Forever Sonny (G minor) - Jazz Analysis & Chords

Harmonic Highlights

• The progression features a sophisticated chromatic descent (Em7b5 to Eb7 to Dm7) that provides a smooth, non-diatonic transition back to the Gm7 tonic.
• Use of the “backdoor” ii-V (Cm7 to F7#5) resolving to Bb7 demonstrates Jimmy Heath’s mastery of integrating the relative major within a minor blues-adjacent framework.
• A lengthy cycle-of-fourths sequence (G7-C7-F7) acts as an extended turnaround, creating forward momentum before resolving via the primary dominant (D7#9) to G minor.
• Frequent use of altered dominant chords, specifically #5 and #9 extensions, heightens tension and facilitates voice-leading across the minor key center.

Improvisation Focus G Melodic Minor scale, providing the necessary color for both tonic minor stability and the various altered dominant tensions.

Difficulty Rating 3/5 - While the tempo is often brisk, the harmonic structure relies on standard bebop cycles and minor ii-V-I patterns familiar to intermediate players.