Flamenco Sketches

What Makes “Flamenco Sketches” a Modal Tune?

The Concept of Modal Jazz

Modal jazz shifts focus from chord progressions to modes—musical scales that create distinct tonal colors. Instead of moving quickly through changing chords, modal jazz stays on one mode for an extended period, allowing musicians to explore melodic possibilities within a static harmonic framework.

Improvised Melody: The Heart of the Tune

One of the most fascinating aspects of Flamenco Sketches is that its melody was never composed in advance. Both the head-in and the head-out melodies are improvised by Miles Davis. Listening to alternate takes reveals that the melodies differ each time, emphasizing spontaneity and creativity.

Flexible Form and Timing

The tune features a flexible form, loosely based on cues rather than strict measures. The form stretches over 24 bars, which can be considered in two sections—an A and B section—with some irregularities during transitions. This flexibility allows soloists to express themselves freely without rigid constraints, a novel concept at the time.

The Structure and Form of Flamenco Sketches

The 24-Bar Modal Form

The tune’s form consists of six four-bar sections, totaling 24 bars. Each section is anchored by a mode or chord that shapes the melody and harmony. While the form can be seen as a single 24-bar section, it’s often divided into two smaller parts because of tonal resolution points—such as the B flat major chord that acts as a pivot.

Bass and Rhythmic Nuances

The bass line plays ahead of the bar, starting on the fourth beat rather than the first downbeat. This subtle rhythmic placement adds a unique groove and feel that musicians must carefully replicate to maintain the tune’s character.

Exploring the Modes in Flamenco Sketches

Modal Palette Overview

Each section of Flamenco Sketches centers on a specific mode or modal scale:

• C Ionian (C major scale)
• A♭ Mixolydian (fifth mode of D♭ major)
• B♭ Ionian (B♭ major scale)
• D Phrygian
• D Mixolydian ♭2 ♭6 (derived from G harmonic minor, also known as the Spanish scale)
• G Dorian (G melodic minor)

Each mode contributes a unique tonal color, and the tune flows through them in a way that emphasizes mood and modal texture rather than functional harmony.

Modal Interrelationships and Pivot Notes

Connecting these modes requires identifying common tones, or pivot notes, which allow smooth transitions between modal centers. For example, between C Ionian and A♭ Mixolydian, the notes C and F are common tones that provide harmonic cohesion. This concept of pivot notes enables fluid improvisation across changing modes.

Harmony and Chord Voicings in “Flamenco Sketches”

Bill Evans’s Piano Voicings

Pianist Bill Evans’s voicings emphasize thirds and create rich modal textures. Instead of traditional chord progressions that demand movement, Evans’s chords often layer multiple modal colors simultaneously, giving the piece a static and atmospheric quality.

Backdoor Dominant and Modal Progressions

The tune features a “backdoor dominant” movement—A♭7 to B♭maj7—which is less common in traditional tonal music but provides a unique color in modal jazz. This progression, combined with modal focus, creates a fresh harmonic landscape that contrasts with conventional jazz standards.

Triads as Building Blocks

Throughout the tune, triads are used extensively to outline modal colors. For example, the opening phrase centers around G major triad, even while the harmony underneath is a C∆. This layering of triads over modal frameworks enhances the tune’s harmonic richness.

Improvisation and Motive Development

Motivic Fragmentation and Extension

Improvisers like John Coltrane use motivic development techniques such as fragmentation—repeating and transforming small melodic fragments—to create coherent solos. These techniques, whether consciously employed or intuitive, mirror compositional methods and enrich the improvisation.

Importance of Sound and Expression

Coltrane’s improvisation on Flamenco Sketches demonstrates that beautiful sound and phrasing can elevate even the simplest scale (such as C major) into profound musical statements. His attention to tone, dynamics, and rhythmic variation transforms modal improvisation into an expressive art form.

Chromatic Voice Leading

Musicians often use chromatic voice leading to connect notes between modes, enhancing melodic flow despite modal shifts. This sophisticated approach adds subtle tension and release within the modal context.

Analyzing Soloists and Instrumental Roles

Bass: The Foundation with a Flexible Pulse

Paul Chambers’s bass playing anchors the form but with subtle rhythmic flexibility. Occasionally, he plays slightly ahead or behind, which influences the feel and timing of the entire ensemble.

Piano: Creating Modal Texture

Bill Evans’s piano comping utilizes modal voicings and rhythmic motives that intertwine with the soloists’ melodies, often emphasizing thirds and fourths to create a lush harmonic bed.

Trumpet and Saxophone: Modal Melodic Exploration

Miles Davis and Cannonball Adderley explore the modal scales through improvised melodies, often emphasizing the characteristic notes of each mode to convey its unique color. Their interplay epitomizes modal jazz’s conversational and exploratory spirit.

Practical Tips for Musicians Studying “Flamenco Sketches”

Practicing Modes and Pivot Notes

Begin by mastering the individual modes used in the tune, focusing on their characteristic notes. Practice transitioning between modes by targeting pivot notes that are common to adjacent modes.

Motive Extension Exercises

Try simple motive extension exercises—start with a two-note motive and gradually add notes while repeating the phrase. This builds fluency in motivic development and prepares you for modal improvisation.

Transposing Phrases

Transpose iconic II-V-I phrases and modal lines into all 12 keys to internalize the harmonic vocabulary and enhance your adaptability during improvisation.

Listening and Transcribing Alternate Takes

Explore different versions of Flamenco Sketches, including those by Joe Henderson or alternate takes by Miles Davis. Notice how the melodies and forms vary, offering new insights into modal improvisation.

Conclusion: Embracing the Modal Jazz Journey

Flamenco Sketches remains a landmark in jazz due to its innovative modal approach, flexible form, and inspiring improvisations. Understanding the interplay of modes, harmony, and motive development opens a gateway to deeper musical expression. Whether you are a jazz musician or an enthusiast, studying this tune offers valuable lessons in modal jazz theory and practice. Dive in, experiment with modes, and enjoy the rich colors that Flamenco Sketches has to offer.

Happy practicing and keep swinging!