Author Archives: asdfmatt

Transcription: Hank Mobley’s Solo On “This I Dig Of You”

This transcription is a personal one for me. When I was in high school, I played this solo (from a written transcription) for All-County, All-State and college auditions. I made first chair tenor saxophone in the Erie County All-County Jazz A Band in 2008, and played this for my Berkelee audition as well. I’ve alwaysContinueContinue reading “Transcription: Hank Mobley’s Solo On “This I Dig Of You””

Transcription: Sonny Rollins’ Solo on “Oleo”

Having just celebrated his 94th birthday on September 7th, 2024, Sonny Rollins is a living legend. Sonny’s contributions as a composer are considerably important to the history of Black American Music. You can’t go to a jam session and not hear one of his many great tunes called. His compositions, such as “Oleo”, “Doxy”, “St.ContinueContinue reading “Transcription: Sonny Rollins’ Solo on “Oleo””

Transcription: Lester Young’s Solo on “Taxi War Dance”

This is an extra bonus transcription to come with my recently posted transcription of Prez’s solo on “Lady Be Good” For more on this recording, check out this write up here! Learning The Solo: Taxi War Dance (1939) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuORwNlNwF4 The Solo This is a short one, so like Prez, I will keep it brief. TranscriptionContinueContinue reading “Transcription: Lester Young’s Solo on “Taxi War Dance””

Transcription: Lester Young’s Solo On “Oh, Lady Be Good”

What else can be said about Lester Young. Nicknamed “Prez” as in, “The President Of The Saxophone”, he blessed our vernaculars with the word “cool” and many other classic expressions. Beyond the spoken word, Prez made a far greater contribution to the architecture of musical language. I have come to realize his influence on theContinueContinue reading “Transcription: Lester Young’s Solo On “Oh, Lady Be Good””

Transcription: John Coltrane’s Solo On Four

Miles Davis’ band settled on the lineup known as the “First Great Quintet” in 1955, when a 29-year old John Coltrane replaced Sonny Rollins in September of 1955. This famed band launched many superstar careers, but this particular lineup would craft a series of recordings that would define an era of music. After expanding toContinueContinue reading “Transcription: John Coltrane’s Solo On Four”

Transcription: Stan Getz’s Solo on Lover, Come Back To Me

It’s a beautiful summer morning in June and I’m getting ready to publish my transcription of Stan Getz’s burning solo on Lover, Come Back To Me. Lover, Come Back To Me is a standard tune composed by Sigmund Romberg with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. It was first released in 1928 as featured in theContinueContinue reading “Transcription: Stan Getz’s Solo on Lover, Come Back To Me”

Beginner’s 5-Step Guide To Transcribing Solos

Transcribing the music left for us by the greats is the fastest way to see improvement as a musician. Beyond just learning the “language” of the “jazz” (hereafter referred to as “BAM”, short for “Black American Music”) art form, I’ve seriously stepped up so many other skills in learning to transcribe. It touches almost everyContinueContinue reading “Beginner’s 5-Step Guide To Transcribing Solos”