Jive Coffee – Peter Bernstein

This is a very popular Peter Bernstein composition which he's performed many times (including the four video performances above—click on the video shown, and you'll see the other videos to click on and view). Although inspired by and based on the changes of the 1925 standard Tea For Two, Peter creates a whole new world to explore, putting you in 5/4 with an infectious four-measure rhythm section vamp figure. He then further surprises you, modulating his four-measure pattern up a half step for the start of the melody. The rhythm section groove divides the measures into three beats followed by two beats, as in Dave Brubeck's Take Five.

The equally infectious melody is relatively simple and diatonic to the chord progression. The down-a-half-step intro is used as an interlude between soloists, also reappearing as a vamp for a drum solo before the out head, and as an ending.

The available lead sheets show the basic melody, but the examples below detail ways Peter has performed it. He always has fun with the melody, exploring it in many different ways, and we've shown his interpretations of the first four measures of the melody from four different performances:


On the original Larry Goldings recording, Peter stretches out the grace notes at the beginning of the measures to eighth note triplets. He adds similar grace notes to beat 4 on these measures; the arrows indicate that the grace notes are on the downbeat. These fourth beats are anticipated with an extra low E♭ 8th-note.


The slightly slower "Signs Of Life" recording is closer to the lead sheet's melody, but Peter again anticipates the fourth beats with another low E♭.


This version from Jazz Baltica 2006 is faster. Peter adds the grace notes on the fourth beats (becoming a 16th-note triplet on the second measure), but does not add the low E♭ anticipating them on the first two measures.


This even faster version comes from a Village Vanguard performance in 2013 with the same trio from the first recording. Peter plays the melody more freely, with triplets instead of grace notes throughout and laying back on the third and fourth measures.

from Peter: I remember hanging with Larry Goldings and we were working on playing some things in 5/4: blues and some different standards. One day we started playing around with Tea For Two, we both loved that song and the chord progression laid so nicely in 5. I remember the first phrase sticking in my head and just put it together along with the opening vamp which we made into an open thing for Bill Stewart to play over. We started playing that tune in 1989 and we still do. Tea For Two will endure forever!

Peter has recorded Jive Coffee three times. It appears on his 1994 album "Signs Of Life," in a quartet setting with Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride, and Gregory Hutchinson. A little over 20 years later, the same quartet made a live recording. Click on the second and third album covers for more details. As can be seen from the videos above, Peter has performed this song with a wide variety of groups including those from the two studio recordings.

Our C lead sheet provides the essential details so you can play this Tea for Two-inspired Peter Bernstein original. While Bernstein treats the intro and melody differently between versions, soloing and playing chords on the former in some versions and adding embellishments to the latter, this lead sheet, including the basic melody, changes and hits, is written in the appropriate octave for guitarists.

Jive Coffee is suitable for intermediate and advanced guitarists looking to work on their playing in odd meters.

For a detailed description of this song and Peter's interpretations of the melody, click on the first album cover. This quartet recording, like all subsequent versions, begins with solo guitar one time through the vamp before the rest of the band comes in.

"Signs Of Life" is Peter's second album as a leader. The first, "Somethin's Burnin'," is another Criss Cross album from 1992 also featuring Brad Mehldau with bassist John Webber and drummer Jimmy Cobb.

This was Christian McBride's first recording with Peter; they also recorded together with Erena Terakubo and with Marianne Solivan. Peter and Gregory Hutchinson were both on a LaVerne Butler record from earlier in 1994 also featuring pianist Rob Bargad; they have also played together with vocalist Kevin Mahogany and trumpeter Ryan Kisor, among others.

Our C lead sheet provides the essential details so you can play this Tea for Two-inspired Peter Bernstein original. While Bernstein treats the intro and melody differently between versions, soloing and playing chords on the former in some versions and adding embellishments to the latter, this lead sheet, including the basic melody, changes and hits, is written in the appropriate octave for guitarists.

Jive Coffee is suitable for intermediate and advanced guitarists looking to work on their playing in odd meters.