Guest Post by John Raymond: Miles Davis, Walkin’ (4 Versions)

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Guest Contributor

Photo by Peter Buitelaar

Today’s awesome guest post, which looks at four different Miles Davis solos over the same tune, comes from trumpeter John Raymond. John has a new album coming out so be sure to check it out on his website!

A little bit ago I did a transcription research project on Miles Davis doing the tune “Walkin” four different times over the course of the first part of his career. The recordings I transcribed were:

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The original recording – Walkin’ (1954): Download the transcription
[audio:http://www.sokillingman.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Walkin_original_web_clip-1.mp3|titles=Walkin’_original_web_clip 1]

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Live at the Black Hawk – Friday Set II (1961): Download the transcription
[audio:http://www.sokillingman.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Walkin_Blackhawk_web_clip.mp3|titles=Walkin’_Blackhawk_web_clip]

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Complete Concert/Four & More (1964): Download the transcription
[audio:http://www.sokillingman.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Walkin_fourmore_web_clip.mp3|titles=Walkin’_four&more_web_clip]

A bootlegged performance of the same band occurring in the early 1960s: Download the transcription
[audio:http://www.sokillingman.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Walkin-bootleg-tpt-solo.mp3|titles=Walkin’ (bootleg tpt solo)]

These recordings give such a vivid display of Miles’ growth throughout the first few decades of his career. They also serve as a vivid display of Miles’ constant search for spontaneous and uninhibited improvisation, as well as his prowess, maturity and evolution in the three primary spheres of improvising: melody, harmony and rhythm.

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Bob Reynolds, Out of Nowhere

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Ben

Download the Transcription: Bb, Eb, C, Bass Clef

[youtube_sc url=iX9lCqGEcU4 width=580]

Today’s transcription comes from a video that Bob Reynolds posted to Youtube demonstrating playing in 7/4 time on the tune “Out of Nowhere.” I chose this solo to transcribe, because quite frankly I’m pretty terrible at playing in odd-meter and I wanted to have a good example to practice along with; an etude of sorts. This solo comes pretty close to that while still retaining a genuine/musical feel that I think etudes tend to lack (especially jazz etudes). Besides, there are some really killer phrases that go across the entire range of the horn that I really wanted to learn.

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Dave Douglas – November

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Adam

Download the Transcription: Concert, Bb, Eb, Bass Clef

[audio:http://www.sokillingman.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/November-Clip.mp3|titles=November Clip]

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Anyone that knows me, knows that I love me some Dave Douglas. Dave has been a huge influence on me both as a writer and a trumpet player, and this particular solo has been one that has haunted me for many years. Dave is a lyrical master, and this solo is a perfect example of his prowess. Almost the whole solo is played over a simple I (vi), ii IV V progression, but its basically just Bb major the whole time. His two horn writing is really some special as it is on display on this track.

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Guest Post by Brad Colfax: Eric Clapton, Born Under a Bad Sign

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Guest Contributor

Photo by Jun Sato

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[audio:http://www.sokillingman.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/born-under-a-bad-sign.mp3|titles=Born Under a Bad Sign]
Download the transcription: C, Bass Clef, Bb, Eb

“Born Under a Bad Sign”, written by Albert King and performed by: Cream (Eric Clapton; Guitar, Jack Bruce; Bass Guitar, Ginger Baker; Drums). From the Album ‘Royal Albert Hall: London, May 2-3-5-6 2005,’ released 2005 by Reprise Records.

I had always grown up listening to Eric Clapton, but I first came to know his music through the more mellow later stuff like MTV’s “Unplugged” from the early 90s. I also listened to compilation albums that treated the beginning of his career as having started in the 70’s with “Derek and the Dominos,” but it wasn’t until fairly recently that I really even knew about what even came before that: Cream. Clapton’s sheer virtuosity and extended soloing with his late 60’s British blues-rock supergroup forced many critics of rock music to stop dismissing it as noise, and start taking the medium seriously. All 3 members of the band were dedicated musicians who saw no draw in hopping around the stage, coordinating outfits, or smashing equipment to create a spectacle. Their pure devotion to the music made for stunning results on the 4 albums they released, each one seeming to push an already high bar progressively higher. After only 2 years together, Cream played their final live concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall in November of 1968 to a packed house in mourning.

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Eugene Friesen, Citric Motion

Posted on March 11, 2012 by Cory

(Eugene Friesen, courtesy of celloman.com)

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[audio:http://www.sokillingman.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Citric-Motion_web_clip.mp3|titles=Citric Motion_web_clip]
Download the PDF: Bass Clef, Treble Clef, Bb, Eb

Citric Motion, written by Glen Velez and performed by: Trio Globo (Eugene Friesen, cello; Howard Levy, piano; and Glen Velez, percussion). From the album ‘Carnival of Souls,’ released 1995 by SilverWave Records.

I’m FINALLY posting a cello solo, and since I’m an improvising cellist, it’s about time. There are actually quite a few fabulous cello-playing improvisers out there, and Eugene Friesen is a leader in the field. This whole album, Carnival of Souls, is full of cello techniques and tone colors that you’ve probably never heard, some of them pulled from the acoustic bass, or even guitar lexicons. As a trio member, Friesen excels at holding down the rhythmic accompaniment with arpeggiations and intricate basslines, as well as soaring, lyrical melodies when Howard Levy takes over the accompanimental role.

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Guest Post by Todd Clouser: Peter Bernstein, Played Twice

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Guest Contributor

(Peter Bernstein – Photo by Carlo Pecoraro)

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[audio:http://www.sokillingman.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/09-Played-Twice.mp3|titles=09 Played Twice]

Download the PDF: Concert, Bb, Eb, Bass Clef

Peter Bernstein plays jazz guitar the way I love to hear it played. Even with the wealth and density of harmonic and rhythmic concepts he employs, its all feel. Nothing takes precedence over feel, and its uniquely his own.

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Leroy Jones – Lord, Lord, Lord & Just A Closer Walk With Thee

Posted on February 26, 2012 by Adam

Download the Transcription: Concert, Bb, Eb, Bass Clef

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Lord, Lord, Lord: [audio:http://www.sokillingman.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Lord-Lord-Lord-Clip.mp3|titles=Lord, Lord, Lord Clip]

Just a Closer Walk With Thee: [audio:http://www.sokillingman.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Just-a-Closer-Walk-Clip.mp3|titles=Just a Closer Walk Clip]

This week is a two-for-one. If you read my blog post on my trip to New Orleans, you know that I had an exciting time while I was there. Among other things, I had the absolute pleasure of getting to hear Leroy Jones at Preservation Hall, and since the Jack Brass Band (band I was on tour with) had played there the night before, I got to meet Leroy and talk to him a little. Mainly, it was just a treat to hear this man play traditional New Orleans music all evening.

Since most people don’t know who Leroy Jones is (which is a damn same), I’ll just give you a short synopsis. Leroy is probably best know for his work with Harry Connick, Jr, but he was also a member of the band that became the famous Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Leroy has been performing all around the world with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Harry Connick, and was born and bred in New Orleans. Leroy is as authentic as it gets, and when you hear him play over these simple I IV V I progressions, you wonder if you should ever even try to play trads again. It’s that good.

Somehow Leroy has gone widely unnoticed in the trumpet community, which I am particularly perturbed about. It seems as though if a trumpet player comes out of the woodwork with a less than “standard” trumpet sound, the International Trumpet Guild doesn’t know what to do with him. He fits nicely in his cute little New Orleans box, so that’s where we put him and that’s where he stays. Spoiler alert: You’ve all been missing out. Continue reading →

Lee Morgan, Ceora

Posted on February 12, 2012 by Ben

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[audio:http://www.sokillingman.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Ceora.mp3|titles=Ceora]
Download the Transcription: Bb, Eb, C, Bass Clef

Ceora as performed by Lee Morgan from the 1965 Blue Note album “Cornbread.” Featuring Lee Morgan on trumpet, Herbie Hancock on piano, Hank Mobley on tenor saxophone, and Larry Ridley on Bass.

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Roy Hargrove, Strasbourg/St. Denis

Posted on February 5, 2012 by Adam

: Photo By Pieter M. van Hattem – courtesy of <vervemusicgroup.com>

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[audio:http://www.sokillingman.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Strasbourg-_-St.-Denis-Clip.mp3|titles=Strasbourg / St. Denis]

Download the PDF: Concert, Bb, Eb, Bass Clef

Roy is one my favorite trumpet players of all time. His mix of hard bop and soul/gospel in his playing is exactly where I want to be as a player, so I tend to listen to a lot of (too much?) Roy. This tune is no exception. It’s from his record Earfood, which is pretty much a standard quintet record, except it has this track on it, and this track really just blows away the rest of the album, as good as it is. Everyone on the record plays great throughout, but it’s like they were all born to play this tune. Each solo builds on the last creating a track that ebbs and flows just right, until you’re hitting the back arrow on your ipod to listen again.

It’s seriously so good.

Continue reading for analysis: Continue reading →

So Killing, Man!

Dedicated to the study of improvisational music through transcription and analysis.

Category Archives: Instrument

Guest Post by John Raymond: Miles Davis, Walkin’ (4 Versions)

Bob Reynolds, Out of Nowhere

Dave Douglas – November

Guest Post by Brad Colfax: Eric Clapton, Born Under a Bad Sign

Guest Post by Todd Clouser: Peter Bernstein, Played Twice

Leroy Jones – Lord, Lord, Lord & Just A Closer Walk With Thee

Lee Morgan, Ceora

Roy Hargrove, Strasbourg/St. Denis