Ways to link II-V Progessions

[jasche]

Hi Folks,

I have been wondering if someone could give some hints that explain the theroy behind the following chord progressions:

Em7b5|A7b9|Cm11|F7|Fm9|Bb7

I can read that this are a concatenation of II-V progessions. But I cannot figure out the changes between these progressions?!


Thanks in advance

Juergen

[fep]

I'd guess that's a transition from a bridge to an A section with the A section in Ebmaj(7). ii V of D then a vi II ii V of Eb.

But that's a pretty blind guess

Without more context I don't think that question can be properly answered.

Attach the whole lead sheet with melody and chords.

[bako]

That looks like the opening 6 bars of Stella By Starlight which is in Bb. Full context would help facilitate a smarter response.

[RunningBeagle]

Stella by Fleshlight, I agree. In the beginning, you're going to hear a cadence in D minor which doesn't resolve. Then Bb major, then Eb. On the repeat, you do hear the first II V as going to III, and the Bb and Eb as I and IV respectively. The Eb that the last cadence resolves to sounds especially like IV after the subdominant minor move to Eb-/Ab7#11.

Different people analyze the tune differently. One harmony teacher of mine speculated that it was in F starting on VI (D min), IIRC.

Easiest way to play over it is to play your II V lines and pay attention to what notes change in each of the different cadences. Namely, E natural to Eb, and A natural to Ab. Connecting or emphasizing these will make it sound like you know what you're doing.

[kaige]

Stella by Fleshlight? Among the starving jazzers who were cabbies we used to call it Stella by Domelight.