Lesson

This tune is a tribute to Sara Vaughn. I've always loved it, but as far as I can tell it never really made it into the popular fake books. A friend of mine transcribed it back in the the late 1970s. I recorded this version for piano and marimba a few years ago.

The form is kinda long and a lot of fun to improvise on. It's usually done in even 8ths. I checked Youtube and found several covers by a variety of great jazz players. There are also lyrics for the melody, although I don't know who wrote them.

A lead sheet is included.

So here's the deal.

I wrote an etude of all eighth notes. It's important for us to be able to weave through the changes, up and down and up and down. It's important for us to move the line in seconds. We do it much more easily with 3rds, but 2nds is where the magic happens.

• If you're going to do this right, write in the changes and study the lines.
• Play the etude down.
• Memorize the etude completely.
• Throw away the music.
• Play the etude in other keys.
• Smile at how much you've learned