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Virtual Jam Session - "St. Thomas"

4/20/2020

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Ready for something a little easier?  Sonny Rollins popularized the tune "St. Tomas", which is actually an ancient folk melody. 
Normally heard as a calypso tune, we will practice it in a samba style, which is similar, but maybe easier to feel the beats.  Samba is a solid 2-beat, usually with heavy syncopation.
St. Thomas is a simple melody of just 16 bars.  The first 4 bars (as well as the next 4 bars) are all in the C major key center, with the pattern:
                            |   I        |   iii     VI   |    ii    V   |   I         ||
The only chord in that entire sequence that departs from the C major scale is the third chord which is VI (major) instead of the normal vi (minor.)  In other words, that one chord wants a C#.  So basically you can play the first 8 bars using notes from the C major scale.  If you happen to play a C natural on that third chord, it becomes A7(#9) which is plenty cool.
The last 8 bars depart from the C key center a little, but if you play with an "island spirit" nobody will complain if you don't venture beyond the C major notes.
You can simplify even more if you like.  You can think like a steel drum that may have only 3 or 4 notes available.  You can make a hip-sounding solo just playing some combination of C, E, and G.  It doesn't have to be complicated to be fun.
Picture
Jam to "St. Thomas" Samba Style

And here's the same thing in a "soul calypso" style.  A conventional calypso is a rather straight beat.  This "soul calypso" has the spirit of the calypso, but a little bit of funk for good measure.  It is driven by a 2-3 clave throughout.
Picture
Jam to "St. Thomas" Soul Calypso Style

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  • Home
    • Join List
  • Mission
  • Meet the Bands
    • Urban Renewal Big Band >
      • 24-4-9
    • Urban Renewal Cool Jazz Octet
    • The Finnell Factor
    • Yvonne Allu & Friends
  • Blog