“Stablemates” was composed by saxophonist Benny Golson and first recorded by Miles Davis’s quintet with John Coltrane in 1955. Golson was a master of writing memorable melodies over interesting harmony, and this tune is one of his best, a favorite of musicians who want something more challenging than standard 32-bar forms.
The form is unusual: the A sections are 14 bars long, the bridge is 8 bars, and the final A is 14 bars, for 36 bars total in an AABA layout. The changes are packed with ii-V progressions that move by half steps and unexpected intervals, starting with a ii-V a half step away from the key’s center. The bridge settles into more familiar ii-V-I movement before returning to the winding A section.
For improvisation, practice each ii-V as its own mini key and connect them with half-step voice leading. Because many of the ii-Vs move chromatically, a single phrase shifted by a half step often works well. The melody is lyrical and smooth, so borrowing its contour can help you navigate the changes. Golson’s own solos are worth studying for how he balances melody and harmony.
Practice the form with a play-along until the 14-bar sections feel natural. Mark the sections on your lead sheet. Learn the melody by heart, then play roots, guide tones and arpeggios through the whole form at a slow tempo.
Transposing tip: horn players should get a lead sheet in their key, since the chromatic ii-Vs are tricky to transpose on the fly.
Is it hard to play? It’s intermediate to advanced, mainly because of the form and chromatic ii-Vs.
Common mistake: assuming the A sections are 8 or 16 bars. Count them. Recordings to study: Miles Davis’s 1955 recording and Golson’s own versions with the Jazztet. Learn more about the composer on Benny Golson’s Wikipedia page, and find more hard bop lead sheets on Minedit.