USC School of Music

TITLE

DESCRIPTION

CHASIN' THE BIRD

Tom Harrell solo in concert Bb.
Transcribed by Craig Butterfield.

Every jazz player is chasin' Bird. Here are some great bebop vocabulary over "rhythm changes" in F [and Bb] to chase Tom Harrell.

TOUCH of YOUR LIPS

Chord changes for The Touch of Your Lips
Comparison of two lead sheet versions with ten distinct Bill Evans choruses

Just the chord changes for The Touch of Your Lips lined up. Two versions from lead sheets, eight different Bill Evans choruses from Alone (Again) and two Bill Evans choruses from Live at Montreux. [Live at Montreuxsolo transcription is below.]

This might provide some material for studying harmonic options and how they may help develop a solo. This example is why I am amused when someone talks about the "correct" chord changes for any tune. Look at the variations used by John Scofield in Sancticity below, just in m.5 of the A sections.

TOUCH of YOUR LIPS

Touch of Your Lips
Bill Evans' solo.

From Live at Montreux.

GONE WITH THE WIND
Bill Evans, Piano solo.

From Eloquence. Motivic development. Both hands transcribed.

CONFIRMATION [concert key]
CONFIRMATION [Bb key]
Clifford Brown, trumpet solo.

From http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pj1OVLfnmms. I'm guessing he's played these changes before.

I HEAR A RHAPSODY
Bill Evans, Piano solo

Of course it's a great solo. This is from Montreux II. It would be worth the time to study when he changes chords and how the left hand compliments and sometimes contradicts what the right is doing.

Here is one example of displacing the harmonic rhythm:
The chords are shown with half note harmonic rhythm in mm.52-53. What Bill plays is Eb for 1 8th note, Bbm for 5 8th notes, Am9 for 6 8th notes and then D7 for 4 8th notes. 1+5+6+4=16 8ths - two measures with beautifully displaced harmonic rhythm that sets up the transition to the bridge.

VALSE HOT
Clifford Brown, Trumpet solo

Swinging solo from the CD Plus 4. Mostly using outline no. 1 (connecting the 3rds).

SEPTEMBER MORNING
Bert Ligon, Piano solo

Even 8th piece from a 1996 recital.

YOU'D BE SO NICE TO COME HOME TO
Jim Hall Solo, transcribed by Matt Alley

REMEMBER
Wynton Kelly Piano Solo, transcribed by Joseph Godfrey

Two nice solos transcribed for Jazz Theory class, Fall 2010. Jim Hall shows us how to play with economy and develop compound melody lines; Wynton Kelly swings, balances phrases lengths, mixes up his approaches to the harmony, follows guide tones and voice-leading, uses blues ideas, arpeggios,

RED GARLAND:
OUTLINES and 3-5-7-9 ARPEGGIOS

Excerpts and Exercises

Exercises developed [by Bert Ligon] from several excerpts from Red Garland Solos. The notes are only half the story. Try and match articulations, accent the tops and ends of lines.

ALL the THINGS YOU ARE

First Chorus by Keith Jarrett

Exercises developed from Jarrett's lines. .pdf | .html

Keith Jarrett
From youtube.com/watch?v=nB-xqDZbEVQ around 1:20.
Transcribed by Susan Zhang.

THREE GUITAR SOLOS
by CLINT STRONG

STINGAREE

IDA RED

STELLA by STARLIGHT

Some ii7 V7 I Lines

Probably didn't expect to find transcriptions from Merle Haggard's band here, but check it out: this jazz guitarist found a way to play his be-bop vocabulary with "The Strangers"

Stingaree is from a 1992(?) Austin City Limits performance with Merle Haggard. Features double-time be-bop vocabulary over C blues.
[ Stingaree YouTube clip ]

Ida Red is from Ralph Emery Show with Merle Haggard from what looks like the same period. Features be-bop vocabulary over a Bob Wills tune.
[ Ida Red YouTube clip ]

Stella by Starlight is from what appears to be a clinic at a school from the same period. (First chorus only) features very clear lines over the changes.
[ Stella by Starlight YouTube clip ]

ii7 V7 I Lesson from an instructional video.
[ ii7 V7 I lesson YouTube clip ]

Transcribed by Bert Ligon.

CHIME THIS

Tenor sax solo by Michael Brecker

Transcribed by Kevin Jones. From the Michael Brecker CD: Don't Try This At Home

BLUES SKIES

Scat solo by Ella Fitzgerald.

From youtube.com/watch?v=nB-xqDZbEVQ around :50. Lots of swinging rhythmic development.
Transcribed by Drew Johnson.

COMPILATION

Trumpet solo by Carl Saunders.

From BeBop Big Band Transcribed by Kevin Jones

HAVE YOU MET MISS JONES

Guitar solo by Joe Pass

From the Chops recording. Transcribed by Andy Bell.

EMILY

Trombone solo by Andy Martin

Transcribed by Kevin Jones.

WHAT IS THIS THING CALLED LOVE

Piano solo by Red Garland

Great swinging piano solo transcribed by Steven Yelich. Every one should learn this solo and match how Red plays those lines.

FOUR

First two choruses by Keith Jarrett

Transcribed by Mandy Lischner.

Several transcriptions by Sarah Kervin

Cookin at the Continental - Darmon Meader

Joy Spring - Clifford Brown

Mack the Knife [head] | [solo] - Clark Terry

Twelve Tone Tune Two - Bill Evans

Transcribed by Sarah Kervin.

HERE'S THAT RAINY DAY

Here's That Rainy Day

Here's That Rainy Day with analysis

Bossa style in E major

Transcribed by Bert Ligon.

Wes Montgomery playing incredibly clear organically developed melodic lines. From the CD Bumpin'.

WALKIN'

Concert (8va)

Transcribed by Matt Younglove.

Sonny Stitt playing the blues.

BODY and SOUL

Body and Soul

Transcribed by Kevin Jones.

Chris Potter from from "Legends of Jazz: The Tenors".

MATRIX

Matrix
Blues. Yes, it's a blues.

Transcribed by Bert Ligon.

Chick Corea's classic contemporary blues. Fiery articulations. Simple and complex ideas. From Now He Sings, Now He Sobs.

WITCH HUNT

Witch Hunt
Three historically significant solos by Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard and Herbie Hancock from the Wayne Shorter CD Speak No Evil.

Transcribed by Bert Ligon.

Modern Jazz doesn't get much better than this. Wayne develops such simple and clear ideas. Freddie is dramatic and swinging. Herbie takes the quartal motive from the melody, fragments, displaces and develops it like an analytical cubist.

ON CLEAR DAY

On a Clear Day
Darmon Meader's scat solos from: Day Like This CD, and Youtube live version.

Transcribed by Sarah Kervin.

In tune, swinging. Very clear lines. Includes modes of melodic minor, diminished scales, 3rd & 5th modes of Bb Major with b6, arpeggios & common melodic outlines to connect chords. (Read more about outlines)

STRIKE UP THE BAND

Strike up the Band
Oscar Peterson's solo from The Gershwin Songbook.

Transcribed by Bert Ligon.

This is exactly what you expect - swinging from start to finish.

GIANT STEPS

Giant Steps
John Coltrane's solo.

Transcribed by Bert Ligon.

This is shown in score version (all 11 choruses are lined up) making it easier to compare Coltrane's approaches to the material.

A NIGHT IN TUNISIA

A Night in Tunisia
Paquito D'Rivera's solo.

Transcribed by Lauren Meccia.

From the Turtle Island String Quartet CD, Danzon.

FUNKALLERO

Funkallero
Bill Evans' solo.

From The Bill Evans Album.

I Remember You

I Remember You:
Tom Harrell's solo.

Listen to the solo at: www.youtube.com/

Transcribed by Colin Campbell.

Tom takes simple material we all know and makes great music.

There Will Never Be Another You

There Will Never Be Another You: Carl Saunders' solo.

Transcribed by Colin Campbell.

There will always be another solo on this tune. Compare this to the solos by Woody Shaw, Kenny Garrett, and Chet Baker, [below] and take a look at Clifford Brown and Lou Donaldson on Split Kick based on the same chord progression.

Stella By Starlight

Stella By Starlight (.mp3): Rich Matteson's euphonium solo.

Stella By Starlight (.pdf): of Rich Matteson's euphonium solo shown 8va in treble clef.

Stella By Starlight (.pdf): in score form to compare choruses.

Exercises derived from solo.

Try applying these exercises to this tune and then transposing the ideas to all 12 major and 12 minor keys.

The amazing and swinging Rich Matteson on euphonium playing Stella By Starlight.

Three solos from Improv IV

Windows
Chick Corea Piano solo transcribed by Evans McGill.

Star Eyes
Chris Potter solo transcribed by Lauren Meccia.

A Foggy Day
Red Garland Piano solo.

All The Things You Are:
Joe Pass guitar first chorus

This is from a duet with Bob Magnusson and can be viewed at www.youtube.com/
This first chorus is so simple and a great place to begin. He laters fishes for his pick and continues with some blistering lines.

Blues in G:
Joe Pass solo guitar

This is from an instructional video that formerly available o youtube, but still available from the video [Joe Pass Jazz Lines]

Autumn Leaves: Arrangement (.pdf)

Autumn Leaves: Trumpet solo (.pdf)

Autumn Leaves: Head and Trumpet solo (.mp3)

This is from a session recorded in March of 1988. Rob Smith on trumpet, Chris Seiter on Trombone, Bert Ligon on piano.

West End Blues

Cherokee

So What

MUSC 100L transcriptions. - Listening Guide -

Three contrasting trumpet styles. West End Blues - Louis Armstrong, Cherokee - Clifford Brown, So What - Miles Davis.

Touch of Your Lips

Bill Evans "Live at Montreux" version. Great extended arpeggios from melodic minor modes (like Abm over G7, Fm over D half-dim.7, Cm over F9#11), and swinging development.

All of Me

Sarah Vaughan scat chorus from All of Me. The original version may be from "Swinging Easy" (1954), but can be found on "Essential Sarah Vaughan" and other compilations. (The recording is a bit out of tune and in between keys.)

Eternal Triangle

Here is the head and five choruses from Sonny Rollins on Eternal Triangle from the Dizzy Gillespie "Sonny Side Up" CD. Anyone up for transcribing the Sonny Stitt solo and the trading that follows?

Confirmation

Michael Brecker improvisation on Confirmation. Duet with Chick Corea on drums from Corea's "Three Quartets".

The Two Lonely People: Solo

The Two Lonely People: Melody

Bill Evan's Tune and solo from "The Bill Evans Album".

Bill's Hit Tune

Peri's Scope

Comrade Conrad: Solo

Comrade Conrad: Melody

Tom Harrell solos from the Bill Evans album: "We Will Meet Again".

Waltz for Debby

Comparisons of several solos:

Waltz for Debby [1]

Waltz for Debby [Side by Side]

Waltz for Debby [1] is Bill Evans' first solo (c. 1:55) in waltz time on the Rhodes from "The Bill Evans Album." Changes the waltz to four at the end to set up bass solo.

Waltz for Debby [Side by Side] juxtaposes Bill Evans' second solo (c. 5:00) in four on the Piano from same track on "The Bill Evans Album" [shown on top] with a transcription from the "Waltz for Debby" album for comparison [shown on the bottom] compared directly [one on top of the other] with the piano solo from the album "Waltz for Debby" [TAKE ONE] transcribed by Colin Campbell.

Theses transcriptions are a fountain of swing, simplicity, tranquil, funny, driving, soothing, surprising, well-crafted and developed ideas and might be good to compare, learn and add to your vocabulary.

Invitation

Bill Evans

Tom Harrell

Two great solos on Invitation. Bill Evans solo is from the CD "Intuition".

Take the A Train

Classic solos by Harold Land and Clifford Brown.

D Natural Blues

Great solos by Tommy Flanagan and Wes Montgomery with Percy Heath's bass line.

Invitation

Bill Evans solo from "Intuition".

Split Kick

Classic Lou Donaldson and Clifford Brown solos from "Live at Birdland". Split Kick is a Horace Silver contrafact based on There Will Never be Another You. Compare Brown and Donaldson to Chet Baker, Woody Shaw, Carl Saunders and Kenny Garrett over the same progression.

There Will Never be Another You

Woody Shaw and Kenny Garrett solos

Chet Baker solo

Carl Saunders trumpet solo

Compare Chet Baker, Woody Shaw, Carl Saunders and Kenny Garrett on There Will Never be Another You to the Clifford Brown and Lou Donaldson solos on Split Kick, based on the same progression.

Scrapple from the Apple

Charlie Parker

Kenny Garrett

Tom Harrell

Compare several great improvisers on Scrapple from the Apple. Kenny Garrett's and Tom Harrell's solos are from the CD "Moon Alley". (I will add Kenny Barron's solo soon.)

What's Her Name

Rich Matteson on Tuba(!) over the changes to All the Things You Are.

When the Saints

Blue Mitchell on the classic tune.

I Want to be Happy

Sonny Rollins solo on I Want to be Happy.

Tenor Madness

Sonny Rollins solo classic blues tune.

Pennies from Heaven

Stan Getz and Oscar Peterson: melody and swinging solos from both.

Sancticity

John Scofield playing on a tune by Hank Mobley written using the changes to Stompin' at the Savoy.

Sancticity Analysis

Scofield's improvistion and a thorough discussion of Scofield's improvistion.

In Love In Vain

Keith Jarrett solo from "Standards, Vol. 2". Rhythmic accuracy is next to impossible in some Jarrett passages. This moves from easy eighth-note swing to flurries of notes barely in time and then back to the easy, swinging eighths.

Country

Keith Jarrett solo from "My Song". Very simple piece, very short solo, beautifully constructed.

Stella By Starlight

Keith Jarrett solo from "Standards Live". Rhythmic accuracy is next to impossible in some Jarrett passages. As with all transcriptions, listen to the recording as standard notation can never capture jazz performance nuances.

Straight No Chaser

Miles Davis solo. Takes Cannonball's last few notes and runs.

What is This Thing Called Love, pp.1-4
What is This Thing Called Love, pp.5-8
What is This Thing Called Love, pp.9-12
What is This Thing Called Love, pp.13-14

Keith Jarrett's improvisation from the CD Whisper Not. Plays three choruses out front over left hand ostinato-like accompaniment. Chorus No.4 is the melody statement. He then plays eleven more choruses before hands it over to the bass solo. [I'm sure there are some mistakes - help me find and correct them]