I Can't Get Started
Hamiet Bluiett from Live at the Villiage Vanguard
I Can't Get Started by Vernon Duke and Ira Gershwin
Hamiet Bluiett is well known for taking the fundamental hard-bop vocabulary and stretching it to (or past) it's breaking point, pulling sounds out of his horn that have alternatively been described as wails, screechs, screams, and more. This solo alternates back and forth between that tasteful execution of very tonal, "inside" playing and some of those screams and blips. I have attempted to be as descriptive as possible in describing how I believe those sounds may be replicated, so I wish you luck.
Solo at 43:49
What It's All About
Gerry Mulligan from Gerry Mulligan Meets Johnny Hodges
What It's All About by Johnny Hodges
Like so many others, my first experiences with Gerry Mulligan were through his recordings with Chet Baker and the "piano-less quartet". As I listened to more and more of his music, I was always interested in his approach to the blues and it seemed to deviate in color and tone from his primary approach to Bebop. This slow-cooking blues was a fun solo to transcribe, and is a masterclass in playing tastefully.
Solo at 0:55
Leo Parker from The Bill Jennings Leo Parker Quintet
Solitude
I was not introduced to Leo Parker until I was a sophomore in college, and that was a monumental shame in my development as a baritone player. I find him to be an incredibly articulate and bluesy soloist, and this transcription focuses on interpreting that style. The whole recording is only him playing the melody, which allows us to really focus in on his ornaments and embellishments. ​
Video TBD