Sorry all for my absence the past two days. I took a short trip to Jersey where I did not have access to a tuned piano, so no transcription for two days. I have done a little more work on the Jimmy Smith transcription, finishing one page and halfway into the second one. This part of the solo gets a little chromatic so pace has slowed a little, seeing where he is trying to go, but pushing through.
In terms of other interesting musical things going on, my group, "the Space Monkeys", have decided as a group to stop writing songs for the moment due to the high number of compositions we need to perfect and get tight to this point. Things are going well if we have too many songs to learn, I guess.
In terms of listening, I bought the album, "Midnight Marauders" by Tribe Called Quest a few days ago and have been listening it frequently. I was introduced to the album awhile back by one Dan "D.J." Fellman who at almost every party will at some point blast the song below.
Steve Bilko (Stir It Up)
What really caught my eye about the album was that Tribe sample Freddie Hubbard's song, "Red Clay", in the baseline of one of their tracks. The album, in general, is that old school, east coast rap and has some cool horn samples going on throughout. In comparison to other rappers today, like Drake who raps about in almost every song how he is famous now and he doesn't know anybody at the party he is at because he is famous now, there is some real insight and thoughtfulness in a lot of the tracks on this album.
Compare
Red Clay (at around 1:09)
Sucka Nigga
I will probably finish this chorus by Jimmy Smith and then take some time working on the solo. I'll start another transcription TBD tomorrow.
First up is the track "J.A.T.P. Blues" by Charlie Parker. I only transcribed the first 8 bars because it is Oscar Peterson and anyone who has listened to any Oscar Peterson knows that 8 bars is all it takes for him to fill up a lot of space. I couldn't find a good recording online anywhere, but I got the track out of one of those huge box sets. This track is an alternate to the other take of J.A.T.P. blues which is taken at a slower tempo.
The other track is "Hackensack" by Jimmy Smith. The original tune is written by Thelonious Monk, featured below.
"Hackensack" by the Thelonious Monk Quartet off the album "Crisscross"
This track is off the albums "Retrospective", which is a best of album, and originally off the album "Softly as a Morning Breeze". I could not find another version of this track on the interwebs so that you all could get a chance to listen through here. So far, I have written out the melody and chords of the song, which the guitar player, Kenny Burrell, plays while Smith comps.
The reason I selected these two songs to transcribe are because I have not to this point transcribed any organ, although I have been using organ sounds in performances for a little while now. I figure if I am transcribing anybody I should get the great Jimmy Smith. For those who haven't heard him, here is a track rightly titled "The Champ".
"The Champ" by Jimmy Smith off "A New Sound A New Star Jimmy Smith at the Organ Vol. 2"
My reason for the Oscar Peterson recording is to work on fast introductions and increase my blues language which Oscar is well versed in.
Tomorrow, I will be beginning the organ solo which is as about as hot as it was today here in Boston at 95 degrees. Enjoy all!
I have been unemployed from City Year for 6 days, in which time I have begun my process to play music and figure out my life. If I want to play music I need to transcribe and get my technique together.
My biggest strengths to this point are as follows:
I have an intermediate understanding of music theory.
I own a keyboard, 3 amps, and stumbled upon a PA system. I can now play a gig equipment wise.
I have a good sense of rhythm and can play chords.
I can read lead sheets.
I can improvise.
I can drive.
I am usually not a dick to people.
My biggest weaknesses to this point are as follows:
I have very small connections in the Boston area.
My ability to sight read is limited.
My technique is amateurish at certain levels and needs to be improved upon.
There are many conservatories in Boston i.e. many other piano players who are much better than me.
There are fewer places to play especially in the genres that I play in.
I have no regular employment at the moment.
Because of these things, I am calling this the summer of transcription. I will transcribe something, anything, every single day. For those friends who do not know what transcription is, transcription is when you learn literal versions of recorded music. I personally like to write down my transcriptions, but it can just be listening and memorizing what an artists plays.
The reason why this is important is because in order to be great at any art you must be able to speak the language. Not only speak it and get by, but speak it well. It is important to emphasize words and phrase just as it is to line them up correctly.
By transcribing, you literally learn how to speak, or in my case, play like someone who is a master or significantly better.
And so, by transcribing I will
Hone my technique by recognizing what I need to focus on.
Learn more songs.
Increase my improvisational vocabulary.
Develop my melodic and harmonic understanding.
You might be asking, "So how can I get involved?"
Good question, world!
You can support, berate, suggest, encourage, yell or comment at me. I figured the people around me, whether it is in physical proximity or those I have encountered in my life, can provide me that extra motivation and kick in the ass I need to get this work done. I will post each day exactly what I transcribe and, if available, links to the music itself to see if you can follow along. So lets get started.
Transcription #1
"Get By" by Talib Kweli & "Homecoming" by Kanye West
"Get By" is a based on the song "Sinnerman" by Nina Simone that rapper Talib Kweli sampled, changed key, and rapped over.
"Sinnerman" by Nina Simone off the album "Pastel Blues"
There is an interesting history of how "Sinnerman" has been used in different media, as it has been sampled by a number of artists and background for a number of films and TV shows. I remember the first time I heard this song it was in the remake of "the Thomas Crown Affair" with Pierce Brosnan during the last major chase scene. I thought it was a very fitting song for the scene.
Regardless, the song "Get By" samples it and there are a couple of awesome versions of it. The first below is the original music video by Talib Kweli. The next video is a unreleased single by Kweli with Jay-Z, Kanye West, Mos Def, and Busta Rymes
Music Video of "Get By"
"Get By" with Jay-Z and controversially some other underground rappers of the time: Kanye West, Mos Def, and Busta Rymes
I did a rough diagram of the piano line and the chords that make up the piano part, which repeats as the sample in the song. I choose to transcribe this song because not only is it a killin' contemporary line, but I am learning it for a potential performance with the group I am playing with currently, the Space Monkeys.
A rough write up of the two songs
Below that we have "Homecoming" by Kanye West. I'll be honest, I was listening to "Get By" on youtube and on the right side they had "Homecoming" and decided to keep moving to the next one. Everyone has heard this song at this point, but it will be a progression that I'll take a little time to get through. Below is the music video.
Tomorrow, we will be moving onto some BAM courtesy of Charlie Parker so stay tuned.
