Sugar Plum (jazz song)
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"Sugar Plum" is a jazz song by essential American jazz pianist Bill Evans (1929-1980). Rumor has it that Evans wrote the song for his daughter Nenette Evans. The form of the song is an extension of the typical jazz standard. Interestingly enough, the song has no melody, but instead is defined by a set of 8-bar chord changes that ultimately cycles through the circle of fourths; in this case, all twelve major keys (through ii-V-I progressions). Evans creates his own improvised melodies over each chorus. It begins in G major, then C major, F major, Bb major, Eb major, etc. The chord progression as described by Roman numerals is as follows:
/ I / repeat / bVII / repeat / I / repeat (ii -- V--) / I / (of new key)
This translates to:
/Gmaj7/ /Fmaj7/ /Gmaj7/ /Dm7/ /G7/ /Cmaj7/ = new key
Soloists usually find this form easy and fun to solo over. One can end anywhere in the form, so long as it is on the I chord of the respective key.
