Solar

When you dive into Solar, you encounter a piece that, although often perceived as a blues, has a harmonic structure that invites exploration. What’s interesting is that its origins trace back to a composition called Sonny, created by Chuck Wayne around 1946, when he was part of Woody Herman’s band. The melody we now know as Solar is the same one Wayne played at the time, though Miles Davis, who recorded and registered it with some modifications, changed the initial chord from major to minor. The first time we hear this version by Davis was on his album Miles Davis Quintet in 1954, and it also appeared in Walkin'.

The version you’re probably most familiar with, and which became a benchmark, is the one recorded by the Bill Evans Trio on their live album Sunday at the Village Vanguard in 1961. This recording, captured at the legendary Village Vanguard in New York City, stands as a testament to the interplay between Bill Evans, Scott LaFaro, and Paul Motian. The session took place on June 25, 1961, and was the trio’s final performance before the tragic death of LaFaro. The structure of Solar, described as “rich and concise,” makes it especially valuable for those learning and teaching jazz. In 2012, material from Chuck Wayne’s widow revealed an unreleased recording of the guitarist performing the piece in an improvisation session in 1946, confirming his original authorship. The first two measures of this composition adorn Miles Davis’s grave.