All About Rosie,” a composition based on a child’s song game. Greg writes:
George Russell’s suite “All About Rosie” is a setting of the children’s song-game “Rosie, little Rosie”. Gerry Mulligan’s performance of it with his Concert Jazz Band is the gold standard. So much we can learn from this performance: firstly, as we listen through see if you can keep track of the “Rosie” motive and notice how Russell develops it. Secondly, listen for texture you’ll hear that there aren’t a lot of “block voicings” (like we’d typically hear from Basie’s band for instance). Instead, Russell takes a horizontal approach to harmonization and orchestration relying on well-constructed lines coming out of bebop language woven together in counterpoint. This way of writing went on to influence writers such as Bob Florence and Bill Holman. Notice how instrumental families are used. Also, there is a very common big band instrument absent from this arrangement. Do you know what it is? Do you miss it?