Tom Harrell – David Berkman

This even-8ths song has a lyrical melody that threads its way over a busy chord progression. Its non-repeating form is 25 measures long: a nine-measure A section (Berkman interprets this as 3 + 6 measures) and eight-measure B and C sections. Recorded as a bossa, it works just as well at a slower tempo; this also makes soloing on the rapidly changing chords less of a challenge. There is no key center, but a lot of colorful voice leading throughout, with some stepwise root motion that breaks off in unexpected directions, such as in the third and fourth measures of the C section: Cm7, B♭m7, and Am7 are followed by D♭7 going to Cmaj7. The bass rests in the first measure of the head, coming in on the second measure; B♭m7 and A♭m7, the two chords in the second measure of the head, are extended to one measure each as the first two measures of the solo form. The last two measures of the head are vamped as a coda, with a final two-measure figure on cue that breaks up the implied E♭ major tonality of this vamp.

On this recording, the horns are harmonized throughout the head except for the end of the B section. Second parts are available for this quintet arrangement. The Concert Condensed Score would be good for rhythm section players.

While working with the brilliant trumpeter and composer Tom Harrell in the mid-1990s, Berkman wrote this lyrical composition. "My first gigs with Tom were quintet gigs, with Ray Drummond or Larry Grenadier on bass, usually Billy Hart on drums and Don Braden on tenor although I've played with a lot of different groups of Tom's over the years—with many great musicians in settings from duo to quintet, octet and groups with strings and winds." There was something in the chord progression of Tom Harrell that reminded Berkman of one of Harrell's songs, the Brazilian-tinged Angela that Tom had written for his wife.

Tom Harrell was recorded on David Berkman's first date as a leader, "Handmade," and featured Harrell on trumpet. Berkman cites Harrell as a major influence as a player and composer. "I'm impressed by the way he can find unique chord relationships—like on his song Terrestris which is a blues built from V-ii bars instead of the more usual ii-V's. I tried to do some of that sort of thing on this song—finding chords that move from one to another in a fresh way. I'm happy with this composition because it combines an interesting and constantly moving harmony with a simple and, I think, engaging melody line."

David's Solo Piano Arrangement is available. It shows standard two-handed voicings for the melody, with several left-hand figures that fill in the longer melody notes. This arrangement also includes two repeats of the coda vamp, with a little melodic fill before the final two-measure ending figure.