Here’s a ballad from the very obscure album ‘Friedrich Gulda at Birdland’. Gulda, of course, was known to many largely within the Classical realm, yet this album shows him to be competent, if not exceptional, within the language of straight-ahead bop. I have a feeling that the title of this tune points towards the fourth movement (‘Entrückung’) of Arnold… Continue reading Air from Other Planets – Friedrich Gulda
Here’s the guitar solo from Vulfpeck’s ‘Smile Meditation’. Smile Meditation (solo) – Full Score
Here’s just under a minute of Wes playing on the great Duke standard ‘Satin Doll’. This is actually from the alternate take; there’s loads of transcriptions of the full solo from this record out there already, I think the best I’ve seen is the one by Steve Khan. I’ve only transcribed the first chorus of… Continue reading Satin Doll (Alternate Take) – Wes Montgomery’s solo
I wrote out an arrangement of this piece as part of some incidental music I was arranging for a show I was musical director on; sadly it was cut in the end, but here’s a chart I made for the arrangement played on the MJQ record anyway. Straight 8s for the John Lewis’ solo piano… Continue reading Blues in C Minor – Milt Jackson
Here’s just over a hundred bars of Pat Metheny soloing on ‘Watercolors’, from the 1977 album of the same name. One point is worth mentioning: because he plays so far behind the beat, Metheny is an interesting one to transcribe, particularly rhythmically. A phrase like that of bb. 81-83 initially seemed to me to be… Continue reading Watercolors – Pat Metheny
I played this chart (originally written for the Buddy Rich Big Band) at a gig last week, and listening to the recorded guitar solo by Walter Namuth thought it would be a good one to transcribe. Despite its short length (two choruses) it is a fairly memorable solo, with a nice lick at bb. 6-7. Straight… Continue reading Mercy, Mercy, Mercy – Walter Namuth’s solo
Something completely different! Even though they both only last for 8 bars each, I thought i’d transcribe Ge0rge Benson’s solo and the groove (played by fellow jazz guitarist Lee Ritenour) on this Quincy Jones-produced track. This solo is a really good example of developing a theme – the same, F minor arpeggio-based idea is repeated… Continue reading Give Me the Night – George Benson (solo)
Six choruses of great playing by Stern on a jam session favorite, from the 2002 record ‘Four Generations of Miles’. Stern features alongside fellow Davis-band alumni George Coleman, Jimmy Cobb and Ron Carter. Watch out for the extended 16th note phrases in this one – a Stern trademark perhaps, but his phrasing isn’t as clear… Continue reading Freddie Freeloader – Mike Stern’s Solo
Here’s the title track off Mike Stern’s 1999 release ‘Play’. It’s a fun rock-ish number which features John Scofield alongside Stern. Bill Frisell guests on ‘Blue Tone’ and ‘All Heart’ as well. I’ve written the head out at crotchet = 115 and the solos at a double time feel as this seemed clearest to me… Continue reading Play – Mike Stern
Here’s five choruses of minor blues soloing by Wes. I love the way he builds up the melody in the final two octave choruses. Something Like Bags (solo) – Full Score
Wallpaper Jazz 