Change Up – Roland Alexander

This medium-up song is built around a funky two-measure bass figure. Like some other Roland Alexander compositions, stepwise alternation of chords gives Change Up a modal sound without staying in a definite mode. The bass vamp alternates A minor and G minor chords, though the overall impression is an A minor tonality. Besides this vamp, there is a 12-measure A section with no key center; every chord here is a major seventh, descending for four measures (as does the melody), alternating Dmaj7 and E♭maj7 for the next four, and then rising (again with the melody). On the head the A section is followed by three eight-measure phrases of the vamp (B sections), with an A minor pentatonic melody on the second of these; the piano solos on the first and third vamp phrases.

The solo form is 20-measure AB. As an intro, the bass plays the vamp for eight measures, followed by 16 measures of piano solo over the same vamp. The drum solo is also over the vamp, played by the horns, piano, and bass; this section is marked as E on the lead sheets and parts. The pentatonic B section melody is used as an ending, repeated four times; the second and fourth time are a half step up (B♭ minor).

Second parts are available for the two-horn arrangement. The horns are harmonized throughout the A section. The piano, bass and drum parts are condensed scores so all players can see the whole picture; first pages are pretty much identical, the second pages differ for each instrument at E and G.

Check out other compositions from the "Kojo Time" album.

"Kojo Time" was recorded at the legendary Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs.

Drummer Taru Alexander recorded at the Van Gelder studio once before, in 1995, with saxophonist Carlos Garnett for Garnett's album "Resurgence." Taru's 2014 return was dramatic, not only because of the music and his own playing, but because during the session a car crashed into and knocked down the power pole in front of the studio, shutting off power in the middle of a take. Rudy was prepared, as usual; he had a backup power generator which kicked in after a few seconds. Only the partial take was lost.

This song was recorded at about the same tempo as Suppose, only a hair slower. It constantly alternates between a funk-type groove and swing, making for a very engaging Minus Drum experience. Preceding the out melody (letter E on your part), the horns and piano join the bass in playing the funky intro line as a vamp which you will get to solo over.

Exclusive Minus You audio tracks
None of the Minus You tracks have a count off, as the song begins with solo bass. The Minus Bass track has the solo bass part of the intro left in the track.
MP3 Form of the full track:
-- intro:
     [1] solo bass
     [2] piano solos with bass and drums two times
-- melody (piano solos at B1 and B3)
-- piano solo four choruses
-- tenor sax solo four choruses
-- E: vamp for drum solo (14 times)
-- out melody (piano solos at B1)
-- coda

mp3  minus melody
-- tacet for the intro
-- play the melody
-- solo four choruses
-- play E (2 times)
-- play the out melody and coda

mp3  minus Piano
-- bass sets up intro at [1]
-- solo at [2] two times
-- comp for the melody (solo at B1 and B3)
-- solo four choruses
-- comp for the tenor sax solo four choruses
-- play E (14 times)
-- comp for the out melody (solo at B1) and coda

mp3  minus Bass
-- bass on track sets up intro ([1])
-- play figure for [2] 2 times
-- walk and play figure for the melody
-- walk and play figure for the piano and tenor sax solos (4 choruses each)
-- play E (14 times)
-- walk and play figure for the out melody and coda

mp3  minus Drums
-- bass sets up intro at [1]
-- groove for [2] 2 times
-- comp/groove for the melody
-- comp/groove for the piano and tenor sax solos (4 choruses each)
-- solo at E (14 times) over horn/piano/bass vamp
-- comp/groove for the out melody and coda

mp3  bass & drums only
-- tacet for the intro
-- play the melody
-- solo four choruses
-- play E (2 times)
-- play the out melody and coda