Central Park West (B) || Funk Ballad Backing Track || Play Along

Written by jazz legend John Coltrane, “Central Park West” is an important and unique jazz standard. With its slow tempo, its simple but sophisticated melody, and its stunningly beautiful harmony, it is a beloved tune amongst jazz fans. Its slow harmonic progression moves in such a way as to feel like the music is standing still - a perfect frame for Coltrane’s improvisational skills.
What really sets “Central Park West” apart, however, is its unconventional chord structure. Coltrane composed the song without traditional “tonic chords” - instead, he built the song around one single chord. This gives the music a dreamy and mystical flavor that is rarely heard in a standard jazz piece.
This single-chord foundation combined with Coltrane’s radiant improvisational skills makes “Central Park West” an important and timeless jazz standard. It is a composition that stands the test of time and continues to charm listeners everywhere.
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Jazz nomenclature is complicated and ACME chords symbols are simplified.
• CΔ is a major sound and could refer to a “C6” or “Cmaj7”
• D- is usually voiced as a minor-seventh (1,♭3, 5, ♭7)
• Ø is a half-diminished seventh chord (1,♭3,♭5,♭7)
• O is a full diminished seventh chord (1,♭3,♭5,♭♭7)
• +4 is voiced as #11
• +9 is an “altered 9” and could refer to a♭9, ♯9, or both