A 2021 performance of Blue in Green by the LA Jazz Connection, featuring Josh Mellicker on electric guitar, Michael Gurrola on acoustic bass, and Danny Janklow on alto saxophone. Credited to Miles Davis and Bill Evans, this piece from the landmark Kind of Blue album is performed with a funk feel at 94-101 BPM in D minor, a significant departure from the original's floating modal ballad character. The 10-bar form, one of the most unusual structures in the standard repertoire, is maintained through all three solos: Mellicker takes five choruses on guitar, Gurrola three on bass, and Janklow four on alto sax. The funk reinterpretation gives the tune a grounded rhythmic pulse that contrasts with the ethereal quality of the Davis-Evans original. The 10-bar form's asymmetry creates a continuous sense of motion as soloists navigate the odd phrase lengths. Mellicker's extended guitar solo leads the way, establishing the funk groove context before Gurrola and Janklow continue the exploration. This arrangement demonstrates how classic material can be reframed through rhythmic recontextualization.
