Suggestions for bass solo to transcribe

[jallenbass]

I've been recording myself scatting along with Aebersold and transcribing what I sing. It's getting me away from improvising with my fingers and more toward my voice.

[emor]

O.K.--Here's my attempt at transcribing Paul Chamber's solo on Blue Train.

If anyone wants to take a look, I'm open to corrections/criticism.
(I already know that there are some subtler rhythmic things that I don't have notated.)


http://publish.hometown.aol.com/emo0...ss%20solo2.jpg

Thanks.

[jumpinin]

Originally Posted by jallenbass

I've been recording myself scatting along with Aebersold and transcribing what I sing. It's getting me away from improvising with my fingers and more toward my voice.

A good suggestion I've heard is the proper way to transcribe is -

1) Learn to sing the whole solo with the recording
2) Learn to sing the solo without the recording
3) Learn to play the solo without the recording

It takes longer this way but you rarely need to write the solo out. Once you can sing it for memory without the recording, you'll never forget it.

[Boardndave]

+1. That helped me a lot with the John Patitucci solo on Moanin' off of Eldar Djangirov's album which has no time behind the bass solo for a good chunk of it.

[Tbeers]

I had a lot of fun transcribing Scott LaFaro's solo from the track "Sposin'" on Victor Feldman's album "Arrival of Victor Feldman". Scott played a lot of lines that do NOT lie naturally on our instrument. It will really turn your head upside down when you actually learn and write down some of his solo lines.

Another good one is Christian McBride's solo from the track "Too Close for Comfort" on his first album, "Gettin' to It". He can be one of those players who shows off a lot and obviously has crazy technique, but this solo is very tasteful and actually brilliantly phrased. I highly recommend it -- it is a good study in how you can repeat the same line over different chords, changing a note or two each time, and it sounds really cool.

For Ray Brown, I recommend his solo intro to "Blues for Groundhog" on the Milt Jackson album "Memories of Thelonious Sphere Monk". This is without a doubt my all-time favorite jazz bass solo.

Another awesome McBride solo is in the track "Steeplechase" on the album "Parker's Mood" that he made with Roy Hargrove and Stephen Scott.

Yet another one from McBride -- his arco solo on the track "Mysterioso" from the second SuperBass album. His playing has a really vocal quality on this solo.

John Clayton's solo -- the track "On the Sunny Side of the Street" from Diana Krall's album "Stepping Out". Very elegant and tasteful.

Another McBride solo -- the track "Route 66" from John Pizzarelli's album "Dear Mr. Cole". It's amazing how he can play his ass off that way when there's no drummer!

More great John Clayton -- the track "Work Song" from the Monty Alexander album "Montreux Alexander Live!".

If you're feeling really ambitious.... Check out the track "Bass Solo Medley" from Milt Jackson's album "The Very Tall Band (Live at the Blue Note)". More Ray Brown at his best.

Paul Warburton on a tune called "Paulo". I have no idea what album it was on originally -- I got it through the TBDB sampler a long time ago.

Finally almost anything from either of the two SuperBass albums. I'd say they're basically required listening for jazz bassists these days. (I know I'm hardly qualified to make that kind of a statement, but I can't imagine anyone overlooking those albums....)

That's all I can think of for now. Good luck!

[CamMcIntyre]

I'll suggest what i have done....transcribe some Ray Brown lines & solos. I've transcribed his "You Are My SunShine" off of Walk On and another one that i'm forgetting the title of. Maybe "the real blues"?

This semester i'm transcribing Charlie Haden's "Why did i choose you?" off of his Art of the Song album.

take it easy.

[Tbeers]

Yeah to be honest you'll get a lot from transcribing Ray Brown's walking lines in addition to his solos. Obviously his walking lines are awesome but I can guarantee you'll gain a new appreciation for his playing if you transcribe some of it.

One of my suggestions from my previous post -- the track "Blues for Groundhog" from Milt Jackson's album "Memories of Thelonious Sphere Monk" -- is absolutely amazing. The whole thing, Ray's solo and his walking too. With Mickey Roker on drums and Monty Alexander on piano, the whole group has this really amazing pocket groove. Highly recommended, it would be tough to spend a better $1 on iTunes.

[Andy Allen]

Originally Posted by Tbeers

Yeah to be honest you'll get a lot from transcribing Ray Brown's walking lines in addition to his solos. Obviously his walking lines are awesome but I can guarantee you'll gain a new appreciation for his playing if you transcribe some of it.

The only problem with transcribing Ray Brown (and I highly recommend it) is that what sounds simple, fluid and obvious is actually tricky, clever and...well...humbling to say the least .

Originally Posted by Tbeers

One of my suggestions from my previous post -- the track "Blues for Groundhog" from Milt Jackson's album "Memories of Thelonious Sphere Monk" -- is absolutely amazing. The whole thing, Ray's solo and his walking too. With Mickey Roker on drums and Monty Alexander on piano, the whole group has this really amazing pocket groove. Highly recommended, it would be tough to spend a better $1 on iTunes.

And even better for 25c at eMusic.

(Shameless plug: if this post helps you sign up for an eMusic subscription please mention me, as I get free downloads as a result. )

Now I must get back to transcribing Jay Leonhart playing Confirmation (duo with Bill Charlap)

[Andy Allen]

Originally Posted by jallenbass

I've been recording myself scatting along with Aebersold and transcribing what I sing. It's getting me away from improvising with my fingers and more toward my voice.

This is probably one of the best suggestions I've heard. Far too often I play "fingering cliches" rather than lines that come directly from my mind (or even my soul ).

I'll be trying this myself...

Andy

[waltzfordebby]

I'm working on Lafaro's Autumn Leaves on Bill Evan's Portrait in Jazz. It's some great stuff. Very unconventional though...

I'm planning on doing Chambers' Solo on Blue Train
then Gary Peacock's Solo on Bouncing with Bud on Keith Jarrett's Whisper Not

[emor]

Originally Posted by Andy Allen

This is probably one of the best suggestions I've heard. Far too often I play "fingering cliches" rather than lines that come directly from my mind (or even my soul ).

I'll be trying this myself...

Andy

Yes, this is one of the goals of doing it. The way my instructor put it: "If you can play what you hear, then you can play what you think."

[emor]

Originally Posted by waltzfordebby

I'm planning on doing Chambers' Solo on Blue Train

When you're done maybe you could check out my attempt.
(Link in post #22). It needs some tweaking, I know. I'll see if I can work on it some more and post revisions.

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions.
I have a lot of listening ahead of me.

[waltzfordebby]

emor-i would be more than happy to.

one question: are you guys writing out the rhythms too? i memorize the rhythms and just put down the notes

[AZNBassist]

Originally Posted by joel kelsey

There is a SuperBass track on Christian McBride's album Gettin to it. The tune is called Splanky, it is a blues. There are three great blues bass solos on that cut (Ray Brown, Christian, and Milt Hinton Ithink). I highly recomend transcribing the Ray Brown solo. Also, Whims of Chambers (Paul Chambers) is also a great solo. You really can't go wrong with Ray or PC, in my opinion. PC is sometimes hard to hear, but Ray is usually very clear.

Really? That's interesting, in my transcribing experience I've always been able to hear PC better (due to his gut sound/bounce) than Ray Brown (whose punch always seemed to be louder than the note). Maybe we're transcribing different records?

[Andy Allen]

Originally Posted by waltzfordebby

one question: are you guys writing out the rhythms too? ...

I do - and it's often the hardest part of the task.

I do it because I'm fussy like that and want to have a complete transcription. I usually transcribe the whole piece, too; intro, head walk, solo.....

I suppose it all helps

Andy

[waltzfordebby]

haha... i would have to spend a year studying scott lafaro's solo on autumn leaves in order to get the rhythms perfect. i'm going to stick to the notes and memorize the rhythms. i can sing the whole solo in my head but it's just nice to have a good outline of what to play. i'll possibly write out rhythms when i work out a simpler solo

[CamMcIntyre]

Originally Posted by Tbeers

Yeah to be honest you'll get a lot from transcribing Ray Brown's walking lines in addition to his solos. Obviously his walking lines are awesome but I can guarantee you'll gain a new appreciation for his playing if you transcribe some of it.
.

Ray is who i've gotten some of my main lines from. It took me a while to get the ideas down, but man-it helps out.

[Possu jam]

Originally Posted by joel kelsey

There is a SuperBass track on Christian McBride's album Gettin to it. The tune is called Splanky, it is a blues. There are three great blues bass solos on that cut (Ray Brown, Christian, and Milt Hinton Ithink). I highly recomend transcribing the Ray Brown solo.

Ray's solo on that is killing! It always gives me an image of him saying "All right boys, here's how it goes.." particularly the beginning.

[jacofin]

I feel bass players should transcribe also some solos by other instruments, lets say tenor sax or piano. Bass players tend to solo within the bass idiom and that's necessarily not what I'm looking for. Of course one will play something which is easily achieved with bass, but I think it's important to play something which would not come out most naturally. That will expand our tools of expression.

And spekaing of transcription books, I think they are waste of time unless you want just to browse and toy with the solos. If you're gonna learn to master the instrument and your solo voice, transcribing them yourself is the only way.