John Lewis
Piano Solo on
Marmaduke

About

John Lewis closes out the solos on piano with half a chorus, following Miles Davis at approximately 194 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's full-chorus solo displays growing command and individuality, while Lewis's half-chorus is a model of economy.

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