“Ugetsu,” also known as “Fantasy in D,” is a Cedar Walton composition recorded by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers on their 1963 live album Ugetsu, from a Japan-inspired title meaning “rain moon.” It’s a hard bop favorite with a catchy melody and interesting harmony.
The tune moves through ii-V progressions and key centers in a flowing, logical sequence, with a melody that rises and falls gracefully. It’s often played at medium to up-tempo swing.
For improvisation, map out the key centers on your lead sheet and practice ii-V-I patterns in each. Connect them with guide tones. The Jazz Messengers’ front line of Freddie Hubbard, Wayne Shorter and Curtis Fuller offers three great approaches to study.
Practice slowly with a play-along, then increase tempo. Learn the melody by ear from the live album.
Section by section: the opening section moves through ii-V progressions, so outline each with guide tones and bebop lines. The middle section introduces new key centers; practice ii-V-Is in each. The final section resolves home with a strong cadence. The Jazz Messengers’ live recording shows three horn players taking different approaches over the same changes, which is a great listening lesson.
Practice tip: compare the solos of Freddie Hubbard, Wayne Shorter and Curtis Fuller on the live album, and try borrowing one idea from each. Learning from several players broadens your vocabulary quickly.
How to use this Ugetsu Lead Sheet PDF: print it or keep it on a tablet, mark the form sections and key centers in pencil, and write the guide tones you want to target above the tricky bars. Revisit those notes after each practice session so the tune gets easier every week.
Is it hard to play? It’s intermediate. Recordings to study: Art Blakey’s Ugetsu and Cedar Walton’s own versions. Learn more about the composer on Cedar Walton’s Wikipedia page, and find more hard bop lead sheets on Minedit.