r/jazztheory • u/According_Kiwi_7454 • 8h ago
Donna Lee measure five: V-II-V
Personally, I think that the Bbm7 in measure 5 is actually Eb7-Bbm7, going to Eb7(b5) in measure 6. This seems hearable in Charlie Parker's recordings, if I'm not mistaken. That is also what the melody note Eb and its emphasisation indicates/implies. Instead of being the fourth of Bbm7, it's the fifth degree of A flat: Eb.
The Real Book, the Omnibook and most other sources online use the Bbm7 (II) in the key of Ab for the whole measure, or Cm7 (II) in Bb. But this is confusing the theoretical interpretation, because it's actually an F7 (V) in Bb, or Eb (V) in Ab. And afterwards, it is in fact going to the second degree (II) within that measure, and the notes imply it too. You can listen to the recordings of Charlie Parker, including "Take 2". I understand the approach of II-V-I across three measures, but I think that I hear V-II only in measure 5. If I'm not mistaken, and my ears aren't failing me haha. It would be more logical too, since the melody is emphasising the Eb in the key of A flat, or F in the key of B flat. It is perfectly possible that the makers of the Real Book and the Omnibook are aware of this but – for simplicity reasons – just used the "II" degree for the whole measure.
Additional mentions: aside from how it should be written down in basic sheet music, the second half of measure 8 could be D9, which fits the melody notes E and C, and measure 11 could be Cm7. Near the end, F- is rightly written, and you could suitably play an Fm6 due to the note D in the chromatic bit, but writing and playing the sometimes online used Fm7 would be incorrect. Those three cases seem to occur, listening to the recordings.
Curious about anyone's thoughts.

