Episode 139: “Eight Miles High” by the Byrds
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
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Coltrane and Dolphy's African Music
Since at least the mid-1950s, both Coltrane and Dolphy have been interested in Indian music. The use of a single drone chord underneath solos based on a scale was inspired by the music of another continent altogether. This was a return to the idea of modal jazz, based on scales rather than chord changes. By implying chord changes often changes based on thirds, Coltrane was often using different scales than the modes that had been used in modal jazz.
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