Cherokee

Basic Info

ComposerRay Noble
LyricistRay Noble
FormA-A-B-A
StyleSwing

Analyze

Analyze Sheet

Cherokee Analyze Sheet

Cherokee Analysis Sheet

  • Basically, 4 tonalities, I, #II (bIII), VII and VI.
  • The chord function in the 7th and 8th bar of A section are sub dominant minor, not II V or a dominant function.
  • The 8th bar is a passing diminish chord. Sometimes V7 of IIm7 is played for solo.

Description

Sample Record

AlbumPersonnelNote
Jazz Giant (1950)Bud Powell(pf), Ray Brown(b), Max Roach(dr)One of the famous intro.
Clifford Brown Memorial Album (1953)Clifford Brown(tp), Gigi Gryce(as,fl), Charlie Rouse(ts), John Lewis(pf), Percy Heath(b), Art Blakey(dr)One of the famous intro.
Brown In Brown (1955)Clifford Brown(tp), Harold Land(ts), Richie Powell(pf), George Morrow(b), Max Roach(dr)One of the famous intro and ending.
Cross Country Tour: 1958-1961 (1958)Ahmad Jamal(pf), Israel Crosby(b), Vernel Fournier(dr)In 3/4 in a bridge
Yesterday & Today (1966)Toots Thielemans(ham), Phil Bodner(cl,fl), Phil Kraus(vib), Bucky Pizzarelli(gt), George Duvivier(b), Grady Tate(dr), Jack Andrews(arr,cond)In 3/4. Great Arrangement.
Some of My Best Friends Are…The Singers (1988)Ray Brown(b), Dee Dee Bridgewater(vo), Ralph Moore(ts), Geoff Keezer(pf), Gregory Hutchinson(dr)Beginning and end of the tune are played as a ballad.