The Jazz Real Book Doin' The Pig and Bill Goodwin
(92) “Doin’ The Pig” and Bill Goodwin
Standards Rating 1 Difficulty Rating 8
“Doin’ the Pig,” composed by Steve Swallow and featured on Gary Burton’s Throb (1969), is a bold and funky example of early jazz fusion that blends jazz sophistication with rock’s rhythmic drive. The tune’s structure—divided into four sections (A, B, C, and D)—creates a constantly shifting landscape of rhythmic tension and release. The melody is jagged and syncopated, full of wide leaps and rests that give it an unpredictable, almost playful edge. Beneath that, Bill Goodwin’s drumming locks tightly with Swallow’s electric bass, generating a deep, propulsive groove that grounds the tune’s complex harmonic motion. His crisp ride cymbal patterns and subtle snare accents provide both momentum and space for the solos that follow. As the ensemble builds intensity, Goodwin adapts seamlessly, moving from understated swing phrasing to rock-inflected power. The result is a vibrant, forward-looking track that captures Throb’s adventurous fusion spirit and highlights Goodwin’s rhythmic mastery.