Milt Jackson, Groovin’ High

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Photo by William P. Gottlieb

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

[audio:http://www.sokillingman.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Groovin-High-Clip.mp3|titles=Groovin High Clip]

Ahh, BeBop. Will I ever be able to play you?

I transcribed this solo a few years ago when I was really trying to work on my bebop language in my solos. It’s been an interesting up and down road since then trying to perfect, or even just function in this very specific jazz art. Milt’s solo on Groovin’ High, one of the most iconic bebop tunes in bebop’s golden age, is a perfect example of the techniques a bebop player uses to sound like…well…to sound like Bird (Charlie Parker to you beginners out there).

Milt Jackson is one of the only really well-known jazz vibes players. There are others I have listened to, namely Joe Locke and Steve Nelson, but they’re both modern players who don’t really have that pure bebop thing happening. They’re both incredible players, and I am sure can play like that, but they’ve got other shit happening. The point in transcribing Milt was to dig in to someone who lived that language his whole life.

This however, is the first time I have revisited the solo, really practiced it (and checked for note errors, there were plenty), and did the analysis. I found some techniques similar to the Tom Harrell solo I transcribed for this site a few weeks ago. Pianistic arpeggios, Chromatic Approach Tones, Guide Tones on big beats (1 & 3), etc.

Continue for full analysis. Continue reading →

Guest Post by Reid Kennedy – Lewis Nash, Sea Changes

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Lewis Nash - Photo by Professor Bop

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[audio:http://www.sokillingman.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Sea-Changes.mp3|titles=Sea Changes]

Download the transcription: Drums

Sea Changes is an original composition from pianist Tommy Flanagan and serves as the title track from Flanagan’s 1997 trio date featuring bassist Peter Washington and drummer Lewis Nash.  The tune itself is a simple 12-bar form that evolves from a bouncy island groove on the in head to a straight-ahead swing feel for a majority of the soloing.  Prior to the out-head, Nash trades two choruses with Flanagan, both of which are transcribed here.

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Michel Warlop/Stephane Grappelli/Eddie South, Lady Be Good

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[amazon asin=B0014LRE3K&template=iframe image]

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

Lady Be Good, written by George/Ira Gershwin and performed by: Django Reinhardt, guitar; Michel Warlop, violin I; Stephane Grappelli, violin II; Eddie South, violin III. From the album ‘Django Reinhardt Crazy Rhythm,’ released on the Iris Records, recorded in 1937.

This is the third transcription I’ve done in a row featuring Stephane Grappelli, and after this one I’ll do something different – but this trifecta of violin solos was just too cool to pass up.

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There Will Never Be Another You, Sonny Stitt

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Photo by Tom Marcello

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[audio:http://www.sokillingman.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/There-Will-Never-Be-Another-You.mp3|titles=There Will Never Be Another You]

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

This track came from a compilation album called The Art of the Jazz Saxophone: Bebop & Beyond.  Unfortunately I do not know the original album that this track appeared on or the other artists that are present on it.  If someone else does please let me know so I can update that information.

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Stephane Grappelli, Minor Swing

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This Thursday sokillingman.com broke 1,000 views, so thank you!  We’re really excited to have so many people interested in this project and we have all sorts of plans for development.  Here’s a little bonus post in celebration:

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

Minor Swing, music written by Django Rienhardt and performed by: The Quintette du Hot Club de France, featuring Django Rienhardt and Stéphane Grappelli.  From Djangology, recorded in 1949 and released by RCA Bluebird.

 

This tune is absolutely classic, and very well could have been the first tune I heard that convinced me that I understood what Gypsy Jazz sounds like.  It’s just that kind of recording.  While it’s not the whole picture by any means, this tune exemplifies a lot of the rules and conventions of the genre and has a very balanced ratio of variety to continuity.  So I figured this would be a great study tool for said reasons, and I love the solo, so it was a no-brainer. Continue reading →

Guest Post by Ari Nahum – Brad Mehldau, Wonderwall

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Photo courtesy of Brad Mehldau

Wonderwall, written by Noel Gallagher (Oasis) and performed by: Brad Mehldau, piano; Larry Grenadier, bass; Jeff Ballard, drums.  From Brad Mehldau Trio Live, Nonesuch Records 2008.

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[audio:http://www.sokillingman.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Wonderwall.mp3|titles=Wonderwall]

Download the transcription: Concert Pitch

I remember the first time I heard this song.  I was in the kitchen cooking and I turned on the radio to Jazz 88 FM.  Brad was about a third of the way into his solo when I first tuned in.  I remember that almost instantaneously I knew it was him.  This was somewhat expected as once you come to know a great player’s voice it is as easily recognizable as your Mom’s.  But after listening for about 10-15 seconds or so, something else happened, something that perhaps speaks more uniquely to Brad’s playing – I knew he was playing the tune “Wonderwall”.  I had never ever heard this tune in a jazz context before, and the last time I heard it was probably in high school.  Furthermore all of the harmonies had been thoroughly changed.  But I knew, without a doubt that he was improvising on the tune Wonderwall.  And when his solo ended and he came back in on the bridge I just smiled, shook my head and chuckled to myself.

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Tom Harrell, Joy Spring (unaccompanied solo)

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(photo credit: Claus Willemer)

Joy Spring, written by Clifford Brown and performed by Tom Harrell.  From [amazon asin=B000001E4R&text=Brownie: Homage to Clifford Brown&chan=default], released 1994 on Polygram Records.

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[audio:http://www.sokillingman.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/tpt-solo-Joy-Spring-1.mp3|titles=(tpt solo) Joy Spring 1]

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

Legendary. That’s all I’ve got to say about this solo. Legendary.

Seriously, that’s not all I have to say. First of all, let me just issue an official promise to our readers that my next transcription will not be a trumpet player. Trumpet players, I am sorry. That being said, I just heard this track for the first time a few weeks ago and I knew I had to transcribe it. It’s just so amazing. Continue reading →

Guest Post by Andrew Green: Eric Harland, Byus

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Byus, written by Walter Smith III and performed by: Ambrose Akinmusire, trumpet; Walter Smith III, tenor saxophone; Jason Moran, piano; Joe Sanders, bass; Eric Harland, drums.  From the album III, released 2010 on the Criss Cross label.

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[audio:http://www.sokillingman.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/06-drum-solo-Byus1.mp3|titles=06 (drum solo) Byus]

Download the PDF: Solo, Drumset Notation Guide

I initially transcribed this because I was playing it in a jazz group at Lawrence University (Appleton, WI).  The solo really shows off Harland’s technical virtuosity and fluidity around the kit and is a prime example of why he is one of the most in-demand drummers right now.  This introduction is in 7 throughout and I chose to notate the 7 as alternating bars of 4/4 and 3/4 for ease of breaking down the beats when reading.  This intro sets up the tune beautifully, introducing the 7/4 feel that returns throughout the disjointed and angular melodies and hits.  Many of the individual licks are simple in conception but difficult to pull off at such breakneck speeds, one right after the other. Continue reading →

Stéphane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt, After You’ve Gone

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(Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

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[audio:http://www.sokillingman.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/After-Youve-Gone_web_clip.mp3|titles=After You’ve Gone_web_clip]

PDF:  Concert Pitch, Bass Cleff, Bb, Eb

After You’ve Gone, music written by Turner Layton, lyrics by Henry Creamer and performed by: The Quintette du Hot Club de France, featuring Django Rienhardt and Stéphane Grappelli.  From Djangology, recorded in 1949 and released by RCA Bluebird.

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Joe Henderson, Isfahan

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With Neil Swainson, bass, at Harpo's, Victoria. Photo by Guy MacPherson

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[audio:http://www.sokillingman.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Isfahan-Joe-Henderson.mp3|titles=Isfahan]

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

“Isfahan” composed by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn and performed by Joe Henderson, Tenor Sax; Christian McBride, Bass.  From Lush Life: The Music of Billy Strayhorn, Verve Records 1992.

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