DB Hall of Fame

SOLO  FLIGHT

THE  CHARLIE  CHRISTIAN  LEGACY

DB Hall of Fame


 

 

I NEVER KNEW
 
Rehearsal
 
OCTOBER  28,  1940     Monday Columbia Recording Studios,  NYC
 

 
  32  BARS    (AABA) Key of F Quarter Note = 194 Time: 3:04
 
 
  4-Bar  Intro  +  4 ½  CHORUSES:
 
    4 bars  –  piano (Intro)
 
  32 bars  –  clarinet  
 
    16  bars  –  muted trumpet (over ens riffs)
      8  bars  –  muted trumpet (over clarinet obbl)
      8  bars  –  muted trumpet (over ens riffs)
 
  16  bars  –  CC (over ens riffs)
      8  bars  –  piano
    8  bars  –  CC (over ens riffs)
 
  32 bars  –  tenor sax  
 
    8 bars  –  clarinet  
    8 bars  –  ensemble (Riffs)
 
 

 
Personnel:
 
  CHARLIE CHRISTIAN Guitar
  FREDDIE GREEN guitar
  LESTER YOUNG tenor sax
  BENNY GOODMAN clarinet
  BUCK CLAYTON trumpet
  COUNT BASIE piano
  WALTER PAGE bass
  JO JONES drums
 
 

Composed by: Ted Fiorito  (lyrics by Gus Kahn)
 
© VALDÉS 12/26/17


 

Transcription Page:     Guitar Solo

 



C&A:

Here's another selection – the choicest of the 32-bar cuts – from the trial session intended to bring together an All-Star combo to supplement the Goodman orchestra on its comeback after the leader’s infirmity.  I Never Knew is a song with a beautiful melody that does not get its just due on the head chorus.  Charlie Christian and Lester Young, however, contribute two wonderful solos, one chorus each.

This was the second time the two swingin’est musicians had met at a recorded venue – the first was at Carnegie Hall the previous Christmas Eve – and it would be the last.

Charles keeps his solo statements relatively simple and he makes them seem laid-back by his delaying the start of some of his phrases a beat or two later than expected.  His tremendous rhythmic drive does not let up at any time though – it is relentless.  And there’s also the marvelous creativity on the phrasing/fingering and note selection on a very fundamental harmony.

Prez follows with his own phenomenal solo.  He has to be the only soloist that can follow Charles and not let the interest flag a bit.  Listening to his perfect bridge immediately brings to mind the break that the piano took from CC’s solo – one has to wonder what we may have heard if Charles had taken the entire chorus.

Whatever the length, Charles’ solo is positively Unforgettable.



 
Issued Recordings:
 
  [ LP ] Cicala / Durium BLJ 8021 (side B, track 1)
    Giants of Jazz LPJT 13 (side B, track 4)
    Jazz Archives JA-6 (side A, track 2)
    Jazz Archives JA-42 (side B, track 4)
    Jazz Document va-7997 (side A, track 2)
    Joker C 76/6 (side E, track 5)
    Joker SM 4025 (side A, track 5)
    Official 3035-2 (side B, track 7)
 
  [ CD ] Archives of Jazz 380106 2 (track 2)
    Archives of Jazz 389106 2 (track 2)
    Avid AVC 542   * (track 17)
    Better Music / Del Prado JIT016 (track 11)
    Blue Moon BMCD 1006 (track 8)
    Catfish KATCD196 (track 19)
    Charly CPCD 8194-2 (disc 1, track 4)
    Columbia/Legacy AC4K 65564 (disc 2, track 6)
    Columbia/Legacy C4K 65564 (disc 2, track 6)
    Definitive DRCD11176 (disc 4, track 4)
    Ediciones Del Prado GJ016 (track 11)
    Ediciones Del Prado JB016 (track 11)
    Frémeaux FA 218 (disc 1, track 16)
    Giants of Jazz 53049 (track 17)
    Going for a Song GFS561 (track 13)
    Hallmark 30283 2 (track 8)
    Hallmark 39117 2 (disc 2, track 8)
    History 20.1960-HI (set 9, disc 1, track 12)
    History 20.1969-HI (disc 1, track 12)
    Jazz Classics JZCL-5005 (disc 1, track 13)
    Jazz Forever 67041 (track 15)
    Jazz Portraits 14535 (track 5)
    Jazz Portraits 14545 (track 15)
    Jazz Roots 56027 (track 5)
    Jazz Roots 56059 (track 15)
    Makin’ Friends / BMG 14171 2 (disc 2, track 5)
    Masters of Jazz MJCD 44 (track 10)
    Masters of Jazz MJCD 9004 (disc 4, track 10)
    Masters of Jazz R2CD 8004 (disc 1, track 18)
    Membran 222777 (disc 3, track 12)
    Membran 222800 (set 21, disc 3, track 12)
    Membran 232094 (vol. 074, track 7)
    Membran 232568 (part 2, vol. 074, track 7)
    Membran 233423 (disc 14, track 12)
    Mosaic MD4-239 (disc 4, track 7)
    Music Memoria 87998 2 (disc 2, track 2)
    Norma NOCD5657 (track 11)
    Past Perfect 205798-203 (track 12)
    Proper P1130 (track 5)
    Proper P1490 (track 3)
    Proper PROPERBOX 8 (disc 2, track 5)
    Proper PROPERBOX 98 (disc 2, track 3)
    Proper / musisoft EMCD 21 (track 3)
    Sony/Legacy 93035 (disc 2, track 6)
    Vintage Jazz Classics VJC-1021-2 (track 13)
    Warner Music France 3007-2 (track 18)
 
  *     [CD]  AVC 542  incorrectly lists  “I Never Knew”  as  “Breakfast Feud”
 

 



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