Davenport Blues Essay Example
Gabrielle Bacarella Professor James
History of Jazz Davenport Blues
Meter: 4/4 Introduction (4 bars)
0:00 Band (2 bars) → Cornet Solo (1 bar) → Clarinet Solo (1 bar)
**Solo break at Bar 3**
Verse (16 bars)
0:06 Band (8 bars)
0:18 Band (8 bars)
Chorus 1 (32 bars)
0:31 A Cornet Solo (8 bars)
0:43 B Cornet Solo (8 bars)
**Solo break at Bar 7**
0:55 A Cornet Solo (8 bars)
1:08 C Cornet Solo (8 bars) **Solo breaks at Bars 1 and 3 (stop time)**
Verse (16 bars)
1:21 Band (8 bars)
1:34 Band (8 bars)
Chorus 2 (32 bars)
1:47 A Cornet Solo (2 bars) → Clarinet Solo (2 bars) → Cornet Solo (2 bars) → Clarinet Solo (2 bars)
2:00 B Band (6 bars) → Trombone Solo (2 bars)
**Solo break at Bar 7**
2:14 A Band (8 bars)
2:27 C Clarinet Solo (4 bars) → Band (4 bars)
**Solo break at Bars 1-4 (stop time)**
Closing (2 bars)
2:41 Band (2 bars)
The “Davenport Blues” is a jazz piece written by Bix Beiderbecke in 1926 during the Jazz Age. Recorded by Bix and his Rhythm Jugglers, the “Davenport Blues” is in 32-Bar form and the choruses are structured A B A C form. In between each chorus is a 16-bar verse whose melody does not change upon repeat. The choruses on the other hand, have very different melodies. While verses were certainly not unheard of, typical jazz pieces of the time tended to just continuously cycle through the choruses, so this would be considered a deviation of form. In addition to this deviation, “Davenport Blues” also has a four-bar introduction and a two-bar conclusion, so each chorus is preceded and followed by some type of transitional material. The biggest deviation fro the form, however, is the form itself. The title of the piece itself is called “Davenport Blues,” which suggests a 12-Bar Blues form, known as collective improvisation. However, Beiderbecke defies this standard and decides to set his “blues” music to a non-blues form. Bix and his Rhythm Jugglers’ jazz
History of Jazz Davenport Blues
Meter: 4/4 Introduction (4 bars)
0:00 Band (2 bars) → Cornet Solo (1 bar) → Clarinet Solo (1 bar)
**Solo break at Bar 3**
Verse (16 bars)
0:06 Band (8 bars)
0:18 Band (8 bars)
Chorus 1 (32 bars)
0:31 A Cornet Solo (8 bars)
0:43 B Cornet Solo (8 bars)
**Solo break at Bar 7**
0:55 A Cornet Solo (8 bars)
1:08 C Cornet Solo (8 bars) **Solo breaks at Bars 1 and 3 (stop time)**
Verse (16 bars)
1:21 Band (8 bars)
1:34 Band (8 bars)
Chorus 2 (32 bars)
1:47 A Cornet Solo (2 bars) → Clarinet Solo (2 bars) → Cornet Solo (2 bars) → Clarinet Solo (2 bars)
2:00 B Band (6 bars) → Trombone Solo (2 bars)
**Solo break at Bar 7**
2:14 A Band (8 bars)
2:27 C Clarinet Solo (4 bars) → Band (4 bars)
**Solo break at Bars 1-4 (stop time)**
Closing (2 bars)
2:41 Band (2 bars)
The “Davenport Blues” is a jazz piece written by Bix Beiderbecke in 1926 during the Jazz Age. Recorded by Bix and his Rhythm Jugglers, the “Davenport Blues” is in 32-Bar form and the choruses are structured A B A C form. In between each chorus is a 16-bar verse whose melody does not change upon repeat. The choruses on the other hand, have very different melodies. While verses were certainly not unheard of, typical jazz pieces of the time tended to just continuously cycle through the choruses, so this would be considered a deviation of form. In addition to this deviation, “Davenport Blues” also has a four-bar introduction and a two-bar conclusion, so each chorus is preceded and followed by some type of transitional material. The biggest deviation fro the form, however, is the form itself. The title of the piece itself is called “Davenport Blues,” which suggests a 12-Bar Blues form, known as collective improvisation. However, Beiderbecke defies this standard and decides to set his “blues” music to a non-blues form. Bix and his Rhythm Jugglers’ jazz