JAZZ CAROL I wish You All a Merry Christmas About the Song Improvisation Impro for Bb Instruments Impro for Eb Instruments Jazz Carol Downloading Bay Jazclass Links

Carol 1 - About the Song

You will recognise Jazz Carol as soon as you play the midi file. It is of course "God Rest You Merry Gentlemen", a lovely melody that lends itself very well to be played in Jazz swing style.

Many Jazz players have used it, but I will always associate this song with one Jazz man only : John Lewis. Lewis wrote a number of Variations on this song, which he usually calls 'England's Carol'.

I have two of them, on old scratchy records from the 50s which I still treasure :

1. The Modern Jazz Quartet at Music Inn - with Guest artist Jimmy Giuffre  (London Records LTZ-K 15085)

2. European Window - MJQ with the Stutgart Symphony Orchestre, and two Guest artists, Gerry Weinkopf on flute, and Ronny Ross on baritone sax.
   (RCA Records LPM- 1742)

Listening to Gerry Mulligan I often felt I would like to play the baritone sax, but when I heard Ronny Ross on the European Windows record all the vagueness in my mind dissapeared instantly. I suddenly new that I had to learn to play that great big instrument, no matter what !

The tone of Ross is just unbelievable, and is until this day, I believe, not matched by any other Jazz baritone player in the world.
Nat Hentoff considered him (1958) "... a major find ... he would seem to be the most lyrical baritone saxophonist in Jazz."

Gunther Schuller described Ronny Ross's improvisations : "It is pure music all the timewhen he plays. There's no time when he isn't saying something and in the most pregnant way."

Listening to Ronny's solo of England's Carol on my old record 40 years later I believe those words remain still true.

Carol 2 - Improvisation

Improvisation on Jazz Carol is quite easy.
You need to use only two scales and they are very similar.

Jazz Carol contains four different chords : Dm - Gm - F - A7

Dm, Gm and F all fit into the same scale : the D natural minor scale.
Check it out :

The A7 chord does not fit into the D natural minor :

But it is easy to make it fit.
Just change the C in the D natural minor scale to a C#. The scale has now become the D harmonic minor scale and the notes of the A7 chord fit into it.

After this small manipulation you will appreciate that the C and C# are the two defining notes for the harmony of Jazz Carol. Play a C# over the A7 chord and C naturals for the rest of the song. The other notes remain the same. It is useful to listen to the backing track for a while without playing yourself. Try to reckognise the A7 chord each time it is played. Soon you will be able to pick it. The ability to reckognise the chord changes is an essential skill for the improviser. Make sure you work on this aspect.

Carol 3 - Improvisation for Bb instruments

For Bb instrument players (trumpet, clarinet, tenor- , soprano-sax) Jazz Carol is in E minor.

The chords are : Em - Am - G - B7

Em, Am and G all fit into the same scale : the E natural minor scale.
Check it out :

The B7 chord does not fit into the E natural minor.

To make it fit change the D in the E natural minor scale to a D#. The scale has now become the E harmonic minor scale and the notes of the B7 chord fit into it.

The D and D# are the two defining notes for the harmony of Jazz Carol.
Play a D# over the B7 chord and D naturals for the rest of the song. The other notes remain the same.

Carol 4 - Improvisation for Eb instruments

For Eb instrument players (alto- , baritone- sax ) Jazz Carol is in B minor.

The chords are : Bm - Em - D - F#7

Bm, Em and D all fit into the same scale : the B natural minor scale.
Check it out :

The F#7 chord does not fit into the B natural minor.

To make it fit change the A in the B natural minor scale to a A#. The scale has now become the B harmonic minor scale and the notes of the F#7 chord fit into it.

The A and A# are the two defining notes for the harmony of Jazz Carol.
Play a A# over the F#7 chord, and A naturals for the rest of the song. The other notes remain the same.

Don't forget to play the sharps or flat of the key signature for each scale !

I have written the appropriate scales at the bottom of the Lead Sheet for each of the three keys.

Have a Merry Christmas.

Michael.

Carol 5 - Jazz Carol

Carol 6 - Downloading Bay