A delicate 3/4 song in a meditative mood. The A section is built in three-measure phrases, which results in a slower harmonic pace than the two-measure phrase structure more typical of 3/4. A repeated bass figure outlines the phrases, while the melody on top is very simple, repeating only three notes as the harmonies change below.
Lyric description: A meditation on stillness. This lyric really paints a picture of scenes, or things to focus on, suspended in time—an expanded focus on the moment.
Our vocal lead sheet shows the melody and bass line. The A section bass figure can be used as an intro and ending. On the recording, the piano and bass play it together twice as an intro, adding drums the second time; the ending has the reverse form, once with drums and then again with piano and bass only, slowing down to the last note.
Vocalist Shannon Gunn died in 2019, not having released a recording in her lifetime. "On A Mountain" was recorded in 2001 but released 20 years later. The liner notes describe Gunn as a "musician's musician." From Renee: "My friendship with Shannon goes back to my late teens when we both lived in Vancouver. We shared many memories together on and off the stage. She was smart, talented, beautiful, humble, empathetic and genuine: a person who communicated from her heart with no pretense."
Few can deny that Renee Rosnes is one of the most important pianists and composers in contemporary jazz. As a child, Renee was initially attracted to classical piano, but became interested in jazz during high school. She went on to study classical piano performance at the University of Toronto but returned to Vancouver to pursue jazz. Renee quickly rose to the top of Vancouver's active jazz scene and performed as a sideman with Joe Farrell and Dave Liebman while still in her teens. Read more...
