The Jazz Real Book

“Equipoise”and Stanley Cowell  (109) 
Standards Rating 3, Difficulty Rating 7 
“Equipoise”  is a perfect title for Stanley Cowell’s composition—everything about the piece feels balanced, even while the harmony and rhythm are in constant motion. Set in F♯ minor with a medium, quasi-Latin groove, the tune blends space, syncopation, and subtle tension. Its unusual 28-bar AAB form and shifting root movement—often by half and whole steps—create a floating sense of tonal gravity.  Stanley Cowell’s touch as a pianist mirrors the composition’s design: lyrical, poised, and harmonically rich. A pianist with deep classical training and broad jazz experience, he had a gift for making complex structures feel natural and expressive. “Equipoise” captures that artistry—intellect and feeling held in perfect balance.
Stanley Cowell 
Max Roach 
Jazz Real Book Playlist Vol. 2

Soulive is a genre-blurring powerhouse that sits at the crossroads of funk, soul, jazz, and hip-hop, built around the deep musical chemistry of guitarist Eric Krasno, drummer Alan Evans, and organist Neal Evans. Formed in the late 1990s, the band made a bold statement early on by embracing the classic organ-trio format—Hammond B-3, guitar, and drums—while pushing it into thoroughly modern territory. What sets Soulive apart is their ability to be both technically sophisticated and irresistibly accessible. They can stretch a tune into extended improvisation without losing the pocket, and they treat rhythm as the main event rather than a backdrop. Over the years, the band has collaborated widely, working with artists like Chaka Khan, John Scofield and Dave Matthews, further cementing their reputation as musical connectors.
Equally at home on festival stages and in intimate clubs, Soulive has earned a loyal following by staying true to one core idea: the groove comes first. Everything else is built on top of that.
Check out their new single Baby Jupiter

Equinox and Bassist Steve Davis  (108) 
Standards Rating 7, Difficulty Rating 3 
“Equinox” is a brooding minor-blues jazz standard composed by John Coltrane, first recorded in 1960 and released on Coltrane’s Sound in 1964. Built on a slow, hypnotic 12-bar minor blues groove, the piece stands out in Coltrane’s oeuvre for its earthy spiritual depth, reflecting his deep connection to the blues tradition more than virtuosic bebop complexity. Its stark, modal theme unfolds over repeated figures that create a ritualistic atmosphere, with Coltrane’s tenor tone both contemplative and powerful. The original quartet—Coltrane, McCoy Tyner, Steve Davis, and Elvin Jones—crafted a soundscape that balances space and intensity.
Steve Davis, the quartet’s bassist on Equinox, anchored the performance with a grounded sense of time and tone, locking seamlessly with Jones to sustain the groove’s trance-like sway. A respected sideman, Davis’s work with Coltrane in the early 1960s helped shape the saxophonist’s modal direction and remains a testament to his subtle but essential artistry.
John Coltrane 
Kenny Garrett
Jazz Real Book Playlist -Vol-2

Will Downing’s career spans more than three decades, a journey built on talent, versatility, and a deep connection to love and relationships. From his Brooklyn roots, he first made waves as a background vocalist, lending his smooth baritone to hits by Mariah Carey, Billy Joel, Jennifer Holliday, and others. In 1988, he went solo, finding early success overseas before establishing himself as a fixture on the U.S. R&B charts. Albums like A Dream Fulfilled, After Tonight, and Classique brought critical acclaim and commercial success, while All the Man You Need earned a Grammy nomination, cementing his status as one of R&B’s most enduring voices. Along the way, Downing explored jazz standards, photography, and radio, showcasing his creative range and commitment to nurturing emerging talent. Tracks from his 2025 EP Still in Love continue that tradition, exploring relationships with honesty and elegance. On Valentine’s Day, Downing brings that lifetime of experience to the stage at Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway, New Jersey, offering fans an evening of romance, rich vocals, and timeless storytelling.

Epistrophy and Kenny Clarke (107)
Standards Rating  7, Difficulty 7
“Epistrophy” isn’t just a Monk tune—it’s a historical artifact, a blueprint for modern jazz, and a flex by two geniuses who knew exactly what they were doing. Co-written by Thelonious Monk and Kenny Clarke, the piece feels like organized chaos: jagged melody, looping phrases, and harmonies that never quite settle, which is precisely the point. Monk’s chords grind and shimmer, while the melody keeps circling back on itself like a nervous thought you can’t shake. Clarke’s role is just as crucial. As the architect of bebop drumming, he doesn’t simply keep time—he provokes, comments, and destabilizes. On his 1946 recording, his  ride cymbal floats while bombs drop unpredictably, pushing the band forward. “Epistrophy” became Monk’s go-to closer for a reason: it sounds like a mic drop. Rating it a 7 for difficulty feels fair—deceptively simple on paper, brutally unforgiving in execution.
Kenny Clarke
Thelonious Monk 
Jazz Real Book Playlist -Vol. 2