[FawltyTenor]

The recent discussion of "the Lick" -the-lick
got me thinking about a couple things in relation to these commonly quoted licks or phrases.

I know this is subjective, but what would be, say, the top ten most favored or quoted licks?

Also, is there really a difference between a lick and a phrase? I know a lot of the things I think of as a lick are generally no more than 5, 6, 7, 8 notes...

Here's a few of my favorites...

Splank (ubiquitous Basie three note thing...more of an ending, but ever popular)
De be do Bee dah dah (C-B-Bb-D-A-G) Dexter Gordon and others used this a lot...
Doo ba doo be doo be doo...and it's variants (C-D-Eb-F-D-Eb-C) dates back to Louis Armstrong!
Cool Blues lick...(a lot of frequent quotes seem to have a Bird connection)
the Tenor Madness lick...

There's a lot more I could list where tunes are quoted, but those seem to be one's I've heard the most frequently...I think it is purposeful to be familiar with these things, really kind of a calling card as far as a player's familiarity with jazz/bop language. I'm sure some might say these are also abused or overused....

 

[RS]

The first phrase (and variations) in Ornithology has gotten alot of mileage.

 

[vivace1]

Honeysuckle Rose C Bb D F A G was my first lick in all twelve.

 

[Bloo Dog]

In all truth, I thought that responses would more like "What in the h3ll wazzat?"

 

[FawltyTenor]

Yes...

Ornithology has gotten alot of mileage.

And, one of my personal favorites Buzzy! I could have easily titled this favorite phrases of beboppers, but a lot of modern players still do it as well....

there's also a phrase Dizzy followed by the trupmet section I think plays in one of those old Dizzy big band charts "didley do ba do be de be , didley do ba do be do be".. can't remember the tune though. I heard that one a lot on rhythm changes tunes....

 

[Nefertiti]

My favorite is "didly didly do *** da dipsy do do so *** bop" Try it backwards also. (That's when things get really interesting)

 

[littlewailer]

the first couple of notes of Anthropology is a really good one to learn around the circle.

 

[Frank D]

I don't know if it's top ten or not, but I've heard players in many different genres use the Cry Me A River lick. In Cm that would be D C G Eb D C, descending. There's at least one thread on SOTW discussing it.

 

[RS]

First couple of measures of Hot House. That little descending chromatic pattern.

 

[saxhorn4]

Don't forget "Mona Lisa"..Dexter calling!

 

[SaxTMan]

I don't know if it's top ten or not, but I've heard players in many different genres use the Cry Me A River lick. In Cm that would be D C G Eb D C, descending. There's at least one thread on SOTW discussing it.

 

[JL]

There's a lick that Bird played a lot on a dominant 7th chord that I really like:

Using all 8th notes, start on the '3' and descend chromatically to the '1', then drop down to the '5' and ascend: 5 6 b7.

So on a C7 chord: Descend: E Eb D Db C, then drop down to G and ascend: G A Bb.

 

[DTExpress]

My favorite is "didly didly do *** da dipsy do do so *** bop" Try it backwards also. (That's when things get really interesting)

LMFAO!!!!! That's great Neff ;-)

 

[groovesax]

I always get a kick out of the little funeral march thing at the end of a couple old Ellington tunes.

 

[saxphil]

On another note, jazzers say cat a lot.

"... I was diggin' on that cat "
" that cat was killin' "
"..., me and the cats... "
" he's a heavy cat "
" he's a baaaad a** cat "

 

[vivace1]

On another note, jazzers say cat a lot.

"... I was diggin' on that cat "
" that cat was killin' "
"..., me and the cats "
" he's a heavy cat "

How about "that was killin!"

 

[Augman]

barbecue a snorkel

 

[MartinMusicMan]

"how much does it pay?"

 

[patmiller]

What's the deal on drinks?

 

[DavidW]

My favorite is "didly didly do *** da dipsy do do so *** bop" Try it backwards also. (That's when things get really interesting)

"pob pow os od od yspid ad pow od yldid yldid" just doesn't sound as good.