Deception (no relation to the song of the same title from Miles Davis' "Birth Of The Cool") is the kind of bebop or post-bop head over standard changes that has a naturally improvisational sound. In other words, this line essays the changes of
Cherokee in a soloistic style, with the kind of diverse phrasing and irregular motivic development that makes it sound more like an improvised solo than a composed passage. (Compare Warne Marsh's
Marshmallow for another
Cherokee head that does this.)
The two A sections, labeled A and B on this lead sheet, have entirely different melodies; the "C section" (D) begins like A but switches to the same as B in the last six measures. Several tritone and similar substitutions are used, for example Bm7-E7-E♭maj7 starting in the third measure.
This melody is certainly "trumpet-istic." At several points in the A and B sections, there are passages with three repeated notes, D concert (E for B♭ trumpet). Ryan articulates them with the valves; the small number 3's on the B♭ lead sheet indicate the alternate fingering.
This recording showcases Ryan's playing with a cup mute, and Willie Jones' use of brushes. Check out other compositions from "
The Dream."
This quartet previously recorded a version of
Cherokee the previous year on Ryan's first album for the Video Arts label, simply titled "Kisor." Peter Zak and Willie Jones have recorded together on five Kisor albums, two trio albums led by Zak, and one by guitarist Tom Guarna.
For more from this album, check out
The Dream and
Panic Attack.
