I’ve been working on a simple but effective way for students to internalize the sound of the Dorian mode.
Below is a short 2-bar phrase. The goal is not just technique, but sound recognition—getting the color of Dorian into your ear and under your fingers.
Practice suggestion:
While playing this phrase, listen carefully to how the natural 6th (the D natural) gives Dorian its distinctive, slightly brighter minor sound.
While developing this phrase, I learned that my former bandmate Gregg Sutton had passed away.
That news stopped me in my tracks.
Gregg was the lead singer, songwriter, and rhythm guitarist for the Motown-style group “Yes Indeed,” a six-piece R&B band I had the privilege of playing tenor sax with for two years. We performed all over the Los Angeles area, including a show with Delaney & Bonnie at the Whisky a Go Go, and we recorded a single with David Hassinger, who also worked with the Jackson 5.
Gregg taught me countless lessons about soul music—things you don’t learn from a chart. Feel, phrasing, honesty. He also introduced me to one of my heroes, Jr. Walker.
After “Yes Indeed” disbanded, Gregg joined our Top 40 group “Shepheard,” where he made the switch from rhythm guitar to bass. He later toured as a bassist with Bob Dylan and wrote songs recorded by many famous artists.
Gregg had a rare gift—his voice could make you laugh and break your heart in the same phrase.
We had lost touch for decades, but by chance I came across his name during COVID. We reconnected and spoke several times. It was a joy to hear how the edge I remembered had softened into genuine warmth. I’m grateful for that time.
I miss him.
One of the staples of the “Yes Indeed” repertoire was The Thrill Is Gone by B.B. King—a classic example of a Dorian-mode blues.
So today’s Dorian phrase is in Gregg’s honor. Here it is in all 12 keys, which I strongly believe is the most effective way to practice.
CRAIG BUHLER JAZZ 