LearnJazzPiano.com archives: Tune Analysis - Infant Eyes
yaw -- 07/21/2006, 01:17:48 -- #28863
Folks,
Any of you harmonically broken down the tune 'Infant Eyes' by Wayne Shorter? Such a pretty tune with unusual progressions... on the surface, it doesn't seem to have lot of the usual suspects (ii-V-I, iii-vi-ii-V, etc.)
I have been trying to learn it from the 'Jazz Piano Book'. Any insights will be appreciated.
Cheers,
Yaw.

Jazz+ -- 07/22/2006, 15:39:56 -- #28863
The tunes is based on some parallel chord motions ften descending (G Dorian to F Dorian to Eb Maj7) and or "suprise" chords (A7b9 to Gb Maj7). It moves (searches) its way into dfferent keys or modes. The Bridge uses a Eb peadl tone in the bass much like the way the last 4 ars of Dolphin Dance. The only proper cadences occur in the last bars of the A and B sections.

It does not follow traditional ii V I cycles. It can be tricky to solo on.

Jazz+ -- 03/21/2007, 00:45:19 -- #28863
Pat Metheny tunes are similar....

jwv76 -- 03/21/2007, 03:32:10 -- #28863
I looked it up in the Real Book 2- I haven't ever played this tune, but I sure recognize that Emaj7/Eb chord, he uses that exact same chord- a maj7 chord with the 7 in the bass- at the end of "Witch Hunt" and it's also in the bridge of "Chief Crazy Horse." I never know what to do over that chord. It's not quite the same as the end of Dolphin Dance, I think you're talking about the C7/Eb in the second to last bar of that tune? I like a phrygian sound on that chord, but phrygian doesn't sound quite right to me on these Wayne Shorter tunes.

jwv76 -- 03/21/2007, 11:11:06 -- #28863
...

breakster -- 03/21/2007, 11:47:01 -- #28863
Hi Yaw,

I've recently learned Infant Eyes from Levine's book too. It's a beautiful tune - I use the word beautiful because it definitely contains some musical truths and is very different from all other songs I have attempted so far. I love the little turnaround to get back to the fm7 at the very end.

As to it's structure, it's a mystery to me too - I think the key to it might be understanding what all those sus chords are doing...

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