I Deal – Sonny Clark

A fun, very swinging blues head in Sonny Clark's classic style. The melody is catchy and relatively simple, with a "question and answer" structure—for example, the first phrase goes up at the end, and is then repeated but with the end going down. The changes begin with descending II-V7s (the "Bird blues"), but are otherwise more standard blues changes on the head except for stepwise passing chords in the ninth measure. On the solos, the full descending "Bird blues" changes can be used.

Our lead sheets show Sonny's "responses" to the melody in the sixth and eighth measures. We also show the two-part harmony in thirds on the last melody phrase, which Sonny plays along with the horns.

Click on the Solos tab for our transcription of Sonny's solo. The Piano Corner tab has details about our transcription of Sonny's comping as well as an Easy Solo Piano Arrangement.

This song comes from the sometimes overlooked early period of Sonny Clark's career. He was mostly based in Los Angeles from 1951 until he moved to New York in 1957. "Music For Lighthousekeeping" was the only studio album Sonny recorded as a member of Howard Rumsey's Lighthouse All Stars. A month later, Sonny played on drummer Stan Levey's album "Grand Stan," featuring almost the same lineup as this Rumsey album but with Richie Kamuca on tenor sax and Leroy Vinnegar on bass.

Sonny Clark solos for two choruses as an intro, and after the head he plays seven more solo choruses. Our six-page piano solo transcription includes both solos. This clip audio clip includes the beginning of the intro. Here's the start of the solo chorus solo chorus. These are melodic, right-hand solos in Sonny's unique style, with quiet, minimal left-hand comping. Because this comping is often far in the background, we show separate dynamics for the two hands. This transcription has detailed articulations for an in-depth look at Sonny's distinctive phrasing. For the melody comping transcription, click on Piano Corner.

Solo transcription by Cecilia Coleman

Melody Comping: Cecilia Coleman's transcription is available for Sonny's comping on the in head. Click on the play button for the song's audio clip above to hear Sonny's comping under the melody. The melody is shown on a smaller staff above the two piano staves. Sonny plays short, percussive chords in a relatively low register, often punctuated by brief eighth-note lines in the left hand. In the last three measures of each chorus he plays a left-hand pedal point on C, mostly on the offbeats.

Easy Solo Piano Arrangement: An easy solo piano arrangement is available, written by Cecilia Coleman. This arrangement features an intro based on the last two measures of the head, over a C pedal point on beats 2 and 4. The head features a single-line left-hand part accompanying the melody: mostly a 2-feel bass line but also including the "answer" line in the eighth measure. This arrangement shows fingerings mostly in the left hand, as well as for a couple of right-hand lines.