There Is No Greater Love: BbM7 chord & subs

[Dark Star]

In the Real Book the first chord in this tune is a BbM7 but I find that once I'm rolling along I have the tendency to use a Bb7 chord or another from the dominant family in its place just by force of habit. It doesn't sound bad IMO, but I don't know enough about theory to know if I might be messing up stuff for other players if I do this.
Is this a common action & does anyone else do this?
-thx

[Stackabones]

If everyone is on board with it, it shouldn't be a problem. But if they're not, it might get a bit hairy.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

There's an A natural in the melody (Bb A G D) over that chord. But it's a ballad, so I think you have time to do this:

| BbMaj7 Bb7 | Eb7 ...

The Bb7 leads you to the Eb7.

[jeffstritt]

If you play it uptempo a lot of guys play Bb bebop over the Bb, wher you get the A and the Ab. That is the way Mike Stern plays it for instance. If you do it slower, some guys will play 2 beats of BbMaj7 and two beats of Bb-7 to lead into the Eb7.

Bbmaj7 Eb7 D7
Bbmaj7 Bbmin7 Eb7 Edim7Amin7 D7

That's another way to do the harmony if you are playing it as a ballad, if you are doing it uptempo, it might be tough to make those changes.

[ksjazzguitar]

I'm with Stack, if the guys in the band are hip, it's no problem. I've done it before and it's no problem. The band either has to be told, or if they have good ears, they can just hear it. As Daddy says, you have to be careful on the melody, but there is nothing wrong with changing a chord for the solos, as long as it works.

Peace,
Kevin

[Marto]

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

There's an A natural in the melody (Bb A G D) over that chord. But it's a ballad, so I think you have time to do this:

| BbMaj7 Bb7 | Eb7 ..

I have heard the tune sung as a ballad but I don't think it works so well as a ballad insturmentally. That melody has a really bright bouncy kind of feel that lends its self to an uptempo approach. If I play the tune uptempo I normally play the Eb7 as Eb7#11 to keep that A natural in there. But that is kind of something of a habit I have developed. I should try out some other options too and see how they fit.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Well, it works for Miles!

YouTube Video

[Marto]

Well, it works for Miles!

That sounds pretty good to me!
I normally play it around this speed.

YouTube Video

looking on youtube there are quite a few ballad renditions but I love the bounce and swing it gets when you speed it up. Here is a Scofield version that sits somewhere in the middle.

YouTube Video

[Dark Star]

Thanks. You have all been very helpful.