Howard McGhee
Trumpet Solo on
Max Making Wax

About

Howard McGhee opens the solo section on trumpet, stretching out for two choruses at approximately 329 BPM. Set within a swinging rhythmic framework, the 32-bar AABA form and the key of C, the solo tests the player's command at high velocity. As a contrafact on "I Got Rhythm," the underlying harmony is well-trodden territory, giving the soloist a sturdy platform for creative exploration. As the first voice heard after the head, McGhee sets the improvisational tone before passing to Charlie Parker. McGhee, a formidable bebop trumpeter in his own right, proves himself a capable partner for Parker at this demanding pace.

Howard McGhee was 27 to 28 years old at the time.