JAZZ TRANSCRIPTIONS

In college, I did many jazz solo transcriptions, Truth be told, I should have done more. And even more truth, I should have spent more time understanding the intent of every note, instead of fully focusing on trying to figure out the notes and rhythms being played, and then learning to play the solos myself. In 2020, when Covid locked us at home, one of the activities I used to pass the time was transcribing some solos. It turned out to be an excellent exercise. For one, it's a lot easier now with technology to slow the recording down and notation software to playback the transcription progress as you go. But what really surprised me was how much better I was now at predicting the notes that were coming by knowing the changes being played. This is what I should have been focusing on 40 years ago. It's not like I've been playing enough to have these skills as second nature so it surprised me that so much of the theory behind note choices made more sense to me now than when I was studying and playing full time in college. ​ But the best thing that happened after transcribing a few solos was that my ears became markedly improved. I started transcribing some Clifford Brown septets and the entire Rufus - Stomping' at the Savoy album and had a much easier time separating section parts, and making decisions about voicing section parts. Go figure, practice pays off! ​ Anyway, I'll be posting these transcriptions (in C, Bb, Eb, Bass clef) for anyone that wants them. Feel free to download and please send me and comments and/or corrections. I doubt they are perfect.