Phineas Newborn, Jr. was known more as an instrumentalist than as a composer, choosing most of his repertoire from the Great American Songbook and hard bop classics. But he is responsible for a number of original compositions, mostly simple blues, that are listed here. He often performed a piece called “Blues for Left Hand Only” or something close to that. While the performances conformed to the title, it should be noted that from a compositional perspective, the theme employed was a well-known blues line titled variously, “John Paul Jones,” Vierd Blues” or “Trane’s Blues.”
The compilation below provides information on the structure of each composition, key signature (concert) and the recording date. Clicking on several of the titles allows you to listen to the piece.
12-bar blues in B-flat major
1958-03-28
12-bar blues in F major
1969-02-12,13
32-bar AABA structure in G major
1956-10-19
Did You Ever (1)*
32-bar AABA structure in E-flat major
1976-12-07
Fine as Wine (2)
12-bar blues in C major
1950-06-24
NOT a traditional blues; 32- (or 16-) bar structure
1969-02-12,13
I’ve Something to Say
12-bar blues in E-flat major
1987-11-11,12
12-bar blues in F major
1959-10-26
Jate (from Rochella’s Suite, Part IV)
24-bar blues in C major
1987-11-11,12
32-bar AABA structure in E-flat major; Note: On the only recording of this title, it is listed as a medley with “One for Horace” (see below); however, only one theme is heard (ballad).
1974-01
Loving*
NOT a traditional blues; 16-bar structure in G major
1961-11-21
12-bar blues in G major
1956-05-04
One for Horace
32-bar AABA structure in B-flat major, harmonically similar to that of Gershwin’s “I Got Rhythm.” The melody line is reminiscent of both Horace Silver’s “Room 608” and Bud Powell’s “Wail.” This title is listed as being part of a medley on Newborn’s 1974 Atlantic Solo Piano album, but it is not heard.
1987-11-11,12
32-bar AABA structure in E-flat major
1956-10-19
32-bar structure in 3/4, key of E-flat minor
1958-03-28
Phineas Boogie
12-bar blues in C major
1950 or 1951
Rochella’s Suite (Shelly’s Suite)
24-bar structure theme in E-flat major but improvising on a 32-bar structure
1958-03-28
Tamarind Blues
12-bar blues in C major
1976-12-7,8
Tennessee Bounce (2)
12-bar blues in B-flat major
1950-06-24
32-bar AABA structure in B-flat major
1961-11-21
Theme for Rosie*
To the Bullet Train
46-bar (?) structure in E-flat major
1977-09-05
*Not recorded
(1) with Leslie Joseph Law
(2) with Jules Bihari ( a.k.a. Jules Taub)