Uptown – Roland Alexander

This uptempo burner has the unusual quality, occurring in several Roland Alexander songs, of seeming to have a definite key center but then going somewhere else. In this case, the key seems to be obviously G major at first, but the second half of the A section is firmly in A♭ major. The bridge also starts on a G major chord. This starting in G means it makes sense to have a G key signature, despite the other key centers.

Though the A sections are eight measures long, the bridge is four measures—the already short form (due to the fast tempo) is thus made even shorter. The melody is based on a simple riff, with a contrasting bebop-ish line on the bridge. The rhythm section hits each chord of the bridge as a whole note. In this arrangement, the piano and bass do the same thing on the bridge of each chorus of the drum solo, as well as hit the first chord of each chorus.

The horns are voiced in thirds on the A sections and in unison on the bridge; second parts are available for the two-horn arrangement. A two-measure coda ends on a G13(♯11) chord.

"Kojo Time" was recorded at the legendary Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs.

Pianist Horace Silver had protected several of Roland Alexander's titles by copyrighting them in his company. Later, when Roland met Don Sickler and wanted Don to publish his music, Horace was happy to provide manuscripts and assignments where necessary.

Our Minus Drum track of this up-tempo burner with an interesting form is a great one for practicing your fast playing, a pitfall for many drummers. Keeping your body relaxed (not tense) is a crucial step to playing quickly and consistently and is much easier said than done. Not only will you get to practice locking in your uptempo swing time with a great bass player and soloists, you'll get an opportunity to take a solo of your own.

Exclusive Minus You audio tracks Taru Alexander plays an 8-measure drum intro, setting up the melody with rimshots on the last two measures. The minus melody and minus drums tracks begin with these last two measures of the intro. The drum solo on this track is also reduced to four measures.
CLIP Form of the full track:
-- drum intro 8 measures
-- melody
-- alto sax solo 3 choruses
-- piano solo 4 choruses
-- drum solo 3 choruses
-- out melody
-- coda

mp3  minus melody
-- drum count off sets up the melody
-- play the melody
-- solo 3 choruses
-- tacet for 4 measures of drums
-- play the out melody and coda

mp3 minus Piano
-- tacet for the drum intro
-- comp and play figures for the melody
-- comp for the alto sax solo 3 choruses
-- solo 4 choruses
-- play figures for the drum solo 3 choruses
-- comp and play figures for the out melody and coda

mp3  minus Bass
-- tacet for the drum intro
-- walk and play figures for the melody
-- walk for the alto sax solo (3 choruses) and piano solo (4 choruses)
-- play figures for the drum solo 3 choruses
-- walk and play figures for the out melody and coda

mp3  minus Drums - the drum count off is left in this track
-- drum count off on track sets up the melody
-- comp and play figures for the melody
-- comp for the alto sax solo (3 choruses) and piano solo (4 choruses)
-- solo around piano and bass figures 3 choruses  [mp3 clicks have been added on each downbeat]
-- comp and play figures for the out melody and coda

mp3  bass & drums only - to feature piano, guitar, vibes, or any melodic instrument that likes to play without harmonic accompaniment.
-- drum count off sets up the melody
-- play the melody
-- solo 3 choruses
-- play the out melody and coda