Historical background
Composed in 1954 by tenor titan Sonny Rollins, “Airegin” (Nigeria spelled backwards) was first recorded that same year by the Miles Davis quintet and quickly became a hard-bop anthem. Rollins built the tune on a minor-mode rhythm-changes skeleton, lacing it with lightning II–V cycles and a name that nodded to West African pride long before “Afro-centric” entered the jazz lexicon. Since then, everyone from Wes Montgomery to the Manhattan Transfer has put their stamp on its break-neck fire.

About this trio arrangement

Instrumentation – nylon-string guitar (lead & chord-melody), upright bass, brush-kit drums, plus a vintage Nord synth pad that adds a glassy fusion halo behind the trio. A second guitar in the score provides comp textures.

Tempo & feel – a brisk ≈ 124 BPM four-to-the-bar swing keeps Rollins’s drive while letting nylon strings articulate every flurry. 

Key & harmony – notated in C major functionally it sits in B♭ minor (original record key). Each 32-bar chorus races through Rollins’s signature minor rhythm-changes grid—tonic → V 7 → ii–V cycles—plus sharp 9/♭9 altered dominants for punch. 


Texture & solos – head in tight three-note guitar clusters while the Nord pad sustains whole-note “horn section” chords; bass walks relentless quarters; brushes ride with crisp skip-beats. A single-chorus guitar solo dives into bebop enclosures and altered scales, handing eight bars to the synth pad for a CTI-tinged sparkle before a unison shout-tag lands on a stinging B♭ 6/9.

Why listen
Cue it up and feel 1954’s 52nd-Street blaze refracted through warm wood and shimmering synth—proof that Rollins’s question “Who are you?” still gets a fresh answer in 2025.

Stay connected
If this sprint lights you up, explore more arrangements on my YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@rfviolao) and dive into scores, lessons, and musings at https://ricardofarao.com/. Hit Subscribe, leave a comment, and join me for the next chapter in guitar-led jazz storytelling.

Airegin - S. Rollins

Written, performed and recorded by Sav Balac, 2025.

Be Mindful

Historical Background
Composed in 1953 by Robert Wright and George Forrest for the musical Kismet, Baubles, Bangles and Beads is a fascinating example of a jazz standard adapted from classical music. The melody is based on Alexander Borodin’s String Quartet No. 2, seamlessly transformed into a lush Broadway ballad. The song’s exotic, ornamental lyrics and harmonic richness attracted many jazz artists, including Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, and Wes Montgomery, making it a beloved tune for interpretation.

About the Arrangement
In this arrangement by the Ricardo Farão Jazz Trio, Baubles, Bangles and Beads unfolds like an intricate tapestry. The guitar leads with shimmering arpeggios and modal lines that echo the tune’s Eastern-European roots, supported by fluid chord substitutions and suspended harmonies. The bass creates melodic counterlines with subtle rhythmic displacements, while the percussion brings a brushed elegance with cymbal flourishes and understated tom textures. The trio preserves the theatrical flair of the original while injecting fresh improvisational dialogue and harmonic surprise.

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Find all arrangements at https://ricardofarao.com/
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Baubles, Bangles and Beads - Wright & Forrest

Historical Background
Composed in 1928 by Spencer Williams, Basin Street Blues is one of the most iconic tunes associated with New Orleans jazz. The title references Basin Street, once a bustling thoroughfare in the Storyville district, the city’s historical red-light and music quarter. The song became a defining anthem of Dixieland and early swing, recorded by Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and countless others. Its blend of blues phrasing, urban nostalgia, and melodic charm made it a cornerstone of traditional jazz.

About the Arrangement
In this arrangement by the Ricardo Farão Jazz Trio, Basin Street Blues receives a rich and colorful reinterpretation for classical guitar trio. The score explores a lush harmonic palette: from Maj7 and 13th chords to diminished embellishments and sus4 voicings. The guitar articulates the melody with lyrical phrasing and expressive slides, frequently using higher frets and voice leading reminiscent of early jazz horns. The bass walks with chromatic momentum, at times mirroring stride techniques with syncopated placement. The drums play a brush-based swing groove with subtle breaks and cymbal accents that recall the vintage New Orleans style.

Notably, the arrangement uses triplets, swing eights, and suspended chords (E7sus, D13, A6/C#), giving the piece its authentic push-and-pull feel. Some measures embrace diminished runs and slash chord bass inversions, keeping the flow harmonically intriguing while respecting the tune's original structure.

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Full arrangements available at https://ricardofarao.com/
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Basin Street Blues - S. Williams

Historical Background
Composed in 1929 by Fats Waller with lyrics by Andy Razaf, Black and Blue is one of the earliest and most poignant songs to confront the pain of racial injustice in America. Originally written for the Broadway revue Hot Chocolates, the song transcended its theatrical context to become a jazz standard of profound emotional and cultural weight. Louis Armstrong’s 1929 recording turned it into a haunting anthem of sorrow and dignity, expressing the isolation and weariness of being judged by one’s appearance. Its harmonic depth, lyrical gravity, and melodic richness have made it a lasting cornerstone of the jazz repertoire.

About the Arrangement
This arrangement by the Ricardo Farão  offers a poignant and atmospheric interpretation of Black and Blue, placing expressive subtlety at its core. The piece unfolds as a dialogue between a soulful trombone and a smooth clarinet, which alternate in phrasing and tonal shading. The classical guitar enters with lyrical, improvisatory lines, weaving melodic threads that gently float above the harmonic landscape.

There are no drums — the rhythmic drive is entrusted to the bass, which joins after the initial exposition and carries both the pulse and harmonic grounding with fluid, legato phrasing and offbeat emphasis. The harmonic structure makes use of minor 7ths, dominant 9ths, and chromatic movement, evoking both the traditional blues structure and modern jazz sensibility. The result is a chamber-like, emotionally introspective rendition that pays homage to Waller’s original pathos while exploring new expressive textures.

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More arrangements available at https://ricardofarao.com
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Black and Blue - F. Waller

Composed by Claude Rouse, Bitter-Sweet is a hidden gem among early jazz standards, dating back to the 1920s—a period known for innovation, the blues, and bittersweet romanticism in music. The song’s title perfectly encapsulates its mood: a blend of longing, nostalgia, and gentle optimism. It evokes the atmosphere of smoky ballrooms and late-night café scenes, where melody and melancholy walk hand in hand.

Bitter-Sweet stands out for its elegantly balanced melody and subtle, blues-tinged harmony. Its structure typically combines verses in a major key with a refrain that dips into the minor, providing emotional contrast. Though less recorded than some other standards, the tune has gained new life in the hands of modern interpreters—its introspective character making it a favorite among jazz guitarists and chamber-style ensembles.

The song’s charm lies in its simplicity and emotional directness, inviting listeners to reflect on life’s mixed emotions: joy colored by regret, happiness tinged with yearning. In the hands of the Ricardo Farão Jazz Trio, it becomes a poetic meditation—lyrical, understated, and resonant.

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More arrangements available at https://ricardofarao.com
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Bitter-Sweet - C. Rouse

Composed in 1952 by the legendary pianist Thelonious Monk, often in collaboration with drummer Denzil Best, Bemsha Swing is one of the most enigmatic and celebrated pieces in the modern jazz repertoire. The word "Bemsha" is a playful Monk invention, said to be a whimsical distortion of "Bimshire," a nickname for Barbados. The tune captures Monk's unique blend of angular melodies, odd harmonies, and infectious, offbeat swing.

Bemsha Swing is instantly recognizable for its 16-bar structure, syncopated rhythm, and quirky, modal melody punctuated by percussive accents. Its Afro-Caribbean undertones, created by Monk's signature use of whole-tone runs and unexpected harmonic turns, make it both a delight and a challenge for improvisers. Over the years, it has become a cornerstone for modern jazz musicians exploring Monk’s idiosyncratic style.

Fun fact: Monk frequently reinterpreted his own piece, recording it in various arrangements—solo piano, quintet, and with iconic musicians like John Coltrane and Art Blakey.

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More arrangements available at https://ricardofarao.com
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Bemsha Swing - T. Monk

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Music composed and produced by Frank Iengo.
Written by Francesco Iengo
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Record label: Multistyle Records

ROMANZ

Thinking of You

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Thinking Of You

Gentle folk, hard truths, and the courage to draw lines.

I Don't Mind

Hi, I'm Kirsten. I live in a bushy part of the world outside Melbourne, Australia. These gentle folk songs have come to me while my life’s slowed way down, living with long covid over the past few years. They’ve helped me through hard times. They’re like old friends, sitting with a cuppa on a wintry afternoon and watching the rain drops.. I'm excited to start sharing them with you.

everyone worries so much about making the best song- just keep making music and enjoying the process of that. Naturally you will try all kinds of new things that spur form the repition. Here are my good, bad, and ugly tracks. Songs that serve a journal from my last 10 years.  The entire thing.

 I love doing collabs here and there so dm me if interested- let's see if i can tell you from the bots

Multistyle Records is a New York-based record label dedicated to exploring and promoting diverse artists in various musical genres, providing various sonic experiences. Initially founded to unite Frank Iengo’s eclectic musical productions under one roof, Multistyle Records has since expanded to support talented emerging artists.

Our mission is to provide a platform for unique musical expressions, emphasizing instrumental music while fostering creativity across genres and styles.

Dedicated to instrumental music, MultiStyle Records embraces a wide range of genres, including world music, neo-classical piano, classical compositions, ambient soundscapes, new age, acoustic guitar melodies, and soundtracks.

Far more than just a record label or recording studio, MultiStyle Records is a creative hub where music, innovation, and artistry converge. Here, raw noise is shaped into captivating sounds, and simple notes are transformed into timeless harmonies.

New tracks tagged #nylon string