Solar (composition)
"Solar" is a musical composition attributed to Miles Davis from the studio album Walkin' and is considered a modern jazz standard. The tune has been played and recorded by many musicians, including his former bandmates Bill Evans, Dave Holland, Keith Jarrett, Lee Konitz, and Jack DeJohnette.
A controversy exists over authorship of this composition. One consensus is that Davis took "Solar" from the song "Sonny" written by jazz guitarist Chuck Wayne.
The first two measures of this song adorn Miles Davis's tombstone in Woodlawn Cemetery.Chord structure
Solar is considered a blues by most listeners, and the commonly accepted chord structure for this piece is:
| A | CmMaj7 | % | Cm7 or Gm7 | Gm7 : C7 |
| | FMaj7 | % | Fm7 | Bb7 |
| | EbMaj7 | Ebm7 : Ab7 | DbMaj7 | Dm7b5 : G7 |
Recordings
- Chet Baker – Chet Baker in New York
- Kenny Barron – Live at Bradley's
- Joanne Brackeen – New True Illusion
- Stanley Clarke – Jazz in the Garden
- Miles Davis – Walkin
- Eliane Elias – '
- Bill Evans – Sunday at the Village Vanguard
- Charlie Haden – '
- Dave Holland – Emerald Tears
- Bruce Hornsby, Christian McBride, Jack DeJohnette – Camp Meeting
- Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette – Tribute
- Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette – Somewhere
- Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, Paul Motian – At the Deer Head Inn
- J. J. Johnson with Hank Jones – J is for Jazz
- Lee Konitz, Brad Mehldau, Charlie Haden & Paul Motian – Live at Birdland
- Chuck Mangione - Blues for Saandar
- Brad Mehldau – '
- Pat Metheny – Question and Answer
- Edgar Meyer, Béla Fleck – Music for Two
- John Scofield & John Abercrombie – Solar
- McCoy Tyner – Live at Sweet Basil
- Ben Wendel – What We Bring
- Phil Woods and Gene Quill– Phil and Quill on Prestige''
