Donna Lee
Encyclopedia
"Donna Lee" is a bebop
jazz standard
composed by Miles Davis
. It was written in A flat and is based on the chord changes of the traditional jazz standard "(Back Home Again in) Indiana
". One unusual feature of the tune is that it begins with a half-bar rest. It is a very complex, fast moving chart that utilizes a compositional style based around the usage of four note groups
over each change.
composed the tune in 1947, his first recorded composition, although authorship is often credited to saxophonist
Charlie Parker
. Parker was credited on the original 78 rpm recordings, a mistake perpetuated through numerous reissues and causing early confusion. The tune was also copyrighted under Parker's name. It was named after bassist Curly Russell's daughter, Donna Lee Russell, a title assigned by producer Teddy Reig.
in New York City. The performers for the session were Charlie Parker (alto saxophone), Miles Davis (trumpet), Bud Powell
(piano), Tommy Potter
(bass), and Max Roach
(drums). Also recorded in the same session were "Chasin' the Bird", "Cheryl", and "Buzzy".
Jazz bassist Jaco Pastorius
recorded his interpretation of the tune, a solo fretless electric bass
rendition featuring Don Alias
on congas, for his debut album Jaco Pastorius
(1976). The tune is a particular favourite of avant-garde saxophonist Anthony Braxton
, who has recorded it many times. It is also the last song ever recorded by trumpeter Clifford Brown
, prior to his death in a car accident at age 25.
In Charles Mingus's quasi-autobiography, Beneath the Underdog, he enters a period in his life where he has two "wives", one named Donna and one named Lee-Marie. When Mingus introduces them to Miles Davis, and as he considers them as one wife exhibiting the best qualities of both people, he refers to them as "Donna-lee".
Bebop
Bebop differed drastically from the straightforward compositions of the swing era, and was instead characterized by fast tempos, asymmetrical phrasing, intricate melodies, and rhythm sections that expanded on their role as tempo-keepers...
jazz standard
Jazz standard
Jazz standards are musical compositions which 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 of jazz standards, and the list of songs deemed to be...
composed by Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
. It was written in A flat and is based on the chord changes of the traditional jazz standard "(Back Home Again in) Indiana
Back Home Again in Indiana
" Indiana" is a song composed by Ballard MacDonald and James F. Hanley, first published in January of 1917. While it is not the official state song of the U.S...
". One unusual feature of the tune is that it begins with a half-bar rest. It is a very complex, fast moving chart that utilizes a compositional style based around the usage of four note groups
Four note group
Four note group patterns are one of many ways used to formulate improvised solos in jazz. "Four-Note Grouping [sic] is an improvisation technique that uses major and minor triads along with specific passing notes as a means of generating lines...
over each change.
Authorship
Miles DavisMiles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
composed the tune in 1947, his first recorded composition, although authorship is often credited to saxophonist
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
Charlie Parker
Charlie Parker
Charles Parker, Jr. , famously called Bird or Yardbird, was an American jazz saxophonist and composer....
. Parker was credited on the original 78 rpm recordings, a mistake perpetuated through numerous reissues and causing early confusion. The tune was also copyrighted under Parker's name. It was named after bassist Curly Russell's daughter, Donna Lee Russell, a title assigned by producer Teddy Reig.
Performances
"Donna Lee" was originally recorded by the Charlie Parker Quintet on May 8, 1947 for Savoy RecordsSavoy Records
Savoy Records is an American record label specializing in jazz, R&B and gospel. Starting in the mid 1940s, Savoy played an important part in popularizing bebop.Savoy Records is an American record label specializing in jazz, R&B and gospel. Starting in the mid 1940s, Savoy played an important part...
in New York City. The performers for the session were Charlie Parker (alto saxophone), Miles Davis (trumpet), Bud Powell
Bud Powell
Earl Rudolph "Bud" Powell was an American Jazz pianist. Powell has been described as one of "the two most significant pianists of the style of modern jazz that came to be known as bop", the other being his friend and contemporary Thelonious Monk...
(piano), Tommy Potter
Tommy Potter
Charles Thomas Potter, born in Philadelphia on September 21, 1918, died March 1, 1988, was a jazz double bass player.Potter is known for having been a member of Charlie Parker's "classic quintet", with Miles Davis, between 1947 and 1950; he had first played with Parker in 1944, in Billy Eckstine's...
(bass), and Max Roach
Max Roach
Maxwell Lemuel "Max" Roach was an American jazz percussionist, drummer, and composer.A pioneer of bebop, Roach went on to work in many other styles of music, and is generally considered alongside the most important drummers in history...
(drums). Also recorded in the same session were "Chasin' the Bird", "Cheryl", and "Buzzy".
Jazz bassist Jaco Pastorius
Jaco Pastorius
John Francis Anthony Pastorius III , known as Jaco Pastorius, was an American jazz musician and composer widely acknowledged as a virtuoso electric bass player....
recorded his interpretation of the tune, a solo fretless electric bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
rendition featuring Don Alias
Don Alias
Charles 'Don' Alias was an American jazz percussionist.Alias was best known for playing congas and other hand drums...
on congas, for his debut album Jaco Pastorius
Jaco Pastorius (album)
This self-titled album was Pastorius' solo debut and was originally released in 1976. The album was produced by Blood, Sweat & Tears drummer/founder Bobby Colomby...
(1976). The tune is a particular favourite of avant-garde saxophonist Anthony Braxton
Anthony Braxton
Anthony Braxton is an American composer, saxophonist, clarinettist, flautist, pianist, and philosopher. Braxton has released well over 100 albums since the 1960s...
, who has recorded it many times. It is also the last song ever recorded by trumpeter Clifford Brown
Clifford Brown
Clifford Brown , aka "Brownie," was an influential and highly rated American jazz trumpeter. He died aged 25, leaving behind only four years' worth of recordings...
, prior to his death in a car accident at age 25.
Origin of the name
As stated above, the piece is named after bassist Curly Russell's daughter, Donna Lee Russell.In Charles Mingus's quasi-autobiography, Beneath the Underdog, he enters a period in his life where he has two "wives", one named Donna and one named Lee-Marie. When Mingus introduces them to Miles Davis, and as he considers them as one wife exhibiting the best qualities of both people, he refers to them as "Donna-lee".
Further reading
- Brian PriestleyBrian PriestleyBrian Priestley is an English jazz writer, pianist and arranger.Priestley began studying music at age 8, and in the 1960s began arranging jazz pieces for the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and gained a degree in modern languages from Leeds University...
Chasin’ the Bird: The Life and Legacy of Charlie Parker - Stephanie Stein Crease, Gil Evans: Out of the Cool