[robertllr]

Now that may seem like an odd question: all the fake books have the key signature as 3 flats (concert) which of course makes it C minor. But I've gotten into a theory discussion with a fellow member of my sax quartet. He way outranks me in theory knowledge and experience, and he maintains that the composition tends to D minor, not C minor, in its cadences. To use his words, "D is the more dominant bass note when the piece 'arrives home'."

But I find that, when I am improvising over the chords, it feels like I'm playing mostly in Cm Dorian or Cm Blues scales--at least in the A section. Also, whenever I hear the A section, I hear a hint of "Lullaby of the Leaves" in my head. The latter song fits just about perfectly (again in the A section) over the chords to "Whisper Not" and "Lullaby" is definitely in Am.

I'd be interested to hear some peoples' opinions of of what the song is doing, harmonically speaking. (I confess to a rather profound ignorance when it comes to such matters, so don't flame me if I missing something that should be obvious.)

Also, here's a different question about the same piece: Is "Whisper Not" unique in that, during the last chorus (and I'm speaking of the original, classic arrangement with Benny Golson and Lee Morgan) the A section suddenly has an entirely different melody. Can anyone think of another song that does that? I can't, but I remember reading somewhere that a chorus structured that way has a particular name, so I guess it may be more common than I realize?

 

[DukeCity]

I see the tune as being in d minor. You're correct that it starts in c minor, but it then moves to g minor, then each of the A sections finish very strongly in d minor. I think that's what your friend means when he says it arrives home.

 

[Isle of Jazz]

Is "Whisper Not" unique in that, during the last chorus (and I'm speaking of the original, classic arrangement with Benny Golson and Lee Morgan) the A section suddenly has an entirely different melody. Can anyone think of another song that does that? I can't, but I remember reading somewhere that a chorus structured that way has a particular name, so I guess it may be more common than I realize?

It's called a 'shout chorus'. 'Blue Bossa' is often played that way. In my band we always stick a shout in 'Lady Bird'.