Denise – Roland Alexander

The "ballad" of this album is actually a slow bossa, though it would work equally well at a ballad tempo. This song has a lyrical melody, which is open for expressive interpretation though in this arrangement it is played as written. The changes are more consistently II-V7 based than in some other Roland Alexander compositions, with several unexpected turns of key-center; in fact the key of A♭ is not established until the beginning of the B section (briefly), only resolving at the end. The descending key centers in the A section (F to E♭) are contrasted by rising II-V7s in the B section.

The form, written as ABCD, could be interpreted as ABAB'; the A and C sections are eight measures long, B is nine measures and D only six.

In this quintet arrangement, the horns play the A and C section melodies in unison. The alto sax adds a countermelody outlining the changes in the B section, with a fill in the last two measures; the D section begins the same way and then the horns harmonize for the last three measures.

Our Concert Condensed Score is the rhythm section part.

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

Roland Alexander named this song for his daughter Denise, Taru Alexander's sister. He wrote it in the 1960s but this is the first recording.

Check out other Roland Alexander titles recorded by his son Taru, on "Kojo Time."

Exclusive Minus You audio tracks and parts
CLIP The form of this track is quite straightforward:
-- melody
-- piano solo 1 chorus
-- trumpet solo 1 chorus
-- out melody

mp3 minus melody
-- count off sets up the melody
-- play the melody
-- solo 1 chorus
-- play the out melody

mp3 minus Piano
-- count off sets up the melody
-- comp for the melody
-- solo 1 chorus
-- comp for the trumpet solo 1 chorus
-- comp for the out melody

mp3 minus Bass
-- count off sets up the melody
-- 2-feel for the melody
-- 2-feel for the piano and trumpet solos (1 chorus each)
-- 2-feel for the out melody

mp3 minus Drums - sticks throughout on the recording, but brushes could also be used
-- count off sets up the melody
-- comp for the melody
-- comp for the piano and trumpet solos (1 chorus each)
-- comp for the out melody

mp3 Bass & Drums only This bass & drums only track also works great as a feature for piano, vibes, guitar or any other instrument without harmonic accompaniment (tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins loved to play with just bass and drums, for example)
-- count off sets up the melody
-- play the melody
-- solo 1 chorus
-- play the out melody