Montgomery-Ward bridge

In jazz music, the Montgomery-Ward bridge (also Rielpel's Monte) is a standard chord progression often used as the bridge, or 'B section', of a jazz standard. The progression consists, in its most basic form, of the chords I⁷–IV⁷–ii⁷–V⁷. Often, some or all of the dominants are substituted with ii–V progressions or otherwise altered. This is used in such standards as "The Sunny Side of the Street", "When You're Smiling", "Satin Doll",[1] and particularly "Honeysuckle Rose".[2]

Montgomery-Ward bridge in C Play .

Montgomery-Ward bridge with ii–Vs in C Play .

Like the more common Sears Roebuck bridge (from I've Got Rhythm), the Ward bridge appears in so many jazz standards that jazz-era professionals often used this shorthand name for reference, e.g. when describing or discussing chord changes. Both simple progressions were used so frequently that they inspired these humorous references to interchangeable catalogue parts.

Eight bars:[2]

v^7

I^7

IV

IV

vi m^7

II^7

ii m^7

V^7

Play

See also

• Turnaround (music)

References

1. Rich, Scott, "Bridge Construction", Money Chords, Angel fire.
2. Holbrook, Morris B (2008), Playing the Changes on the Jazz Metaphor, p. 104, ISBN 978-1-60198-172-1.