[Dixielandjazz] Transcribing

[Craig I. Johnson]

I find that not only transcribing and listening to a solo, but also playing it
is extremely useful practice for both the technical part of using one's instrument
but also the stoking of ones memory with fragments of figures later useful..
It does not have to imply that one actually uses the solo of someone else
when actually playing the same song. However, once in a while it is not
out of place to actually play the solo "as was" as long as it doesn't always
reduce one to being a "human recording machine."

It also depends on what it takes to satisfy the desires of your audience.
Some purists want to hear what I consider to be "covers". If they pay and
it ain't a bore to you,  give 'em what they want. If you can't do that, maybe
you shouldn't play those gigs. Personal choice is what it's all about, for both
the musicians and the fans.

What the hell, why not" -- again as long as that isn't all you ever do.
"A chacun son gout." - or something like that.
One need not be just a purist nor just an anti-purist.

Regards,
Craig Johnson
Cornet- the Maine Street Paraders.


On 9/25/2006 12:21:38 PM, Mike (mike at railroadstjazzwest.com) wrote:
> That's true. You can't transcribe the feeling.
> That's why you play the
> solo along with the record. Transcribing for one thing is good ear
> training practice. Secondly, I've
> found that if I have trouble coming up
> with ideas of things to do on difficult chords, I see what the past and
> present masters have done over these chords. Transcribing can also give
> you clues to how some people voice chords.
> 
> Mike
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> d. sleeman wrote:
> I am curious to know why people like to transcribe
> solo's of renown jazz
> musicians in the first place.
> >
> > You can transcribe the notes, but not the feeling, phrasing and timing.
> >
> > If you might want to improve on your skills playing your particular instrument, play your own solo's,
> record them, transcribe them and analyse them!
> >
> > Just my 2 eurocents hoping this will lead to a lengthy discussion...
> >
> > Dick S.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Dixielandjazz mailing list
> > Dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
> > http://ml.islandnet.com/mailman/listinfo/dixielandjazz
> >
> >
> >