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Wardell Gray's tenor sax solo is the 2nd of 5 on this recording, spanning half a chorus at approximately 230 BPM. Set within a swinging rhythmic framework, the 32-bar AABA form and the key of B♭, the solo navigates the chord changes with purpose. Built on the chord changes of "I Got Rhythm," the harmonic foundation is a familiar one in the jazz repertoire, inviting inventive melodic departures. Positioned between Charlie Parker and Dodo Marmarosa, Gray bridges the conversation between the two. This larger ensemble from the February 1947 Dial session in Los Angeles reflects the vibrant West Coast bebop scene of the period. Wardell plays over the first half of the chorus.
Wardell Gray was 25 to 26 years old at the time.
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