John Lewis
Piano Solo on
Au-Leu-Cha

About

John Lewis closes out the solos on piano with half a chorus, following Miles Davis at approximately 177 BPM. Set within a swinging rhythmic framework, the 32-bar AABA form and the key of F, the solo navigates the chord changes with purpose. The tune borrows its harmonic structure from "Honeysuckle Rose," a set of changes that generations of improvisers have used as a testing ground for new ideas. Coming last in the solo order, Lewis has the task of building on everything that came before while steering the performance back toward the closing head. Davis and Lewis each make concise, well-shaped statements in their half-chorus solos. Lewis splits the chorus with Miles Davis and goes second.

John Lewis was 27 to 28 years old at the time.