A Guide To Help You Play Better Jazz Piano
by
Ron Drotos
History and overview:
“Pussy Cat Dues” first appeared on Charles Mingus’ 1959 album Mingus Ah Um. Be sure to listen to this recording to get the flavor of the tune (I’ve put a link below). The melody itself shows Mingus’ connection to early, “down home” blues: and the chords are a variation on the standard 12-bar blues chord progression.
Unlike many of his bebop contemporaries, he actively evoked earlier eras of jazz in his writing and arranging. “Pussy Cat Dues” is a good example of this. A quick listen to the recording immediately reminds us of 1920’s New Orleans jazz, both in the instrumentation (clarinet and trombone are prominent) and in the use of polyphony (improvised counterpoint). It sounds a little like Jelly Roll Morton, but “not quite.”
Recommended videos/recordings:
(for international readers who may not have access to these YouTube links, I’ve indicated the original album names wherever possible so you can listen to them on music streaming services, etc.)
Charles Mingus: Mingus Ah Um
Pittsburgh Jazz (live video)
A wonderful performance that evokes Mingus’ big band arrangements
Musical ideas and jazz piano practice tips:
It’s a lot of fun to play tunes like “Pussy Cat Dues,” where there are some substitute chords used in the 12-bar blues form.
The first 4 bars (after the Intro) are basically the I chord in the key of D major. But as you can see, Mingus has added a second chord to each measure. Going from D down a major 3rd to Bb7 evokes a kind of “film noir” sound and is fun to play blues licks over. Mingus changes this in m.4 when he puts in the Ab7 chord, which is a triton substitution leading to G7. Rather than stay on the G7 (IV) chord for 2 full measures, he moves up a 4th to C7 before heading back to the tonic in m. 7. Mingus then leads us through a very “bebop” sequence of ii-V’s, before ending with a I-IV/I nod to traditional jazz and blues.
Mixing the old with the new, in his own inimitable way. “Pussy Cat Dues” is Charles Mingus at his best. Enjoy the journey, and “let the music flow!
Further links and resources:
What is a jazz composer?
An essay written by Mingus
The Best Way To Use The Real Book
How To Learn Jazz Piano
A podcast to help you learn jazz piano more effectively
Mastering The Real Book: A 10-week Skype Intensive for Jazz Pianists
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