"Countdown" is a
hardbopjazz standard
Jazz standards are musical compositions that are an important part of the musical repertoire of jazz musicians, in that they are widely known, performed, and recorded by jazz musicians, and widely known by listeners. There is no definitive List ...
composed by American jazz saxophonist
John Coltrane
John William Coltrane (September 23, 1926 – July 17, 1967) was an American jazz saxophonist, bandleader and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the Jazz#Post-war jazz, history of jazz and 20th-century musi ...
that was first featured on his fifth studio album, ''
Giant Steps
''Giant Steps'' is a studio album by the jazz musician John Coltrane. It was released in January or February 1960 through Atlantic Records. This was Coltrane's first album as leader for the label, with which he had signed a new contract the previ ...
'', in 1960. The song is a
contrafact
A contrafact is a musical work based on a prior work. The term comes from classical music and has only since the 1940s been applied to jazz, where it is still not standard. In classical music, contrafacts have been used as early as the parody m ...
of
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926September 28, 1991) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th century music, 20th-century music. Davis ado ...
's "
Tune Up
"Tune Up" or "Tune-Up" is a composition written by Eddie Vinson, but is traditionally credited to Miles Davis, who first recorded and popularized it. It has become a jazz standard.
Background and history
"Tune Up" was first recorded on May 19, 19 ...
", which is reharmonized to the
Coltrane changes
Coltrane changes (Coltrane Matrix or cycle, also known as chromatic third relations and multi-tonic changes) are a harmonic progression variation using substitute chords over common jazz chord progressions. These substitution patterns were first d ...
.
The original recording has been described as having "resolute intensity . . .
hat
A hat is a Headgear, head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorpor ...
does more to modernize jazz in 141 seconds than many artists do in their entire careers".
Composition
The song is a 16-bar form. Each four bars incorporates the same tonal centers of "Tune Up", which are D major, C major, and B♭ major.
Each tonal center begins with the ii chord but then cycles through two different keys before arriving at the I chord. The ii chord is followed by a dominant 7 chord that is a half step above—using the first four bars as an example, this would be Em7 and F7. This dominant 7 chord resolves in a V-I manner—F7 to B♭Δ7. The next key center is cycled to by playing the dominant 7th chord a minor third up from the last key center—D♭7 to G♭Δ7 to A7 to DΔ7. The next four bars, and new key, starts by making the I chord the ii of the next key.
Notable recordings
*
John Coltrane
John William Coltrane (September 23, 1926 – July 17, 1967) was an American jazz saxophonist, bandleader and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the Jazz#Post-war jazz, history of jazz and 20th-century musi ...
in ''
Giant Steps
''Giant Steps'' is a studio album by the jazz musician John Coltrane. It was released in January or February 1960 through Atlantic Records. This was Coltrane's first album as leader for the label, with which he had signed a new contract the previ ...
'' (1960)
*
Benny Green Quintet in ''Prelude'' (1989)
*
Billy Harper
Billy Harper (born January 17, 1943) is an American jazz saxophonist, "one of a generation of Coltrane-influenced tenor saxophonists" with a distinctively stern, hard-as-nails sound on his instrument.Chris KelseyBilly Harper Biography ''AllMusi ...
in ''
Live on Tour in the Far East
''Live on Tour in the Far East'' is a live album led by saxophonist Billy Harper recorded in 1991 in Korea and released on the SteepleChase label.Brad Mehldau
Bradford Alexander Mehldau (; born August 23, 1970) is an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger.
Mehldau studied music at The New School, touring and recording while still a student. He was a member of saxophonist Joshua Redman's quar ...
in ''
Introducing Brad Mehldau'' (1995)
*
Allan Holdsworth
Allan Holdsworth (6 August 1946 – 15 April 2017) was a British jazz and rock music, rock guitarist, violinist and composer. He contributed to numerous bands, including Soft Machine, U.K. (band), U.K., The Tony Williams Lifetime, Pierre Moerl ...
in ''
None Too Soon
''None Too Soon'' is the ninth studio album by guitarist Allan Holdsworth, released on 24 September 1996 by Polydor Records (Japan), JMS–Cream Records (Europe) and Restless Records (United States);Nastos, Michael G"None Too Soon - Allan Holdswo ...
'' (1996)
*
Kenny Garrett
Kenny Garrett (born October 9, 1960) is an American post-bop jazz musician and composer who gained recognition in his youth as a member of the Duke Ellington Orchestra and for his time with Miles Davis's band. Garrett's primary instruments are ...
in ''Pursuance: The Music of John Coltrane'' (1996)
*
Steve Kuhn
Steve Kuhn (born March 24, 1938) is an American jazz pianist, composer, arranger, bandleader, and educator. He is the composer of the jazz standard " The Saga of Harrison Crabfeathers".
Biography
Kuhn was born in New York City, New York, to S ...
in ''
Countdown
A countdown is a sequence of backward counting to indicate the time remaining before an event is scheduled to occur. NASA commonly employs the terms "L-minus" and "T-minus" during the preparation for and anticipation of a rocket launch, and eve ...
'' (1998)
* Brad Mehldau Trio in ''
Brad Mehldau Trio Live'' (2008)
*
Victor Bailey in ''Slippin' N' Trippin'' (2009)
*
Joey Alexander
Josiah Alexander Sila (born 25 June 2003), known professionally as Joey Alexander, is an Indonesian jazz pianist. He became the first Indonesian musician to perform on the Grammy Awards as well as to chart on Billboard 200, ''Billboard'' 200 wh ...
in ''Countdown'' (2016)
* Simon Moullier Trio in ''Countdown'' (2020)
*
Michael Sagmeister
Michael Sagmeister (born 27 July 1959 in Frankfurt, West Germany) is a German jazz guitarist.
Sagmeister gained first prominence when he performed in 1975 at the ''Frankfurt Jazz Festival''. The following year he founded the ''Michael Sagmeister T ...
in ''Story Board'' (2021)
See also
*
Coltrane changes
Coltrane changes (Coltrane Matrix or cycle, also known as chromatic third relations and multi-tonic changes) are a harmonic progression variation using substitute chords over common jazz chord progressions. These substitution patterns were first d ...
Notes
References
{{John Coltrane
1960s jazz standards
Compositions by John Coltrane
Hard bop jazz standards
Jazz compositions in B-flat major
Jazz standards
John Coltrane
Real Book Song