Naima
Encyclopedia
"Naima" is a ballad
composed by John Coltrane
in 1959, and named after his then-wife, Juanita Naima Grubbs. It first appeared on the album Giant Steps
, and is notable for its use of a variety of rich chords over a bass pedal
. It is mainly made up of a slow, restrained melody, though there is also a brief piano solo.
Chord changes for 'Naima':
||: Bb-7/Eb | Eb-7 | Amaj7+5/Eb Gmaj7+5/Eb | Abmaj7/Eb :||
|| Bmaj7/Bb | Bb7b9 | Bmaj7/Bb | Bb7b9 |
| B-maj7/Bb | Bmaj7/Bb | Abmaj7/Bb | Emaj7 #4 ||
|| Bb-7/Eb | Eb-7 | Amaj7+5/Eb Gmaj7+5/Eb | Abmaj7/Eb ||
Scale associations:
||: Eb Mixolydian | Eb Dorian | F# Melodic Minor, E Melodic Minor | Ab Lydian :||
|| Bb Phrygian | Bb diminished scale (half-whole)| Bb Phrygian | Bb dim. scale |
| Bb7 'alt' (B Melodic Minor) | Bb Phrygian | Bb Mixolydian | E Lydian ||
|| Eb Mixolydian | Eb Dorian | F# Melodic Minor, E Melodic Minor | Ab Lydian ||
One of Coltrane
's most famous compositions, he recorded it numerous times. "Naima" also appears on Live! at the Village Vanguard
, The Complete Copenhagen Concert
, Afro-Blue Impressions
, Live at the Village Vanguard Again!
, among other albums. "Naima" has since become something of a jazz standard, covered
by many other musicians including:
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
composed by John Coltrane
John Coltrane
John William Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz...
in 1959, and named after his then-wife, Juanita Naima Grubbs. It first appeared on the album Giant Steps
Giant Steps
-Personnel:* John Coltrane — tenor saxophone* Tommy Flanagan — piano* Wynton Kelly — piano on "Naima"* Paul Chambers — bass* Art Taylor — drums* Jimmy Cobb — drums on "Naima"* Cedar Walton — piano on "Giant Steps' and Naima" alternate versions...
, and is notable for its use of a variety of rich chords over a bass pedal
Pedal point
In tonal music, a pedal point is a sustained tone, typically in the bass, during which at least one foreign, i.e., dissonant harmony is sounded in the other parts. A pedal point sometimes functions as a "non-chord tone", placing it in the categories alongside suspensions, retardations, and passing...
. It is mainly made up of a slow, restrained melody, though there is also a brief piano solo.
Chord changes for 'Naima':
||: Bb-7/Eb | Eb-7 | Amaj7+5/Eb Gmaj7+5/Eb | Abmaj7/Eb :||
|| Bmaj7/Bb | Bb7b9 | Bmaj7/Bb | Bb7b9 |
| B-maj7/Bb | Bmaj7/Bb | Abmaj7/Bb | Emaj7 #4 ||
|| Bb-7/Eb | Eb-7 | Amaj7+5/Eb Gmaj7+5/Eb | Abmaj7/Eb ||
Scale associations:
||: Eb Mixolydian | Eb Dorian | F# Melodic Minor, E Melodic Minor | Ab Lydian :||
|| Bb Phrygian | Bb diminished scale (half-whole)| Bb Phrygian | Bb dim. scale |
| Bb7 'alt' (B Melodic Minor) | Bb Phrygian | Bb Mixolydian | E Lydian ||
|| Eb Mixolydian | Eb Dorian | F# Melodic Minor, E Melodic Minor | Ab Lydian ||
One of Coltrane
Coltrane
John Coltrane was a jazz saxophonist.Coltrane may also refer to:* Coltrane , an album by John Coltrane from Prestige* Coltrane , an album by John Coltrane from Impulse!...
's most famous compositions, he recorded it numerous times. "Naima" also appears on Live! at the Village Vanguard
Live! at the Village Vanguard
Live at the Village Vanguard is the tenth album by jazz musician John Coltrane and his first live album, released in 1962 on Impulse Records, catalogue A-10. It is the first album to feature the members of the classic quartet of himself with McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison, and Elvin Jones...
, The Complete Copenhagen Concert
The Complete Copenhagen Concert
The Complete Copenhagen Concert is a 1961 album by jazz musician John Coltrane. It was recorded November 20, 1961 in Copenhagen, Denmark.-Track listing:Tracks# "Delilah" — 11:16# "Everytime We Say Goodbye" — 4:43...
, Afro-Blue Impressions
Afro-Blue Impressions
Afro Blue Impressions is an album by jazz musician John Coltrane recorded live in 1963 and released on the Pablo label in 1977 as a double LP.-Reception:...
, Live at the Village Vanguard Again!
Live at the Village Vanguard Again!
Live At The Village Vanguard Again! is a jazz album by saxophonist John Coltrane. Recorded in May of 1966, the album shows Coltrane playing in the free jazz style that characterized his final recordings....
, among other albums. "Naima" has since become something of a jazz standard, covered
Covered
Covered is a term used in popular music in general to refer to a song recorded by different performer from its original or most popular recorded version, and by some disc jockeys in particular to describe a musical recording presented under the guise of a false title and artist name...
by many other musicians including:
- McCoy TynerMcCoy TynerMcCoy Tyner is a jazz pianist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, known for his work with the John Coltrane Quartet and a long solo career.-Early life:...
– on Echoes of a FriendEchoes of a FriendEchoes of a Friend is a 1972 live album by jazz pianist McCoy Tyner released on the Milestone label. It was recorded in Japan on November 11, 1972 and features Tyner in a solo piano tribute to John Coltrane...
(1972), The GreetingThe GreetingThe Greeting is a 1978 live album by jazz pianist McCoy Tyner, his thirteenth release on the Milestone label. It was recorded in March 1978 at the Great American Music Hall and features performances by Tyner with a sextet featuring George Adams, Joe Ford, Charles Fambrough, Woody "Sonship" Theus...
(1978), Things Ain't What They Used To Be (1989), etc. - John McLaughlinJohn McLaughlin (musician)John McLaughlin , also known as Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, is an English guitarist, bandleader and composer...
– on Love Devotion SurrenderLove Devotion SurrenderLove Devotion Surrender is an album released in 1973 by guitarists Carlos Santana and John McLaughlin, with the backing of their respective bands . The album was inspired by the teachings of Sri Chinmoy and intended as a tribute to John Coltrane...
(with Carlos SantanaCarlos SantanaCarlos Augusto Alves Santana is a Mexican rock guitarist. Santana became famous in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band, Santana, which pioneered rock, salsa and jazz fusion...
, 1973), and on After The Rain (1995) - Cedar WaltonCedar WaltonCedar Anthony Walton, Junior is an American hard bop jazz pianist.-Biography:Walton grew up in Dallas, Texas. His mother was an aspiring concert pianist, and was Walton's initial teacher. She also took him to jazz performances around Dallas...
– on Naima (live) (1973) - Maynard FergusonMaynard FergusonMaynard Ferguson was a Canadian jazz musician and bandleader. He came to prominence playing in Stan Kenton's orchestra, before forming his own band in 1957...
– Hot (1979) - Art Ensemble of ChicagoArt Ensemble of ChicagoThe Art Ensemble of Chicago is an avant-garde jazz ensemble that grew out of Chicago's AACM in the late 1960s. The group continues to tour and record through 2006, despite the deaths of two of the founding members....
on Dreaming of the Masters SuiteDreaming of the Masters SuiteDreaming of the Masters Suite: Music Inspired by and Dedicated to John Coltrane is an album by the Art Ensemble of Chicago released on the Japanese DIW label...
(1991) - David MurrayDavid Murray (jazz musician)David Murray is an American jazz musician. Murray plays mainly tenor saxophone and sometimes bass clarinet. He has recorded prolifically for many record labels since the mid-1970s.-Biography:...
– with Dave BurrellDave BurrellDavis Burrell is an American jazz instrumentalist, most notably on the piano. He has worked for many jazz musicians including Archie Shepp, Pharoah Sanders, Marion Brown and David Murray.- Biography :...
, on Windward PassagesWindward Passages (Black Saint)Windward Passages is a studio album released by jazz pianist Dave Burrell and saxophonist David Murray. It was recorded in 1993 and released later that year on December 3 on the Italian Black Saint label...
(1993) and on Octet Plays TraneOctet Plays TraneOctet Plays Trane is an album by the David Murray Octet released on the Justin Time label. Recorded in 1999 and released in 2000 the album and features performances by Murray, Rasul Siddick, Hugh Ragin, Craig Harris, James Spaulding, Ravi Best, D. D. Jackson, Mark Johnson and Jaribu Shahid...
(2000) - Pharoah SandersPharoah SandersPharoah Sanders is a Grammy Award–winning American jazz saxophonist.Saxophonist Ornette Coleman once described him as "probably the best tenor player in the world." Emerging from John Coltrane's groups of the mid-60s Sanders is known for his overblowing, harmonic, and multiphonic techniques on...
– Crescent With Love (1992), etc. - Derek Trucks Band – on his first albumThe Derek Trucks Band (album)-Personnel:Band Members*Derek Trucks - guitar, sarod*Todd Smallie - bass guitar*Bill McKay - organ, keyboards, synthesizer, clavinet, piano, vocals *Yonrico Scott - drums, tympani, conga drums, shakers, tambourine, maracas, sabasa, chimes...
, (1997) - Arthur BlytheArthur BlytheArthur Blythe is an American jazz alto saxophonist and composer. His stylistic voice has a distinct vibrato and he plays within the post-bop subgenre of jazz.- Biography :...
– on In the TraditionIn the Tradition (Arthur Blythe album)-Track listing:# "The Jitterbug Waltz" - 4:34 # "In a Sentimental Mood" - 7:45 # "Break Tune" - 3:03 # "Caravan" - 5:22 # "Hip Dripper" - 4:35 # "Naima" - 6:44...
(1979) and Blythe Byte (2001) - Tom ScottTom Scott (musician)Tom Scott is an American saxophonist, composer, arranger, conductor and bandleader of the west coast jazz/jazz fusion ensemble The L.A. Express.-Biography:Scott was born in Los Angeles, California...
– Honeysuckle Breeze (1968) - Lonnie Liston SmithLonnie Liston SmithLonnie Liston Smith, Jr. is an American jazz, soul, and funk musician who played with important free jazz artists such as Pharoah Sanders and Miles Davis before forming Lonnie Liston Smith And The Cosmic Echoes, recording a number of albums widely regarded as classics in the fusion / Quiet Storm /...
– Afro Blue - Victor WootenVictor WootenVictor Lemonte Wooten is an American bass player, composer, author, and producer, and has been the recipient of five Grammy Awards....
– on What Did He Say?What Did He Say?-Track listing:1. "Yo Victa" – 0:072. "What Did He Say?" – 3:20*Victor Wooten - Bass, Lead and background vocals*JD Blair - Drums, Background vocals*Cherokee - Background vocals3. "What You Won't Do for Love" – 4:43*Victor Wooten - Bass*JD Blair - Drums4... - Thom Rotella – Platinum Melodies (1996)
- Herbie HancockHerbie HancockHerbert Jeffrey "Herbie" Hancock is an American pianist, bandleader and composer. As part of Miles Davis's "second great quintet," Hancock helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and was one of the primary architects of the "post-bop" sound...
, Michael BreckerMichael BreckerMichael Leonard Brecker was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Acknowledged as "a quiet, gentle musician widely regarded as the most influential tenor saxophonist since John Coltrane," he has been awarded 15 Grammy Awards as both performer and composer and was inducted into Down Beat Jazz...
and Roy HargroveRoy HargroveRoy Anthony Hargrove is an American jazz trumpeter. He won worldwide notice after winning two Grammy Awards for differing types of music, in 1997, and in 2002...
– on Directions in Music: Live at Massey HallDirections in Music: Live at Massey HallDirections in Music: Live at Massey Hall is a live recording by Herbie Hancock, Roy Hargrove and Michael Brecker. It was recorded on October 25, 2001 in Toronto, and was subtitled, Celebrating Miles Davis & John Coltrane...
(2002) - Vato Negro live quartet of Juan AldereteJuan AldereteJuan Alderete is an American bassist known for his work with the band The Mars Volta. Prior to his work with that band, he was known for playing in Racer X, where he received credit as John Alderete.-Biography:...
, Adrian Terrazas, Money MarkMoney MarkMark Ramos-Nishita aka Money Mark is a producer and musician who has collaborated with the Beastie Boys many times. He also appears on the first Banyan album in 1997 as the "Freeway Keyboardist".-Career:...
and Cedric Bixler (2008) - Aidan BakerAidan BakerAidan Baker is a musician from Toronto, Canada who has released numerous records both as a solo artist and with his groups Nadja, ARC, and Mnemosyne. He has also written several books of poetry....
– Passing Thru (2010) - Jaco PastoriusJaco PastoriusJohn Francis Anthony Pastorius III , known as Jaco Pastorius, was an American jazz musician and composer widely acknowledged as a virtuoso electric bass player....
– in the video Modern Electric Bass - Alex BugnonAlex BugnonAlex Bugnon is a jazz pianist and composer from Montreux, Switzerland.Bugnon studied at the Paris Conservatory and the Mozart Academy in Salzburg. At age nineteen, he moved to the U.S...
– As Promised (2000) - Lionel LouekeLionel LouekeLionel Loueke is a guitarist born in the west African country of Benin. He moved to Ivory Coast in 1990 to study at the National Institute of Art. He attended the American School of Modern Music in Paris, France from 1994-1998...
– on Karibu (2008)