Vamp 'Til Ready – "Papa" Jo Jones

A well-titled song, Vamp 'Til Ready is certainly based on a vamp, though with a fixed length as opposed to simply "'til ready." The A section repeats a two-measure descending phrase, similar to a vamp that could be used to set up the melody of a standard for a vocalist or other soloist. The rhythm section plays hits that complement the melody of this figure. The bridge goes to G minor, like some standards such as Rosetta but with not quite the same changes. Our bridge melody in the lead sheets is what pianist Tommy Flanagan plays on the recording, which was probably improvised but certainly works as a melody. The solos are over "rhythm changes" with the bridge changes from the head.

Our lead sheet shows the A section of the shout chorus, which is the same as the head except the last two measures which are a solo break for the drums. On the recording, this is the last chorus; the bass solos on the bridge, and the shout section is played again, vamped and faded out.

"Vamp 'Til Ready" is Jo Jones' last recording with Bennie Green, who had played on Jo's 1955 album "The Jo Jones Special." Two months after the "Vamp 'Til Ready" session, Bennie played on some of trumpeter Howard McGhee's album "Dusty Blue" alongside Roland Alexander on tenor sax. These are also two of only three albums that feature Bennie alongside pianist Tommy Flanagan; the third is Bennie's 1958 album "The Swingin'est" featuring Gene Ammons. The front line of Bennie Green and Jimmy Forrest also appears on three of Bennie's albums: "Bennie Green Swings The Blues" from 1959, and "Bennie Green" and "Hornful Of Soul" from 1960.