“Conception” is a composition by pianist George Shearing, recorded by Shearing and famously by Miles Davis in the early 1950s. It’s a harmonically adventurous bebop tune, packed with ii-V progressions that move chromatically through many keys.
The tune’s chord changes move quickly through a series of ii-Vs that shift by half steps and other intervals. The melody follows the harmony closely, making it a great etude for bebop players.
For improvisation, practice each ii-V individually and then connect them with smooth voice leading. A single ii-V phrase shifted chromatically can outline much of the tune.
Practice slowly with a play-along, marking key centers. Learn the melody by heart.
Section by section: the opening bars move through ii-Vs that shift chromatically, so practice one ii-V phrase and move it down a half step each time. The middle section introduces new key centers; label them on your lead sheet and practice ii-V-Is in each. The final section returns to the chromatic sequence before resolving. Miles Davis’s version is relaxed and cool, while Shearing’s own recordings are crisp and precise; both are worth studying.
Practice tip: practice this tune at a slow tempo, saying the chord names out loud as you play roots. Once you can name the chords without thinking, add guide tones, then arpeggios, then improvisation. It’s demanding, but it will sharpen your harmonic hearing enormously.
Practice checklist for the Conception Lead Sheet PDF: play the melody from memory, play roots through the form, play guide tones, improvise one chorus of chord tones only, and finally record yourself soloing over a play-along. Listening back is the fastest way to spot what to fix next.
Is it hard to play? It’s advanced. Recordings to study: Miles Davis’s version and Shearing’s own recordings. Learn more about the composer on George Shearing’s Wikipedia page, and find more bebop lead sheets on Minedit.