The Peacocks (Ballad)
The Peacocks is a jazz composition in song form by Jimmy Rowles that was released in 1974.
Characteristics of the composition
The pianist Jimmy Rowles composed the ballad The Peacocks in the early 1970s under the influence of Central African music he heard on the radio. “Influenced by the melodic material and vocal techniques of Central African forest music of the Pygmies , the introductory motif begins with three tones that move from the fifth to the minor third to the seventh . Then it returns, the tones of the issuing fifth switch and an echo adhere so the flat Tenden sound yodeling produce. This phrase repeats itself and leads to a second theme of the A section by creating cascading pentatonic sound patterns, thus creating the initial impression of yodelling patterns familiar to listeners of Central African forest music. "
First recording and further versions
Rowles recorded the composition for the first time in 1974 on his album Jimmy Rowles (released by Halycon, produced by Marian McPartland ); It was soon followed by numerous other recordings of the title, initially by Stan Getz with Bill Evans . Getz recorded the song in 1975 with Rowles for his Columbia album of the same name , which was released in 1977; Evans took it over into his repertoire and played it several times, u. a. 1977 for the posthumous album You Must Believe in Spring .
A decade later, The Peacocks appeared in the soundtrack of Bertrand Tavernier's Round Midnight film , played by Herbie Hancock , Wayne Shorter , Pierre Michelot and Billy Higgins . Singer Norma Winstone wrote the lyrics to Rowles' composition and recorded the song as A Timeless Place with Rowles and George Mraz , which appeared on her album Well Kept Secret . Bill Holman wrote an arrangement for jazz ensemble that he published on his album A View from the Side . Cover versions followed in later years . a. by Gary Foster , Fred Hersch , Branford Marsalis , John McLaughlin , George Mraz, Renee Rosnes and Esperanza Spalding .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Steven Feld The Poetry and Politics of Pygmy Pop in Georgina Born , David Hesmondhalgh: Western Music and Its Others: Difference, Representation, and Appropriation. Berkeley, Los Angeles 2000, pp. 254-277, here p. 260
- ^ Gary Giddins : Visions of Jazz: The First Century , p. 535
- ↑ The Peacocks album at Jazz.com ( Memento of the original from September 5, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ^ Review of the album The Peacocks at Allmusic (English). Retrieved July 29, 2012.
- ^ Ted Gioia: The Jazz Standards: A Guide to the Repertoire , p. 333.
- ^ Review of the album Well Kept Secret at Allmusic (English). Retrieved July 29, 2012.
- ↑ Review of the album A View from the Side on Allmusic (English). Retrieved July 29, 2012.
