"Martha's Prize" Cedar Walton

[Dave Ferris]

I've been working on this great Cedar Walton tune lately after hearing a wonderful David Hazeltine version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqcBbKbFJ8o&feature=youtu.be

 

I found a fairly accurate chart online:

http://mindrup.com/jazz/charts_PDF/Martha%27s%20Prize.pdf

 

Unfortunately the Aebersold and Hal Leonard Cedar Walton volumes don't include this.

 

Regarding the chart. The voicings in the beginning rhythm kicks are :

Bbsus - LH Bb Db F

RH- Ab C Eb - so basically an Ab triad over a Bbm triad.

 

Cm MAJ.7 - LH C Eb G

RH- B D F

 

And in letter A, the 7th bar, beat 3 - that's an E Maj7.

The next bar is that infamous diminished sound off a Maj. 7 of:

LH - Eb C

RH- Gb A D F

 

It's fairly straight ahead in the blowing section except for a tricky part in the bridge -letter B bar 2- where it anticipates the 2-5 of B on beat 3 and then quickly modulates up a half step.

 

Other then getting the voicings, rhythm kicks and the LH unison line with the bass line under your fingers...it's easy.

 

I notice it has Cedar's trademark Maj. 7 to flat 5 Dominant chord in the second bar of the melody. He uses this same movement in a few of his tunes; Boliva, Fantasy in D (Ugetsu).

 

Here's the composer's version. Along with the horns , the tempo is down a little from Hazeltine's version.

[Legatoboy]

I dig Cedar's work...

[Bobadohshe]

Great tune thanks for sharing Dave, I love this sound.

 

Those first chords - man they sure sound dense when I play them on the piano. To the point where I see if omitting one of the notes is actually the key. I try that and nope- now there's a hole. So I back off and play them more pianistically, more mf, and they sound better.

 

Great solo from him, great sounding recording.

[16251]

Thanks Dave. I love Cedar Walton and got to see him in NY many years ago.

 

David Hazeltine, though, is killing me now. I hear all the licks in his own way and I can't get enough.

[Dave Ferris]

Good to see this short but sweet piece on David Hazeltine. Words of wisdom.

http://www.keyboardmag.com/artists/1236/talent-scout--david-hazeltine/63169

 

[piano39]

Thanks for this. This is a great song. I will play it at next gig.

[Floyd Tatum]

I've been working on this great Cedar Walton tune lately after hearing a wonderful David Hazeltine version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqcBbKbFJ8o&feature=youtu.be

 

I found a fairly accurate chart online:

http://mindrup.com/jazz/charts_PDF/Martha%27s%20Prize.pdf

Thanks for the link, Dave. I don't know about others, but for me, that link didn't work as is, because of the %27 and %20.

 

I re-formatted it like this, and it worked:

 

http://mindrup.com/jazz/charts_PDF/Martha's Prize.pdf