For The Moment – Renee Rosnes

For The Moment is an exquisite song that makes a complete statement out of some very simple, yet uncommon, thematic ideas. The A section is built out of three-measure phrases in 3/4, resulting in a 9-beat cycle with a slower underlying pace than two-measure phrases would have. There is a bass figure in the A section which is also used to set up the melody as an intro; it's repeated twice in B♭ and then twice a third lower in G, accompanying B♭ major and G minor chords respectively. The melody in this section is made up of only three notes, going back and forth between F, G, and A; the shifting accompaniment, with the transposition of the bass line and changing chords (involving some colorful passing chords at the ends of the phrases), really gives these notes meaning.

The bridge of this AABC song contrasts with the A section in harmonic structure and phrase lengths. The phrases are two measures here for an eight-measure section, with chords that initially ascend in half steps. The lyrical melody here makes the flow into and out of this section very smooth.

Solos are on the basic form of the head, with the A section bass figure continuing. However, the changes are smoothed over without the passing chords from the head; as indicated in our lead sheet, in the A section the soloists really play over six measures of B♭maj7 and six measures of Gm7. The broad three-measure cycles really accentuate the wide-open potential of such a simple chord progression.
The intro is two A sections long: one with solo piano on the bass line, and a second adding bass and drums. As an ending, the rhythm section vamps on the A section bass line while the horns play light solo fills.

Our tempo marking is specifically "Light swing." Check out the delicate rhythmic feel this quintet uses throughout; we feel it's an important part of this song. At times on this recording the A sections have more even 8ths, becoming more swung on the bridge; however, this contrast is quite subtle, without well-defined starts to each section.

On this recording, the chord on the fifth measure of the bridge is G♭7. Don Sickler's "Further Explorations" version in a different key (click on the second album cover) has a major chord here instead.

"For The Moment" was Renee Rosnes' second album as a leader. Renee had played in Joe Henderson's quartet in the mid-'80s. She first recorded with Steve Wilson in 1989 on "Spiral Staircase," the final album by the sextet Out Of The Blue. Steve and Renee appear together on many recordings, both in combo and big band settings. Steve played on Renee's 2015 album "Written In The Rocks" and her 2018 album "Ice On The Hudson."