A variation on Booker Little's classic waltz, Grand Valse has a slower tempo and a freer interpretation of the melody than the original Waltz Of The Demons.
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This is the second time that Booker recorded his classic waltz. If you've heard his first recording (Waltz Of The Demons) you'll note that for this recording he slowed the tempo down to a medium slow waltz, and he interprets his original melody more freely. The intro and ending (which you'll find notated in the C treble clef lead sheet) has some new twists. These sections are now more defined, and interestingly the intro starts in F going to E-flat, and the ending is reversed, going from E-flat to F.
Booker Little only lived to the age of 23, so we are very lucky to have three of his own recordings of this, his classic waltz. He approached the composition differently each time he recorded it; he also used different titles. Take some time to compare his approaches to this composition on each of the recordings to get further insight into this remarkable young composer and trumpet player. Lead sheets for all three versions are available on this site.
Transcribed Trumpet Solo: Our audio excerpt trumpet comes from the start of Booker's third solo chorus, so he's starting to build momentum. By the fifth chorus he's even into a 32nd-note line. More incredible playing by this gifted and disciplined trumpet giant.
A tragic loss to the world of jazz at age 23! Hearing is certainly believing: in Booker's short life, he still was able to leave us with recordings and compositions that are guaranteed to astonish and captivate. His effortless-sounding virtuosity ranks him as one of the greatest trumpet players. He was also a gifted composer, who obviously took composing very seriously, as his recording output shows. Booker began on trumpet when he was 12 and played with Johnny Griffin and the MJT + 3 while attending the Chicago Conservatory. He worked with Max Roach (1958-1959) and then freelanced in New York. He recorded with Roach and Abbey Lincoln, was on John Coltrane's Africa/Brass album, and was well-documented during a July 1961 gig at the Five Spot with Eric Dolphy. Booker Little led four sessions before his tragic early death. Read more...
