How High The Moon

Basic Info

ComposerMorgan Lewis
LyricistNancy Hamilton
FormA-B-A-C
StyleMedium Up Swing

Analyze

Analyze Sheet

How High The Moon Analysis Sheet

Description

  • On February 8, 1940, Alfred Drake and Frances Comstock introduced “How High the Moon” for Two for the Show on Broadway.Wikipedia
  • “How High the Moon” was composed as a slow ballad.Wikipedia
  • Charlie Parker composed “Ornithology” based on this change. from Wikipedia
  • John Coltrane composed “Satellite” with Coltrane Change based on this change. from Wikipedia
  • Lennie Tristano wrote the contrafact “Lennie-bird” over the chord changes. from Wikipedia

Sample Record

AlbumPersonnelNote
Bird On 52nd St. (1948)Charlie Parker(as), Miles Davis(tp), Duke Jordan(pf), Tommy Potter(b), Max Roach(dr)During head, first 8bars of A section is played with Latin feel.
Live in Zurich, Switzerland 2.5.1950 (1950)Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn(pf), Kay Davis(vo), Wendell Marshall(b), Sonny Greer, Butch Ballard(dr) Harold Baker, Al Killian, Nelson Williams, Ernie Royal, Roy Nance(tp) Jimmy Hamilton, Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope, Don Byas, Ava McCain, Harry Carney(reeds)Start as a ballad, later fast swing. Great big band arrange.
The Chronological Classics: 1952 – 1953 [from Hot Vs Cool (A Battle Of Jazz)] (1952)
Dizzy Gillespie(tp), Don Elliott(melolphone), Ray Abrams(ts), Ronnie Ball(pf), Al McKibbon(b), Max Roach(dr)Great big band arrange.
The Tatum Group Masterpieces, Vol. 3 (1955)Art Tatum(pf), Lionel Hampton(vib), Buddy Rich(dr)Bassless trio.
At The Stratford Shakespearean Festival (1956)Oscar Peterson(pf), Herb Ellis(gt), Ray Brown(b)Drumless trio.
Sonny Rollins And The Contemporary Leaders (1958)Sonny Rollins(ts), Barney Kessel(gt), Leroy Vinnegar(b)Drumless trio.
Mack the Knife: Ella in Berlin (1960)Ella Fitzgerald(vo), Paul Smith(pf), Jim Hall(gt), Wilfred Middiebrooks(b), Gus Johnson(dr)One of the historical records.
Live In Lausanne 1962 (1962)
Bud Powell(pf), Bob Jacquillard(b), Mike Stevenot(dr)Head out is Ornithology
Confirmation (1977)Tommy Flanagan(pf), George Mraz(b)Piano bass duo. Headin/out is played as a ballad
One on One, With McCoy Tyner (1990)
McCoy Tyner(pf), Stephane Grappelli(vln)Piano violin duo.
The Things We Did Last Summer (2002)Bill Charlap(pf), Jay Leonhart(b), Bill Stewart(dr)Great arrangement.