Chord Distribution Analysis
| Chord Symbol | Count | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Ab7 | 11 | 15.9% |
| Ab7sus | 10 | 14.5% |
| Db7 | 10 | 14.5% |
| E7 | 5 | 7.2% |
| Gb7 | 4 | 5.8% |
| B7 | 4 | 5.8% |
| Eb7 | 4 | 5.8% |
| E9 | 4 | 5.8% |
No obvious ii-V patterns detected.
Harmonic Highlights
- Dominant 7sus4 to 7 resolutions provide internal tension-and-release over static harmonic vamps.
- Stepwise $\flat VII7$ (Gb7) to $I7$ (Ab7) shifts define the Mixolydian-fusion aesthetic characteristic of Sanborn’s style.
- Chromatic side-slipping via the G7 chord creates a half-step leading-tone resolution back to the Ab7 tonic center.
- Integration of B7 and Db7 adds gospel-inflected $\flat III7$ and $IV7$ colors, momentarily breaking the primary dominant loop.
Improvisation Focus Ab Minor Blues scale and Ab Mixolydian.
Difficulty Rating 2/5. The harmonic structure is repetitive and groove-centric, though improvising effectively in Ab dominant/minor requires technical comfort with flat-key blues vocabulary.