“Strasbourg / St. Denis” was composed by trumpeter Roy Hargrove and released on his 2008 album Earfood. Named after a Paris Métro station near the city’s jazz clubs, it quickly became one of the most popular modern jazz tunes among students and working bands, thanks to its catchy melody and relaxed, soulful groove.
The tune sits in a comfortable major key, commonly played in Bb, with a medium groove that sits between swing and straight-eighth soul jazz. Its harmony is built on ii-V movement and smooth chord changes that move in a singable, logical way, with a few modern colors that keep it fresh. The melody is memorable and easy to sing, which is a big reason the tune spread so fast through jazz programs and jam sessions.
For improvisation, think melodically and rhythmically. The harmony is friendly enough that you can focus on phrasing, call-and-response with the rhythm section and building a solo with clear motifs. Use the major and pentatonic scales of the key as your base, then target chord tones as the harmony moves. Hargrove’s own playing combined bebop vocabulary with soul and R&B feel, so mixing clean lines with bluesy inflections is right on style.
Practice the groove with a play-along or by listening closely to the Earfood recording. Learn the melody by ear first, since its phrasing is a big part of the tune’s personality. Then practice the chord changes with guide tones and work up to full choruses of improvisation.
Transposing tip: Bb instruments and Eb instruments should get a lead sheet in their own key, since the tune is often called at jams.
Is it hard to play? It’s intermediate and very approachable. Recordings to study: Hargrove’s Earfood original and his live performances. Learn more about the composer on Roy Hargrove’s Wikipedia page, and find more modern jazz lead sheets on Minedit.