Example3 Altered & Half-Whole scale blues

We’re in bluesy waters here in the key of A, kicking off with some simple minor Pentatonic ideas, albeit with the 6th (F#) replacing the (G) in bar 2. Things take on a jazzier feel in bars 3-4, where Larry chooses the A Altered scale (or Superlocrian): R- 2-3- 5- to provide a sense of tension and release at the point when A7 resolves to D7. There is more evidence of Half-Whole activity in bars 5-6, although in this case transposed to D7, before turning full circle and returning to simpler blues-based ideas in bars 7-8. Carlton is an expert at mixing concepts within a single idea, so working on integration and blending approaches will be a significant step in the right direction to achieving Larry’s level of musical fluency.