Hey 'Heads...
Every now and then something incredibly special makes its way around the internet, and I totally think this qualifies. I'm still in jaw-drop mode from listening to this, and I only discovered it yesterday. (For my Facebook buddies...it was a blast, no?
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Chris Potter, if you've never heard of him, is an amazing musician. He was a prodigy back in the late 80's, and has only gotten continually more ridiculous since then. IMO, he's the next link in the chain... John Coltrane > Joe Henderson > Michael Brecker > Chris Potter. Or, in parlance we may appreciate a bit more...think of a heady stew, comprised of equal parts Jamerson, Jaco, Victor, Marcus, and perhaps Nathan East.
Anyway, piecing together the story...please pardon any inaccuracies...Potter held a clinic a couple of years back, during which he did a solo performance of, "All The Things You Are." Classic standard, played to death over the decades, and one of those tunes where many folks...me included...have commented, "What else is there to possibly say on this?" Well. How about 12 full minutes of absolute mastery, each minute somehow better than the one before it? No accompaniment, no one to challenge him or trade ideas...just unadulterated nekkid saxophone, offered by a wizard, shared with a bunch of eager students.
So, attached is the real book chart for the tune. On it's own, it's a great piece to study...everything we can chew on is in there: interesting chords and key changes, great melody, ample room for the bass to interact as well as provide foundation. Now, for comparison, here's Potter's commentary on things:
Chris Potter's tenor solo on "All The Things You Are" - YouTube
Definitely worth following along - the fellow who transcribed this is wickedly accurate, especially considering how Potter bends time. Letter 'A' on the transcribed chart matches up with bar 1 on the real book chart, and you can take off, and even play along, from there. (The key is correct...without getting heavy into theory and arranging, tenor sax is a Bb instrument, so music notated for it is written a whole step higher than it is for C instruments...such as bass.)
Once you have the changes under your fingers and in your mind, it's even more pleasurable listening to Potter's performance...you'll notice that they're all in there. You don't need the chart to tell you where you're at in the tune...he's telling you. Ridiculous.
For further comparison, here are some other versions of the tune:
Paquito DīRivera - All The Things You Are - HQ - YouTube
This is probably my favorite, for a few reasons. It was the first time I'd ever heard the tune done as anything but an up-swing. Second, Paquito D'Rivera is another one of those rare geniuses. Finally...his solo jaunt through the changes on clarinet is eerily similar to some of what Potter does.
Ella Fitzgerald - All the Things You Are - YouTube
Ella. No more need be said.
Charlie Parker - All the things you are - YouTube
Bird. Echo.
Joe Pass - All the Things You Are - YouTube
Joe Pass. Just yes.
Pat Metheny and Brad Mehldau Duo - All The Things You Are - YouTube
Metheny & Melhdau - for when you think you "get" the tune, these guys will provide the proper humiliation.
All The Things You Are - Charlie Haden & Joe Henderson - YouTube
Finally, you can't talk about this tune without listening to Joe Henderson. The joy here is compounded with Charlie Haden on bass.
Great soundtrack too...featuring Branford Marsalis.
