Poinciana (D major) - Jazz Analysis & Chords

Harmonic Highlights

• The extended A7sus opening establishes a dominant pedal point, creating a suspended modal atmosphere that delays the resolution to the tonic D6.
• Transitions from D6 to Am/D and Gm7 employ modal interchange, shifting the tonality from D major to the parallel minor (D Aeolian) for a melancholic “Spanish” aesthetic.
• The sequence Em7b5 – A7b9 – D6 utilizes a minor ii-V-I cadence to resolve into a major tonic, adding harmonic tension through the b9 and b5 extensions.
• Brief modulation to Amaj7 tonicizes the dominant key, providing a bright contrast to the surrounding minor-inflected subdominant movements.

Improvisation Focus Modal Interchange: Navigating the shift between D Major and D Natural Minor (Aeolian) to highlight the contrast between the tonic and the borrowed Gm7.

Difficulty Rating 2/5: The harmonic rhythm is slow and the melody is repetitive, allowing improvisers ample time to adjust to the modal shifts.