The Jazz Sax & Improvisation Blog of Saxophonist Bobby Stern - bobbysternjazz.com

Airegin - Six Short Etudes - First Eight of the First Ending

9/22/2023

"Airegin" - Six Short Etudes
Based on the First Eight Measures of the First Ending

Earlier this month, Sonny Rollins - the iconic tenor "Saxophone Colossus", turned 93 years old - which is a major accomplishment in and of itself. So, as a belated birthday salute, I thought we might hone in on a section of one of Sonny's well known and oft played originals - "Airegin" - the title which is, of course, the name of the West African nation Nigeria delleps sdrawkcab (spelled backwards).

Like several of his other originals - which include "St. Thomas", "Oleo", "Doxy" & "Paul's Pal" - "Airegin" has long ago made it to the list of must-know Jazz standards.

It was first recorded in June of 1954 on the Prestige label as part of the 10-inch EP "Miles Davis with Sonny Rollins". In this post, we'll focus on an eight-bar section of "Airegin" - namely measures 9 thru 17 - which make up the first half of the first ending of the tune.

'Tis the Season - A "Sleigh Ride" at 250 BPM

12/17/2022

'Tis the Season
A "Sleigh Ride" at 250 BPM

'Tis once again "The Season" of hopefully fun and enjoyable times for you and yours. It´s also the season of non-stop holiday shopping music; which - thankfully, for the most part - comes but once a year.

Most of these holiday songs have been around for a while for the simple reason that they're popular and familiar to most of us - with the added and possibly unconscious realization that after New Year's Day, we likely won't be hearing them for another year.

One of those tunes was actually composed as a light orchestral piece during the heatwave of July, 1948 and makes no reference to the December holiday season.

"Coming on the Hudson" - A Johnny Griffin Tenor Saxophone Solo Transcription

9/28/2022

"Coming on the Hudson" - A Johnny Griffin Tenor Saxophone Solo Transcription

This month's post features a transcription / analysis of Johnny Griffin's tenor saxophone solo on Thelonious Monk's "Coming on the Hudson", recorded live at the legendary Five Spot Cafe in NYC on August 7, 1958. It was released as one of the tracks on the album "Thelonious in Action!". In addition to Monk and Griffin, the quartet was rounded out by bassist Ahmed Abdul Malik and the great Roy Haynes, on drums.

I've been wanting to do a transcription of Griffin's tenor solo on "Coming on the Hudson" for a long time. The tune - which is perhaps one of Monk's most "Monkish" - seemed somewhat challenging to grasp, as far as its form, rhythms and resolutions were concerned. At the same time, it ebbs and flows steadily - kind of like the Hudson River itself - whirlpools and all!

"Nutville" - Joe Henderson's Tenor Saxophone Solo Transcribed

6/25/2022

"Nutville"
Joe Henderson's Tenor Saxophone Solo Transcribed

© Maurice Stern. All Rights Reserved

Drawing courtesy of mauricestern.org. Click pic for more info.

Horace Silver's classic, "Nutville" was recorded on Oct. 22nd, 1965 and released as part of his Blue Note album, "The Cape Verdean Blues".

Along with Silver on piano, the hall-of-fame lineup included Joe Henderson on tenor saxophone, Woody Shaw - trumpet, J. J. Johnson - trombone, with Bob Cranshaw and Roger Humphries - bass and drums, respectively.

While the solos by Shaw and Johnson have often been the subject of study, Henderson's brief 4-chorus improvisation is the focus here. Being a tenor player myself, I guess I've always been a little nuts on the subject of Joe.

Get an Angle on "The Eternal Triangle" Bridge

2/24/2022

Take it to the Bridge...
Getting an Angle on "The Eternal Triangle"

Ok, folks! Are you ready to take it to the bridge? Brooklyn? GW? Golden Gate? London Bridge?

Nope. I'm talking about the "The Eternal Triangle" bridge - from the classic Dizzy Gillespie album "Sonny Side Up" - featuring both Theodore "Sonny" Rollins and Edward "Sonny" Stitt (the tune's composer). Two Samurai swordsmen battling it out on the bridge (the whole tune actually) with tenor saxophones as their musical swords of choice. And then, of course - there's Dizzy! Not to be forsaken!

Despite the high winds created by the tune's rapid tempo, crossing this bridge might not be as treacherous as it might initially seem.

Joe Henderson's Tenor Solo on "You Know I Care" - A Transcription

11/25/2021

Joe Henderson's Tenor Solo
"You Know I Care" - A Jazz Ballad Transcription

"You Know I Care", is a masterpiece of a composition by the prolific composer / pianist / arranger, Columbus Calvin "Duke" Pearson, jr and is possibly the most representative original ballad of the 1960s Blue Note period.

As the ballad feature on Joe Henderson's classic "Inner Urge" album, it was recorded on November 30, 1964 - nine days before John Coltrane recorded "A Love Supreme" - with pianist McCoy Tyner and drummer Elvin Jones (each a member of Coltrane's classic quartet and icons themselves) on both sessions.

Almost six months later, Pearson recorded his own version of "You Know I Care" as a 6-horn arrangement, but Henderson's quartet recording is the definitive version, as his tenor solo as well as the rhythm section, breathes additional life, dimension and drama into an already singular ballad composition.

A Jug Full of Ammons - Gene Ammons' "Exactly Like You" Tenor Saxophone Transcription

7/20/2021

A Jug Full of Ammons - Gene Ammons' "Exactly Like You"
Tenor Saxophone Solo Transcription

Tenor saxophone giant Gene Ammons, aka "Jug", was one of the seminal figures at the crossroads between the earlier tenor saxophone styles of Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins and Ben Webster - and the BeBop evolution / revolution of the mid to late 1940s, sparked by the innovative genius of Charlie Parker.

Add to that the blues influences of his native Chicago - as well as that of his celebrated pianist father, "Boogie Woogie" innovator Albert Ammons - and you've got one of the "phatest", most distinct, expressive and soulful tenor saxophone sounds ever heard.

Ammons recorded for several record labels from the late 1940s until his passing in 1974, but the bulk of his recorded output was for Bob Weinstock's Prestige Records label.

It's from one of these Prestige recordings that the subject of this post - a transcription of Jug's solo on the popular show tune "Exactly Like You" - is taken.

Monk's Time Again - "Bye-Ya": A Self Transcription

2/25/2021

Toot My Own Horn Dept.
VAYA! Monk's Time Again - "Bye-Ya": A Self-Transcription

Since I really enjoyed doing last month's post - recording a tenor solo on Thelonious Monk's “Bemsha Swing” then transcribing it and posting them both here - I thought I'd try an encore with another Monk classic - “Bye-Ya”

“Bye-Ya” was originally recorded on October 15th, 1952 and, as with the aforementioned "Bemsha Swing", was initially released as part of the album “Thelonious Monk Trio”. The title given was actually “Vaya”, which remains an expression of positive affirmation in many Spanish speaking cultures – and was anglicized into “Bye-Ya”.

Subsequent versions were recorded featuring tenor greats Johnny Griffin and long time quartet member Charlie Rouse, as well as Steve Lacey's recording on soprano saxophone, but the definitive version - for me - is the 1957 Carnegie Hall concert featuring the immortal John Coltrane. 'Trane knew this tune so well that he was able to deliver his then patented “sheets of sound” - cascades of sixteenth-notes – for almost the entirety of his solo.

Monk's Bemsha Swing - A Self-Transcription

1/28/2021

Toot My Own Horn Dept.
Thelonious Monk's "Bemsha Swing": A Self-Transcription

This post features a self-recorded and transcribed tenor saxophone solo on Thelonious Monk's well known classic. “Bemsha Swing”.

As I hadn't recorded myself in quite a while, I was anxious to turn this into a project. Fortunately, the results passed quality control and I can happily share them here.

The backing track used here is from “Thelonious Monk Favorites – 10 Classic Tunes” (Hal Leonard Jazz Play-Along, Vol. 91). It features the great Ronnie Mathews on piano, Kiyoshi Kitagawa on bass, and Monk's former drummer - Ben Riley. It was recorded, mixed and mastered by the legendary RVG – Rudy Van Gelder – at his studio, where so many iconic recordings where made. Don Sickler, a name associated with many such projects, produced the session. What more could one ask for in a backing track?

An Etude for a Brighter Day - John Coltrane's "Mr. Day"

8/28/2020

An Etude for a Brighter Day! - John Coltrane's "Mr. Day"

On numerous levels, John Coltrane's original 12-bar blues “Mr. Day” has always been an inspirational favorite of mine.

Recorded during an evening session on Oct. 24th, 1960, it became part of the classic Atlantic LP “Coltrane Plays the Blues”, which was released in July 1962, after Coltrane had moved to the Impulse! record label.

This session was part of several which took place that same week and which produced all the material for the Coltrane albums “My Favorite Things” - released March, 1961 - and “Coltrane's Sound”, not released until June, 1964 a well a the rest of "Coltrane Plays the Blues".

A previous version, slower in tempo and more deliberate, listed as “Mr. Day (aka One and Four)”, was recorded in Los Angeles about a month and a half earlier as part of a compilation for the Roulette label. Coltrane was touring the West Coast with his new quartet, which did not yet include Elvin Jones on drums, who joined the group a few weeks later. Instead Billy Higgins, an LA native, known for his work with Ornette Coleman and subsequently everyone else, was the drummer.

RetroSpective: Ten to 2 - 25th Anniversary Reissue - EWI CD

2/8/2018

RetroSpective: "Ten to 2"
25th Anniversary Reissue

A collection of original music featuring the first Akai EWI

As the title suggests, this is the 25th Anniversary (actually, the 26th... but who's counting?) reissue of the self produced and recorded, completely electronic EWI production entitled "Ten to 2", which I began in 1988 and completed in 1992.

It featured myself on the then newly distributed Akai EWI (Electronic Wind Instrument) controller and synthesizer - as well as everything else - from which I eventually pressed 1000 CD copies.

The complete collection of the seven original tunes are presented here as high quality (320 kbps) mp3s, which are available for immediate download as a 120mb .zip file.

With the passage of time, regardless of what its stylistic label or commercial value might or might not be or have been, I feel that from an artistic, production and possibly historical standpoint, it's relevance as a creative entity justifies a renewal of its availability in the present.

In other words, I think it's definitely worth a listen!

Some History

In 1986 when I first heard Michael Brecker’s famed recorded solo on “In a Sentimental Mood” with Steps Ahead, my reaction, like just about everyone else's, was “WTF is that?!” The back of the CD, as I recall, listed him as playing a “Steinerphone”.

A What?!

JoHen Tunes Up "Night & Day" - Joe Henderson's Reharm & Solo Transcription

2/10/2016

JoHen Tunes Up "Night & Day"
Joe Henderson's Reharmonization and Solo Transcription

Joe Henderson w/ Horace Silver in France- July, 1964

Joe Henderson's tenor saxophone solo on his reharmonized version of Cole Porter's "Night & Day" (downloadable transcription below), was recorded for the Blue Note label at Rudy Van Gelder's studio (where else!) in Engewood Cliffs, NJ on Nov. 30th, 1964, ten days before John Coltrane recorded "A Love Supreme" in the same studio.

"Night & Day" would be the final track on the "B" side of the original vinyl LP "Inner Urge", Henderson's fourth as a leader for Blue Note; and featured then current Coltrane Quartet members McCoy Tyner and Elvin Jones on piano and drums respectively; as well as Bob Cranshaw, who was pretty much Blue Note's house bassist at the time.

The album "Inner Urge" was titled after the now classic Henderson original and the subject of an earlier post. Both the tune and the album are iconic examples of '60's compositional, harmonic and improvisational innovations.

Back to the Future 'Trane - Transcription of John Coltrane's 1954 Solo on "In a Mellow Tone"

11/16/2015

Back to the Future 'Trane
Transcription of John Coltrane's 1954 Solo on "In a Mellow Tone"

This transcription of the first chorus of John Coltrane's tenor solo on Duke Ellington's "In a Mellow Tone", was taken from a live (possibly radio) recording from sometime in mid 1954, when 'Trane was on the road with Johnny Hodges' septet. The band included Hodges' fellow Ellingtonians, Harold "Shorty" Baker - trumpet, and Lawrence Brown on trombone.

This version of "Mellotone" was originally released, to my knowledge, in on a "bootleg" vinyl in the 1970's on the "Enigma" label. A friend of mine had it and I promptly copied it to cassette (remember those?.....OK, maybe not).

Then as now, 'Trane's solo here blew me away for several reasons.

First of all, through this recording, we get a glimpse of a 27 year old John Coltrane, who was still a little more than a year away from the start of his historical association with trumpeter Miles Davis. In the second chorus of this solo, which is not transcribed here, we hear a portent of things to come; i.e. sixteenth note scalar runs, which he seemed to be hearing as if from a distance, but didn't quite have the concept, which we would later know as "sheets of sound", under his complete control yet.

NOT Peanut But Uhhh... - Thelonious Monk's "Skippy"

8/27/2015

NOT Peanut But Uhhh...
Thelonious Monk's "Skippy"

"Skippy", which was originally recorded by Thelonious Monk for Blue Note on May 30th, 1952, might be considered (no, is!) one of his most challenging compositions.

The melody alone, which is uncharacteristically dense by Monk standards, is a workout in and of itself.

Harmonically, the descending cycle of 5ths and chromatic tritone subs require considerable "'shedding" in order to confidently negotiate improvised lines through the changes.

In this post, we'll just concentrate on the head, with the rest to follow.

"Skippy" is 32 bars long with what appears to be an A1-B-A2-C song form. The tune is Monk's reharmonization and abstraction of Vincent Youmans' well known standard, "Tea for Two", which due to the melodic consistency between the sections, comes off more like an A1-A2-A3-B form.

Granted! - A Joe Henderson Solo Transcription

12/2/2014

Granted! - A Joe Henderson Solo Transcription

It's Joe Henderson time again, ladies and gents!

"Happiness is Just a Thing Called (hearing a guy named) Joe"

Joe, as you should know, was one of the music's more stylistically unique and influential tenor saxophonists and improvisers, as well as the composer of a healthy number of classic originals.

His influence and legacy live on in his many recordings, made both as leader and sideman, during a career which spanned nearly four decades.

Henderson's tenor saxophone solo on one of those original compositions, an uptempo C Minor Blues entitled "Granted" (dedicated to the renowned NYC Jazz Radio personality and promoter, Alan Grant, who recently passed away at 93), is the subject of this post and downloadable transcription.

"Granted" was recorded by Rudy Van Gelder on January 27th, 1966 (which happened to be the 25th birthday of the session's vibraphonist, Bobby Hutcherson) and was part of the session that produced Henderson's fifth and last studio album as a leader for the Blue Note label, "Mode for Joe".

At the time of the recording, Joe Henderson was a member of pianist Horace Silver's quintet, which also included a young Woody Shaw on trumpet. Henderson had joined Silver's group in June, 1964 and would remain with the pianist for just another two-plus months.

Joe Henderson's "Black Narcissus" - The Last Eight

10/15/2014

Joe Henderson's
"Black Narcissus" - The Last Eight

Joe Henderson's "Black Narcissus" is a delicate jazz waltz and one of the legendary tenor saxophonist / composer's better known compositions.

Originally recorded on May 29, 1969 and released as part of Henderson's album "Power to the People" (which included Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter and Jack De Johnette) on the Milestone label, Joe recorded it several times subsequently. That includes the 1974 version, recorded in Paris and featured on the album of the same name.

It has since been covered by many by other artists.

Although completely different in emotional intent, scope and style, "Black Narcissus" has striking similarities in compositional structure, as well as harmonic usage, to another one of Henderson's classics, and the subject of an earlier post; namely, "Inner Urge".

I had heard different versions of "Black Narcissus" for years before actually trying to learn it myself. At that point, I realized that this simple sounding tune necessitated some closer scrutiny; especially after hearing many improvisers trying to "ramrod" their way through the last eight measure, "B" section of the tune.

Joe Henderson's "Inner Urge" - The Last Eight

5/1/2014

Joe Henderson's "Inner Urge" - The Last Eight

Smokin' Joseph

I've been wanting to post something on the subject of Joe Henderson for a while now.

Joe Henderson, as quiet as it's been kept, is not only one of the greatest tenor saxophonists of the musical genre we know and love as "Jazz", but one of it's most prolific composers, as well as one of it's truly unique and creative improvisational voices.

Quick Picks That Kick - Bobby Hutcherson "The Kicker"

1/31/2013

Quick Picks That Kick - Bobby Hutcherson "The Kicker"

As I've been frantically trying to finish my new eBook "Slick Licks That Stick" during the past several weeks and hadn't had the chance to post anything new, I thought I'd do a quickie "Marc Meyers type" record review of an album I've been digging a lot lately, Bobby Hutcherson's 1963 recording, "The Kicker", featuring, besides Hutcherson on vibraphone, the always amazing Joe Henderson on tenor (of course), Duke Pearson - p, Grant Green - guitar (tracks #4-6), Bob (he's everywhere, he's everywhere!) Cranshaw - bass, and Al Harewood on the tubs. Not only does the music on this album sound fantastic (give RVG his props, too), it also feels great!

Stanley & Shirley - A Lovely Couple (of Musical Giants)

1/7/2013

Stanley & Shirley - A Lovely Couple (of Musical Giants)

Stanley Turrentine & Shirley Scott - live in the late 1960's

Riding the wave of innovation pioneered by Jimmy Smith and the resulting popularity of the Hammond B-3 electric organ, B-3 organ groups soon sprang up like mushrooms in bars and lounges all across urban America during the late 1950's and throughout the next decade.

By the early 1960's, as organ / tenor saxophone groups were approaching the peak of their popularity, the best of the rest of these groups was the one led by the husband & wife team of tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine and organist Shirley Scott.