Autumn Leaves
November 17th, 2020
Starring: Grace (female, 18-20), Estelle (female, 18-20), Kenneth (male 18-20), Gareth (male, 18-20)
A cramped college practice room. A four-piece jazz combo is mid-session: Grace on drums, Estelle on Trumpet, Kenneth on piano, and Gareth on Upright Bass.
KENNETH
We gucci?
Everyone nods, and does some last second instrument-specific prep. Kenneth snaps the tempo:
KENNETH
A 1, a 2, a 1, 2, 3, 4—
They start to play Autumn Leaves, a jazz classic. They’re pretty good. Not the best combo in school, but one of the better ones. Estelle leads with trumpet through the main “chorus” section, which repeats, then Kenneth begins his solo. His playing style is theatrical: jerky movements, face low to the keys, occasionally with his eyes closed. It runs maybe a minute too long. Estelle picks up the solo from there, getting about 30 seconds in before:
KENNETH
Guys
Guys sorry
GRACE
What
ESTELLE
I thought we were playing through
GRACE
I thought the solo was good Ken
KENNETH
Sorry I know...and you both were nailing it
You all were
Gareth were you playing?
GARETH
...yeah.
KENNETH
Like the whole way?
GARETH
Yeah.
KENNETH
I couldn’t really hear you after the A section.
GARETH
No I was playing.
KENNETH
Did you two hear him?
ESTELLE
I think
GRACE
Yeah I could
ESTELLE
It was a little quiet though
KENNETH
Right and I think those lines are really important to hear
You know?
GARETH
So you think I should play louder?
KENNETH
Not too much louder.
But yeah, a little louder.
GARETH
Cool.
...
GRACE
Where are we picking up from? Estelle’s solo?
KENNETH
Let’s go from the beginning. Get the momentum going—
ESTELLE
Cool
GRACE
Sure
...
KENNETH
A 1, a 2, a 1, 2, 3, 4—
They start up again. Pretty much the same sequence. The “chorus,” followed by Kenneth’s solo, then into Estelle’s. Estelle maybe gets a minute into hers when:
KENNETH
Sorry.
Sorry sorry sorry.
I wouldn’t stop if I didn’t—
Sorry
…
KENNETH
Gareth?
GARETH
What’s up
KENNETH
Were you playing?
GARETH
Yeah.
KENNETH
Did you two hear him playing?
GRACE
Yeah I could
ESTELLE
Still a bit soft
KENNETH
I kind of thought it was softer. Than before.
GARETH
I was playing louder.
KENNETH
No I’m sure you were I just didn’t hear it—
GARETH
I mean you were soloing…
KENNETH
But even before...it’s all good I just want to make sure we can hear you.
GRACE
Because you’re great.
ESTELLE
Yeah you’re really bringing it.
GARETH
Thanks.
Ok yeah, I’ll go louder.
KENNETH
Awesome.
...
GRACE
Where from?
KENNETH
Beginning?
ESTELLE
How about the end of your solo?
KENNETH
Don’t we want to hear Gareth though? To see if we can hear him?
ESTELLE
I just don’t want to burn out my lips—
KENNETH
Ok so maybe we do end of chorus into my solo? Bar 13?
ESTELLE
Ok
GRACE
That’s good
…
KENNETH
A 1, a 2, a 1, 2, 3, 4—
They pick up from Bar 13, playing into Kenneth’s solo again. About a minute in, Kenneth stops playing. Everyone keeps going, then realizes he’s not playing, then stops.
KENNETH
Sorrysorrysorrysorry hand cramp hand cramp.
Mother fuck
ESTELLE
Ooh
GRACE
Sorry you ok?
KENNETH
Yeah I just need a second…
ESTELLE
While we’re stopped…nice Gareth!
GARETH
Yeah?
GRACE
I could hear you a lot more too
GARETH
Thanks
KENNETH
Yeah nice man.
…
It’s just
Well like
Now that we hear you more...I don’t know
Maybe it’s me but it sort of seems like you’re sacrificing tone quality for volume
GARETH
What’s wrong with my tone?
KENNETH
I’m not saying anything’s wrong with it. It’s just playing louder is going to change the sound.
GARETH
You told me to play louder
KENNETH
I know. And it’s a good level now. But now that it’s louder the tone is less…autumny?
GARETH
Autumny?
KENNETH
Yeah. The song is Autumn Leaves, and we want to give the sense that it’s autumn. Light and crisp, that sort of vibe.
GARETH
Ok.
But it’s a bass. A bass isn’t like a light crisp instrument.
KENNETH
But remember when we listened to the Chet Baker version? That bass was super light.
But also like, heavy at the same time. You know?
GARETH
No. Not really.
…
…
GRACE
Can we take five? I have to pee.
ESTELLE
I’ll come with.
GRACE
Please.
Grace and Estelle leave the practice room, grateful to be temporarily free. Kenneth pulls out his phone and plays the Chet Baker Autumn Leaves recording from his phone. Gareth looks at him, then grabs his water bottle and heads for the door. Kenneth looks over to him:
KENNETH
Do you hear it? That’s a crispy bass.
Gareth stops and turns to him:
GARETH
You know I was All-State Jazz Minnesota, right?
KENNETH
So you can’t take constructive criticism?
GARETH
No. It means I know your type.
KENNETH
I just care man.
GARETH
Literally so does everyone else
I don’t care if you think I suck.
I don’t care if you try to play like wannabe Glenn Gould.
Just don’t be a prick about it.
Gareth opens the door and walks down the hall. Kenneth watches him go, then presses play on the Autumn Leaves recording again. He skips to the piano solo, and tries to play along.