Blues March

"Blues March" is a composition by Benny Golson. It was first recorded for Blue Mitchell's Riverside album Big 6 on July 2 and 3, 1958,[1][2] and has become a jazz standard.[2]

For the New York Rhythm Machine (John Hicks) album, see Blues March: Portrait of Art Blakey.
"Blues March"
Song by Blue Mitchell
from the album Big 6
RecordedJuly 2 and 3, 1958
GenreJazz
LabelRiverside
Composer(s)Benny Golson
Producer(s)Orrin Keepnews

Composition and recording

The composition is in 4/4 time.[3] It was influenced by New Orleans marching bands, and "starts in long meter form and transforms back into regular time."[4] Its straightforward harmony and separate sections make it ideal for improvisation.[4] In the view of Leonard Feather, "the theme, with its slight bugle-call orientation, has a period quality that ties the work together".[3]

Although some sources state that its first recorded version is the well known one by Art Blakey's band on his album Moanin'[4] (recorded on October 30, 1958[5]), the first version was on trumpeter Blue Mitchell's Big 6, which was recorded on July 2 and 3, 1958.[1][2] This album was also Mitchell's first as leader.[1]

Influence

"Blues March" is commonly played by military and other marching bands.[4]

References
  1. Yanow, Scott "Blue Mitchell: Big 6". AllMusic. Retrieved December 21, 2013.
  2. Blumenthal, Bob (2004) In The Complete Argo/Mercury Art Farmer/Benny Golson/Jazztet Sessions [CD liner notes]. p. 3. Mosaic.
  3. Feather, Leonard In Moanin' [Liner notes]. Blue Note.
  4. Edelstein, Paula "Art Farmer/Benny Golson: Blues March". AllMusic. Retrieved December 21, 2013.
  5. In Moanin' [CD liner notes]. Blue Note.
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