When Lights Are Low is Bennys best-known tune. It is also his best-incorrectly-known tune. Call it on the bandstand and 9 out of 10 players do the Miles Davis bridge. Now, when Miles chose to replace Bennys bridge with the A section in a new key, that was an interesting and valid jazz permutation on the tune. But how many players nowadays know that that bridge was a permutation? How many know the original bridge (which has wonderful changes over which to blow)? Playing that tune is a rough and ready way of finding out whether musicians have taken the time to listen to Carter, or whether the Miles 50s canon (worthy as it is) is as far back as their jazz education goes.
Eric Felten, jazz singer and
trombonist
www.ericfelten.com
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