Clifford Brown's solo on "Kiss and Run"

This is the first transcription I am posting of the great Clifford Brown, there will be many more with due time. "Kiss and Run" is a Sam Coslow standard that has not been often recorded but Sonny Rollins album Sonny Rollins Plus 4 gives it a great rendition. With Max Roach on drums, bassist George Morrow and Richie Powell on piano this power house recording is a true statement of bebop. This is a fast tune and Clifford's playing is incredible, just pure bop. Some great lines can be taken out of this solo. Enjoy!

Clifford Brown - Kiss and Run

Adam Roger's chord melody and solo on "Evidence"

Well after a couple of days of work I am uploading my transcription of Adam Roger's chord melody and solo on "Evidence". This version of  Thelonious Monk's standard comes from John Patitucci's album "Line by Line". This album is kind of all over the place, presenting funk, swing, a bit of classical and contemporary music. This song is a fusion between jazz and funk I would say, with Patitucci on electric bass, Adam on his telecaster (I'm taking a wild guess) and Brian Blade just being the great drummer he always is. I love this solo because it rocks hard and shows Adam's electric side but at the same time it swings great with incredible bebop lines being thrown at us. Adam tends to respect the changes but a lot of times he will follow an idea over the changes creating more tension until he resolves wherever he lands. I also like how he can switch his rock side on and off during the solo, he is very dynamic and easily one of the best guitarist out there. Enjoy!

   Adam Rogers - Evidence

Ben Monder's solo on "Echolalia"

This solo comes from one of the guitarist I admire the most, Ben Monder. I will admit he is not one of the ones I listen to the most but I do admire him for his creativity and open mind when it comes to exploring music.

Oceana is a wonderful album, it is very unique and exploratory while still being just beautiful. Any contribution between Ben Monder and Theo Bleckmann is worth listening to. "Echolalia" is by far my favorite song of this album, and Ben's solo is amazing. It starts with lots of space and some great harmonic movement. It then develops into more melodic lines that are well placed and flawlessly executed. Ben knows well how to use space and develop a solo, this solo is no exception to that. I suggest you listen to this song about a thousand times and then some more!

Ben Monder - Echolalia

Joe Henderson's solo on "Felicidade"

From Henderson's classic Double Rainbow a transcription of one of my favorite Jobim tunes, "Felicidade". He picks a great personnel to tackle some Brazilian music with Oscar Castro-Neves and Eliane Elias on guitar and piano, bass player Nico Assumpcao and Paul Braga on drums. Apart from Getz, Henderson is one of the greatest at adapting to bossa nova and samba. I hope you enjoy this solo, Henderson leaves lots of space while developing great ideas organically through out the solo.

                             Joe Henderson - Felicidade

Pat Metheny's solo on "Nothing Personal"

This week's solo comes from the great Pat Metheny, one of the most influetial guitarist of all time. It comes from Michael Brecker's debut album Michael Brecker. This is an incredible album with a power house quintet with keyboard player Kenny Kirklank and Charlie Haden and Jack DeJohnette on bass and drums. Produced by Don Grolnick himself, this album is a most for any jazz player. Metheny's solo is great, short but fill with good ideas. He alternates between the Dorian scale, blues scale and chromatic lines. He also goes back and forward between rapid lines and syncopated rhythmic ideas. I will post more Metheny solos in the future!




                                        Pat Metheny - Nothing Personal

Horace Silver's solo on "Silver's Serenade"

Another great solo from the album Retrospective by Horace Silver. "Silver's Serenade" is one of my favorite Silver tunes and his solo in this tune is just great. His solo is very idea oriented, he uses a lot of question and answer phrases and enjoys the space. 

This is another great solo to work on your swing, Horace play with a delicate touch but that doesn't stop him from swinging. He also uses a lot of patterns given the amount of minor chords involved. I would suggest taking any of his ideas and working them on different scales. 

                                     Horace Silver - Silver's Serenade

Junior Cook's solo on "Silver's Serenade"

Here I post a great Junior Cook solo. This solo on Silver's Serenade comes from Horace Silver's album "Retrospective". This is a great tune, Horace Silver composed wonderful music that could swing real hard but stay cool. Cook adapts to his music real well, his solo is simple and well structured. Ideas are developed but it never gets too busy. It is always good for guitarists to learn solos from other instruments, particularly winds and piano. It is a good way to learn how to swing and learn great ideas and then adapt them to the guitar. 



                                    Junior Cook - Silver's Serenade