Who should I transcribe?

Shakes · New Member Joined: 01 Jun 2003 Posts: 6

I want to do some transcribing but I"m lost on where to begin. My aural skills are weak. But that's one of the reasons along with getting some great jazz licks. But most of the trumpet solos I hear are quite complicated, especially ones played by Freddie Hubbard. Which seems to frustrate some. I''ve done the much transcribed Miles Davis So What solo and I'm wondering where I should go next. What solos should I purse and be able to manage?

Thank You

[ This Message was edited by: Shakes on 2003-06-02 22:36 ]

PH · Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2003 7:47 pm Post subject:

Only transcribe things you like.
Don't feel like you always need to write them down. Sometimes just learn to play along with the CD.

I recommend other Miles from the 1950s like the original recording of Walkin' (1954), Bag's Groove from "Miles Davis and the Modern Jazz Giants", Freddie Freeloader or All Blues from Kind of Blue, etc.

You should also check out some Blue Mitchell, Chet Baker, & Kenny Dorham.

BrassGringo · Veteran Member Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Posts: 219

everyone and anyone....don't limit yourself to the trumpet either try transcribing some bird or sonny rollins. Therein lies a challenge.

jazz_trpt · Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2003 12:03 pm Post subject:

Quadruple C · Heavyweight Member Joined: 28 Nov 2001 Posts: 1448

[ This Message was edited by: Quadruple C on 2003-09-30 15:34 ]

dbacon · Heavyweight Member Joined: 11 Nov 2001 Posts: 8592

Art Farmer. Learn to love Art Farmer.

etownfwd · Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2003 7:18 pm Post subject:

I recommend Miles. From what I can hear his ideas are a bit more easy to understand than most of my favorite players. Just a recommendation from Terell Stafford about transcription, first memorize it, then sing it, then play it on your horn, then begin to write it down. I love this approach and it ReALLY helps you listen critically. Best of luck, bro.
-efwd

dbacon · Heavyweight Member Joined: 11 Nov 2001 Posts: 8592

Freddie Hubbard on Dexter Gordon's, "Doin Alright."

Very approachable.

mateoshaw · Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2003 9:17 pm Post subject:

I've learned that transcribing isn't so much getting licks but trying to emulate a certain vibe and approach. Articulations, eighth not feel and what not. I always find it best to find one dude you really dig, and just spend some time immersing yourself into that player. Listening alot, singing, all the stuff that has already been posted is great advice.

Tim Hagans says he never transcribed in the sense we probably think of it, but he would listen to only one trumpet player over and over while riding on the bus when he was with Kenton. He would listen untill he was absolutely sick of it, then move on to another trumpet player, listen over and over then go back to the first one again. I think to get the most out of it, this is a good approach.

I'm trying to really improve my bebop, so I think Clifford is my dude right now.

Good Luck

-Matt-

musicmonkey · Veteran Member Joined: 01 Jan 2002 Posts: 344

What about Louis Armstrong?

I've never tried....is this a good place to begin?

nate

PH · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2003 12:51 pm Post subject:

Armstrong is certainly easier to hear than most modern jazz trumpet players. However, it can be hard to notate because so much of his art is about his sound and rhythmically he plays against the time more than many modern players.

More importantly, Armstrong is from a much earlier time in jazz history. Concepts of tone, vibrato, rhythm, etc. are really quite different now. His accompanists created a completely different kind of sonic environment for him and solos that sound great in that environment usually sound anachronistic in other contexts. Also, the tunes he played had substantially different kinds of harmony and often different forms than people play these days.

Take this next rant for what it is...just my humble (but strong) opinion...

When I hear younger musicians who have studied a lot of Armstrong in preference to modern players I hear players who sound ill at ease with modern repertoire, rhythmic concepts, and harmonies. In the worst cases I hear players who sound like they are satirizing people from the beginnings of jazz who deserve to be respected. Louis Armstrong is too important an artist to be caricatured by modern players. (Listen to the Marsalis family PBS special to hear what I mean. It isn't just bad music. I find it disgusting that they sound like satire of the greats.)

You can learn a lot about drama, building a solo, etc. from Louis and his recordings are an indispensible part of a developing jazz musician's listening. However, for most people these days you are better off transcribing players from bebop and beyond. What you learn will be more practical and directly applicable.

[ This Message was edited by: PH on 2003-06-04 15:54 ]

musiclifeline · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2003 1:27 pm Post subject:

My first two were Clifford Brown: Sandu, and Charlie Parker: Billie's Bounce.

Xenoman · Heavyweight Member Joined: 19 Nov 2001 Posts: 1209

Shakes · New Member Joined: 01 Jun 2003 Posts: 6

Thanks for all the tips.
I went through at Chet Baker stuff. I really love his playing. His simplicity and tone reminds me of Miles' playing. Plus I did find a Chet Baker solo that I really dig. It's pretty simple, and I know that I can get it down. It's his solo on tangerine. Also I will probably start on his Autumn Leaves solo as well. Clifford's Sandu solo is awesome too thanks.

-Karl

[ This Message was edited by: Shakes on 2003-06-04 17:25 ]

jhatpro · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2003 3:04 pm Post subject:

Don't limit yourself to trumpet players. Guitarist Grant Green is a great player to transcribe because he plays great, simple, single-note lines. A good one to start on is "Idle Moments," which is slow. (When you get him down, you can move on to Lee Morgan on the same cut.)
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dbacon · Heavyweight Member Joined: 11 Nov 2001 Posts: 8592

Freddie on Bobby Hutcherson's "Dialogue."

His lyric muted solo on "Ghetto Lights!"

"Idle While" by Joe Chambers.

Two different approaches by Freddie, both exceptional.

One lyric, the other fluid 3/4. Lots of motion to say the least!!

musicmonkey · Veteran Member Joined: 01 Jan 2002 Posts: 344

What Chet Baker CD (or plural) would people reccomend. I'm interested primarily in his trumpet playing, not singing.

nate

musiclifeline · Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2003 9:55 am Post subject:

Chet Baker in New York, and Chet.

jazz_trpt · Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2003 10:54 am Post subject:

Be careful buying Chet albums without knowing what you're getting. There are some that are....not as good as others.

My favorite Chet albums for cool solos to transcribe:

* Chet Baker Quartet featuring Russ Freeman (1956)
* Chet Baker in New York (1958)
* Lonely Star / Stairway to the Stars / On a Misty Night (1965)
* The Touch Of Your Lips (1979)

Like Pat said, pick solos you like -- and where the soloist is doing something in particular that you want to understand and integrate into your palette. Listen to it alot before you set out upon transcribing it. Early on, pick stuff you can subdivide easily, not too long, ideally something you've listened to a bunch already.
_________________
Jeff Helgesen
Free jazz solo transcriptions!