Free Jazz Standard Sheet Music Downloads

"Blues a la Mode" is a modal blues composition by pianist McCoy Tyner (1938–2020). Born in Philadelphia, Tyner is best known as the pianist in John Coltrane's classic quartet, where his revolutionary approach to harmony and rhythm reshaped modern jazz piano.

The tune is built on a 12-bar blues framework but expanded through Tyner's distinctive modal harmonic language. The title plays on a double meaning: "à la mode" suggests both "in the fashionable style" and "in the mode (modal style)." The composition reflects Tyner's signature approach—quartal voicings, pentatonic patterns, and a powerful rhythmic drive—applied to the blues tradition. Rather than relying on conventional dominant-seventh changes, the harmony draws on modal substitutions that open up broader scalar possibilities for improvisation, making it a sophisticated yet deeply grounded take on the blues.

Tyner composed numerous blues pieces throughout his career, each with its own harmonic twists. This particular tune appeared on his Impulse! Records recordings and showcases his dual identity as both a commanding improviser and a thoughtful composer. While not as widely performed as some of his other works, it remains a rewarding deep cut for pianists who appreciate Tyner's unique synthesis of blues tradition and modal innovation.