Brian Bromberg All Blues

[hoivenglaven]

Would anyone happen to have a transcription of his version of All Blues from Wood I? Even just a small part would help. I could do it myself but it'd take a while and I need it for an assignment due tomorrow :P Thanks.

[TroyK]

Your assignment is to get a copy of someone else's Brian Bromberg transcription?

[Treyzer]

Originally Posted by TroyK

Your assignment is to get a copy of someone else's Brian Bromberg transcription?

Troy,

Maybe would could develop another sub-forum and charge money for bass transcription "cliff notes" or "Bass solos for Dummies" Bet both would be very popular!

[TroyK]

Well, I do need a job...

Then again, the value of transcriptions is doing the work. I don't even really tend to keep mine when I'm finished. It's the process that I take something away from.

But, I do need a job and I'm done with working for the Man.

[Michael Glynn]

Originally Posted by TroyK

Well, I do need a job...

Then again, the value of transcriptions is doing the work. I don't even really tend to keep mine when I'm finished. It's the process that I take something away from.

I mostly agree, but I think you can get something out of other peoples' transcriptions. You can still analyze the music to see what another musician did and get some important information out of it.

Of course, you get a lot more out of doing the transcribing yourself--great ear training and you generally end up with a much more full appreciation of the music--but on the other hand I'm not going to redo the whole Charlie Parker Omnibook on my own. I can analyze and play through a dozen solos in the time it would take me to transcribe one (of course, the more transcribing you do, the quicker and easier it gets). Another issue with someone else's transcription is that you can't always be sure of the accuracy or of things like tone and articulation. For this reason it is important to have the original recordings even if you don't do the transcription yourself.

[TroyK]

Hey Mr. Glenn! Why you gotta harsh my mellow?

You're right. I've got a few transcription books and they are useful for the reasons you listed and for practice reading, which I have been doing a lot more of lately.

I personally HATE transcribing and it's not easy for me for some reason. But, every time I suffer through it something embeds in me that never leaves. It becomes a part of my inner voice and my reasoning. I am big into "analysing", but honestly I don't get that from it.

At any rate, someone gave the original poster an assignment for some reason and it sounds like the day before it was due, he started looking for a cheat sheet.

SHAME SHAME! Do the work, you'll be glad you did.

Although personally, I'm not anxious to have more people out there sounding like Brian Bromberg.

[Treyzer]

Originally Posted by TroyK

Although personally, I'm not anxious to have more people out there sounding like Brian Bromberg.

Ha,

My 1st post was intended as a joke. Since I actually teach young minds, I take a very dim view of students blowing off their assignments!

OK, Troy,

I admit I'm not a fan of maybe the genre Brian chooses to make his living in, (smooth jazz), but the guy can play, especially when he just plays bass and doesn't do all the Eddie Van Heflin tapping stuff. His bass set up has a string height that is very, very, very low!

[TroyK]

I mean no disrespect to Mr. Bromberg. He's definitely got chops. Much better than I ever will. I just find those records a little...self-indulgent. Personal taste.

[Mark Perna]

Originally Posted by TroyK

I mean no disrespect to Mr. Bromberg. He's definitely got chops. Much better than I ever will. I just find those records a little...self-indulgent. Personal taste.

I'm interested. What do you mean by "self-indulgent"?

mark

[Michael Glynn]

Originally Posted by TroyK

Hey Mr. Glenn! Why you gotta harsh my mellow?

You're right. I've got a few transcription books and they are useful for the reasons you listed and for practice reading, which I have been doing a lot more of lately.

I personally HATE transcribing and it's not easy for me for some reason. But, every time I suffer through it something embeds in me that never leaves. It becomes a part of my inner voice and my reasoning. I am big into "analysing", but honestly I don't get that from it.

I agree, the amount of effort and concentration that goes into doing your own transcriptions leads to a much greater internalization of the music being transcribed.

Originally Posted by TroyK

At any rate, someone gave the original poster an assignment for some reason and it sounds like the day before it was due, he started looking for a cheat sheet.

Yeah, I know why you wrote what you did, but I figured since it was already too late for the guy, we might as well hijack his thread and go somewhere else with it.

[BigOldHarry]

I got curious... I know who BB is, I know he has done writing for BP, etc...

So I went on Itunes and just listened to snippets of several of his songs.

I hate to be mean... but what a waste of talent. Freakin' elevator music! It's clear that he can play, but he opts to play such... well, dreck sounds harsh - how about "anesthetizing"?

[hoivenglaven]

It'd be nice if you all would take a second to think about why I might be asking for a transcription. I do a minimum of one transcription (head and solos) per week for my improv. class. This week happens to be hell-week, the last couple of days before my school's musical opens, and I'm in the pit. Try waking up for school at 5:30, staying until 11:30, and still doing all of your homework, projects, and studying for tests and doing a transcription on top. I wasn't asking someone to transcribe it for me. I was asking if anyone had seen or had already done a transcription.

[hoivenglaven]

Originally Posted by Michael Glynn

Of course, you get a lot more out of doing the transcribing yourself--great ear training and you generally end up with a much more full appreciation of the music

Um, I have as close to perfect pitch as relative pitch can get. I do a TON of transcribing, and like you said, I have gotten a lot faster. I know I'm going to take some flak for this, but I just wish people wouldn't try to preach when they don't know the situation.

[TroyK]

Well, you brought it up.

[TroyK]

Originally Posted by calivox

I'm interested. What do you mean by "self-indulgent"?

mark

I probably shouldn't have brought it up. I don't like to ever say anything about people's art. Especially when they are WAY better than me. Mr. Bromberg, if you're reading, mea culpa.

It's a matter of personal taste. For starters, I don't really like any solo records. I'm all about jazz as a communion of musicians. I don't even particularly like solo piano, though it makes more sense to me. Any album that features a rhythm section player as the focal point, like drums, for example, just feels less like putting music out there and more like someone wanting everyone to hear their chops. It's just me and I know other people rightly feel differently.

I also have some bias against jazz versions of Beatles songs. I don't know why really. I actually like the Beatles and love jazz, but I also like ice cream and love beer and I don't cram those two things together in a frosty glass very often. So, the whole, "check me out blowing for 18 minutes over 'Come Together'" thing kind of...doesn't reach my muse. But, I'm sure he wasn't trying to reach my muse, so we're all good.

Ironically, for someone who's put out two records called "Wood", I feel his tone on them is fairly Underwood Pickupy. Not bad, I just think that's towards the other end of the tone spectrum to what we normally refer to as "woody". Wouldn't have thought anything about it if he hadn't named his solo album(s) that.

But, again, it's all personal preference as a listener, not as a jazz bassist. If I could play like him and had legions of fans wanting to hear me playing solo, I'd do it faster than you could say "Max Roach +4".

If I were someone important, I realize some of what I express above might be hurtful, but fortunately for Mr. Bromberg and his fans, I'm not.

I'd actually love to hear him play with a good group. I haven't and suspect that it would change my opinions and feelings quite a bit.

[Treyzer]

Originally Posted by hoivenglaven

It'd be nice if you all would take a second to think about why I might be asking for a transcription. I do a minimum of one transcription (head and solos) per week for my improv. class. This week happens to be hell-week, the last couple of days before my school's musical opens, and I'm in the pit. Try waking up for school at 5:30, staying until 11:30, and still doing all of your homework, projects, and studying for tests and doing a transcription on top. I wasn't asking someone to transcribe it for me. I was asking if anyone had seen or had already done a transcription.

I'm sure you know that there are many educators that frequent this site. If you were asked to transcribe something, then do it. That would be the ethical thing to do and I believe you know that. As for all the other stuff about when you get up and when you go to bed......Who chose this for you. I won't even begin to tell you my schedule as I do not wish to turn this into any kind of contest.

Make your choices and be big enough to do what needs to be done to be successful.

This is a whine free zone!

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by TroyK

I'd actually love to hear him play with a good group. I haven't and suspect that it would change my opinions and feelings quite a bit.

If you're an emusic person, go there and check out the remastered version of his record called "It's About Time: the acoustic project". The band includes Freddie Hubbard, Ernie Watts, Mike Garson, Mitchell Foreman.... especially fine is the version of "If I Should Lose You" on this record. Freddie is still strong and playing his tuckus off, and the whole groove and vibe is wonderful.

[TroyK]

Originally Posted by Chris Fitzgerald

If you're an emusic person, go there and check out the remastered version of his record called "It's About Time: the acoustic project". The band includes Freddie Hubbard, Ernie Watts, Mike Garson, Mitchell Foreman.... especially fine is the version of "If I Should Lose You" on this record. Freddie is still strong and playing his tuckus off, and the whole groove and vibe is wonderful.

I'll do it. It's my penance for ever speaking ill of anyone living's music...and sometimes even people who have passed. It's one thing around the table at a set break to say "I really don't dig that record", it's another to put it in writing on the internet. I regretted it almost as soon as I wrote it and if I hadn't been quoted, I might have deleted it, but I can't edit other people's posts and should generally just own up to it anyway.

Anyway, just one unimportant person's feelings about a record, not about a person or his talent. I'm sure thousands of other people have voted me down by buying those records. Hell, I even have "Wood I". There are Jazz Messengers albums I don't really connect with too and I love the Jazz Messengers.

[Treyzer]

Originally Posted by TroyK

I probably shouldn't have brought it up. I don't like to ever say anything about people's art. Especially when they are WAY better than me. Mr. Bromberg, if you're reading, mea culpa.

It's a matter of personal taste. For starters, I don't really like any solo records. I'm all about jazz as a communion of musicians...........Any album that features a rhythm section player as the focal point, like drums, for example, just feels less like putting music out there and more like someone wanting everyone to hear their chops. It's just me and I know other people rightly feel differently.

I also have some bias against jazz versions of Beatles songs.

If I were someone important, I realize some of what I express above might be hurtful, but fortunately for Mr. Bromberg and his fans, I'm not.

I'd actually love to hear him play with a good group. I haven't and suspect that it would change my opinions and feelings quite a bit.

Troy,

You know I dig you and it is not my intention to Defend BB (not that he would care) BUT......

I would like to address a few points.
1) BB has done many dates with many artists and has been the leader on a number of records other than the 2 Wood CDs. He sounds pretty good as a rythm section player as well as an occasional soloist. He leads his own bands and they tour often.

2)Regarding Beatle songs, did you ever hear Herbie's "The New Standards"CD? Dave Holland plays a solo on Norwegian Wood that is just beautiful.

3)As far as I'm concerned you are someone who is important.

Lastly and this is from a completely personal perspective. (My own experience) *Note of clarification* I have not been an actual practicing professional for over 12 years and I do not profess to speak for any musician I know or have known except myself. However, in my experience, when you are trying to sell records, make recording dates, earn a good living and/or develop a career, decisions regarding who to play with, what style to play, when to tour and who to tour with often involve big monetary considerations as well as the artistic ones. There are often managers, record execs and suits of all kinds that want to tell you what to do. It can be a real trick trying to stay true to whatever it is you thought you wanted to do. Those that can pull it off typically stay around a long time!

[TroyK]

Originally Posted by Treyzer

1) BB has done many dates with many artists and has been the leader on a number of records other than the 2 Wood CDs. He sounds pretty good as a rythm section player as well as an occasional soloist. He leads his own bands and they tour often.

Yeah, and I'll see him some day and I'm sure he'll blow my mind. He's a great player, I just don't connect with his or most anyone's solo albums. That's what I should have said. I listened to the free portion of the track the Chris suggested, but I only had $ .71 in my iTunes account, so it'll have to wait until I make another trip to Coinstar to charge it up. He's got chops. Even that little clip made me feel like I was sitting in a masterclass, but again, that's not usually what I'm looking for in a favorite album.

Originally Posted by Treyzer

2)Regarding Beatle songs, did you ever hear Herbie's "The New Standards"CD? Dave Holland plays a solo on Norwegian Wood that is just beautiful.

Yeah, I've heard it...I love Herbie and I love Dave Holland...but I just don't get why everyone wants to make Beatles songs into jazz. Besides, they're just putting money in Michael Jackson's pockets...not that I want to start in on another successful musician.

Originally Posted by Treyzer

3)As far as I'm concerned you are someone who is important.

Oh, I assure you that I'm not! But thanks.

Originally Posted by Treyzer

Lastly and this is from a completely personal perspective... There are often managers, record execs and suits of all kinds that want to tell you what to do. It can be a real trick trying to stay true to whatever it is you thought you wanted to do. Those that can pull it off typically stay around a long time!

Yeah, I know and I would have put those two albums out too, exactly like that if I could have and people would have bought them. So, what was my point again?

Oh yeah, Dude, do your own transcriptions! And eat your vegetables and say no to drugs.