Whisper Not #1 - Piano Lessonby Benny Golson

In this lesson we’re going to learn the chord changes to “Whisper Not,” a 1956 hard bop jazz standard written by saxophonist and composer Benny Golson. The harmony of “Whisper Not” is interesting in that the “A” sections start and end in different key areas, progressing backwards through the circle of 5ths through a series of minor ii-V-i’s to get from C minor to D minor. The tune has a lot of harmonic motion throughout, often featuring two chords in each bar, and the chords themselves have a richness that suggests alterations and substitutions. In this video we’ll learn the basic harmony and form, first looking at root position voicings and then at some guide tone voicings.