Transcriptions are the key to learning musical vocabularies. Over the years I have chosen to transcribe a few tunes and solos by some of my favorite artists. These transcriptions span a period of about 11 years since my 1st solo transcription assignment back in Russ Miller’s Jazz Improv class at Wayne State in Detroit in 1999. They also represent the evolution of my copyist chops as well.

Lead Sheets:

Jive Coffee by Peter Bernstein

Blues Connotation by Ornette Coleman

Broadway Blues by Ornette Coleman

Humpty Dumpty by Ornette Coleman

Peace by Ornette Coleman

Round Trip by Ornette Coleman

Ballroom by Bill Frisell

Blues For Los Angeles by Bill Frisell

Egg Radio by Bill Frisell

Gone, Just Like A Train by Bill Frisell

Racoon Cat by Bill Frisell

Verona by Bill Frisell

Bon Ami by Jim Hall

Jinrikisha by Joe Henderson

Criss Cross by Thelonious Monk

Four In One by Thelonious Monk

Humph by Thelonious Monk

Skippy by Thelonious Monk

Thelonious by Thelonious Monk

Summer Breeze by Seals & Crofts

Conception by George Shearing

Lester Left Town by Wayne Shorter

Solo Transcriptions:

Clifford Brown’s solo on What is This Thing Called Love

Kenny Dorham’s solo on KD’s Blues

Kenny Dorham’s solo on The Preacher

Charlie Haden’s solo on Blues For Pat

Pat Metheny’s solo on Equinox

Wes Montgomery’s solo on West Coast Blues

Joe Pass’s solo on Blue Bossa

Les Spann’s solo on Loveless Love

Full Arrangements:

My Favorite Things by Sarah Vaughan on “After Hours”