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“Autumn in New York” is a jazz standard and popular song composed by Vernon Duke in Westport, Connecticut in the summer of 1934. It was written without a commission or for a specific show, but Duke offered it to producer Murray Anderson for his Broadway musical Thumbs Up!. The play opened on December 27, 1934 where the song was performed by singer J. Harold Murray.
Many versions of the song have been recorded over the years by numerous musicians and singers. The only version to achieve chart success as a single in the USA was that by Frank Sinatra, which reached No. 27 in 1949.
I this class we get the correct changes, study the harmonic and melodic analysis, melodic interpretation, the bass line and some guide tones melodies.
Video lessons:
Lyrics:
Why does it seem so inviting
Autumn in New York
It spells the thrill of first-knighting
In canyons of steel
They’re making me feel, I’m home
Autumn in New York
Is often mingled with pain
They sigh for exotic lands
It’s autumn in New York
It’s good to live it again
Transforms the slums into Mayfair
Autumn in New York
You’ll need no castles in Spain
On benches in Central Park
It’s autumn in New York
It’s good to live it again
Overview and correct changes
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Harmonic Analysis
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Melodic Analysis
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How to interpret the melody
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Bass line
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Guide tones
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7 comments on “Autumn In New York”
Hi all
Here is my attempt at the head of Autumn in New york. I cant seem to transfer videos from my phone so i have recorded an audio MP3 instead. Hope that works.
I am trying slightly harder reeds but still not sure ive got the right strength as its a bit dodgy in lower register and the intonation is pretty awful higher up too
But most importantly i’d love comments on the elaboration and rhythmic displacement of the head. i’m playing pretty safe but i tried a few ideas out
https://soundcloud.com/user-182261326/kw-version-of-autumn-in-ny-headmp3?si=a77a5f25105b4e44af8c87be111eda53
Hi Alex,
Listening to the version of Mark Turner in the playlist, I think you may hear the saxophone playing the minor third of Cmin then later the major third of Cmaj an octave higher when going from Cmin to Cmaj during the head (starting at bar 13). A cool way to remember the harmony !
FYI
I have created an iReal Pro chart based on the Dexter Gordon chords discussed in lesson 1. All feel free to download a copy at the link below. Cheers,
https://www.dropbox.com/s/q7hnmag1uwwb11q/Autumn%20In%20New%20York%20%28Dexter%20Gordon%20-Daddy%20plays%20the%20horn%29.html?dl=0
Hello Alex, just a quick remark it seems to me that at the last measure of the first chorus of Dexter he is in F major (this is not very clear) then Am7 D7 to return to G m, is that correct, see you soon!!!
Hi Pierre Gros! they do play the II V to go to Gm but the F is minor, the pianist plays it with a maj7 though
Hey!
Another version with Blossom Dearie and Bobby Jaspar
Thanks Guillaume!