Nardis (A minor) - Jazz Analysis & Chords

Harmonic Highlights

• The initial movement from Em7 to Fmaj7 establishes an E Phrygian modal center, replacing traditional tonic-dominant functionality with a characteristic semitonal shift.
• The sequence of B7 to Cmaj7 creates a deceptive resolution, utilizing a secondary dominant that resolves up a half-step to emphasize the Lydian sound of the VI chord.
• The inclusion of Emaj7 serves as a sudden chromatic pivot, providing a bright, major-tonic resolution that contrasts the surrounding dark, Phrygian-heavy textures.
• The bridge introduces functional ii-V-I movements in C Major (Dm7-G7-Cmaj7), offering a brief diatonic reprieve from the piece’s predominant modal ambiguity.

Improvisation Focus E Phrygian Dominant (the 5th mode of A Harmonic Minor) is the critical scale for navigating the tension between the B7, Fmaj7, and the E-based tonality.

Difficulty Rating 4/5; the tune requires advanced proficiency to navigate the non-functional chromaticism and the rapid shifts between E modal colors and C major functional harmony.