Bilbo

This latest transcription is flawed but I cannot see where the problem is. The piece is a solo bass performance of the Miles Davis tune 'The Theme' by Australian bass player Linda may Han Oh. An incredibly strong player, the improvisation is brilliantly put together and there is an awful lot to chew on here but the transcription goes out of synch with the form and I cannot find out where the problem is. It is too good to leave on the shelf so here it is in all it's flawed glory! It's great to read this along with Oh's performance, even if you can't play it. It is not impossible but it is not easy either. It is an improvisation not a composition to I guess it is not supposed to be 'played' but it is a joy to hear, nevertheless. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/the-theme-solo-bass-performance-linda-may-han-oh/

Some more Steve Rodby. The track is 'Sometimes I See' from the 1993 Pat Metheny Group album, 'Quartet'. A simple ballad and one of the easier charts to read if you are still trying to get your basic note recognition nailed. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/sometimes-i-see-pat-metheny-group/

This recording is something by a friend who is active on the UK Jazz Scene especially around London and East Anglia. The 2016 album is called 'Dudley' by the Chris Ingham Quartet and features the Rev. Andrew Brown on bass - it's not a nickname; he actually IS a Reverend. Great fun and I thought I would give the guys a push on here. Chris has also recorded tributes to Stan Getz and to Walter Becker/Donald Fagan. There is a link on the website if you want to find out more. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/waterloo-chris-ingham-quartet/

Another track from the Joe Lovano album, Landmarks', mentioned above. Marc Johnson plays that head with Lovano and then kind of underpins Lovano's solo with a counterpoint line rather than a conventional bass part. Fascinating stuff. I wish this transcription had been around when I first got this album in 1991. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/street-talk-joe-lovano/

A request from a Facebook Transcription Forum, the complete Charles Mingus bass performance on the track 'Goodbye Pork Pie Hat' from the 1959 Mingus album, 'Mingus Ah Um'. An absolute classic album chock full of magic. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/goodbye-pork-pie-hat-charles-mingus/

Since I started transcribing in earnest, there have been several things that I have been able to get to such as the John Patitucci parts for Dave Grusin's 'West Side Story' album, the Jeff Berlin stuff etc. but there have always been things that I cannot get at; Percy Jones is a case in point. Marc Johnson has always been a tough nut to crack as his sound lacks the attack of someone like Dave Holland etc so I have struggled with getting his stuff down on paper. This track has been an absolute favourite for decades - I first heard Joe Lovano's 'Landmarks' album when it was first release in 1991 and it has been in my top 10 ever since. I think Johnson plays a walking swing bass line for about 24 bars on the whole album, the rest is so creative. This track is the highlight of an album full of highlights and I am delighted to get it up here. The tune is called 'Emperor Jones' (a tribute to Elvin, I believe) and it's unquestionably one of the greatest ballad recordings ever recorded. If you get a chance, have a look at a transcription of Lovano's solo (there is one on YouTube). It's unbelievable and heart-rending. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/emperor-jones-joe-lovano/

Jimmy Woode's bass part for the exquisite ‘Sunset And The Mockingbird’ from the 1976 recording ‘The Ellington Suites’. The tune comes from ‘The Queen’s Suite’. The Suite was written by Ellington and his right hand man, Billy Strayhorn, for Queen Elizabeth II and a single record was cut and given to her. The Suite was not released until after Duke Ellington had passed away in 1974. Now THAT’S class! https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/sunset-and-the-mocking-bird-duke-ellington/

Some Jack Bruce today from 1980; the complete performance of the tune 'Heart Of The Matter' from the 1980 Jon Anderson album, 'Song Of Seven'. A favourite from that era. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/heart-of-the-matter-jon-anderson/

A request from Talkbass. A transcription off a YouTube bass cover of the Extremundo tune, 'So Payaso'. I know nothing about the track or the player. Just a favour for someone in need of a favour. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/so-payaso-extremundo-bass-cover-juanjo-puertas/

I forgot to switch threads, Chris. I thought I had deleted it 😃

Let's go back to 1987 and the first Earthworks album from Bill Bruford. The bass player is Mick Hutton and the track is called 'Up North'. Some challenging moments but not unplayable. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/up-north-bill-brufords-earthworks/

Great transcriptions every time. Keep up the good work, Chris.

Some more Swingdoom; the tune is 'Swingdown, Swingtown' from the 1993 Wynton Marsalis Septet album, 'Citi Movement (Griot New Your)'. Recommended. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/swingdown-swingtown-wynton-marsalis-septet/

I love those first two PMG albums. Great memories. Thanks for this one, Chris.

Another Bob Mintzer chart, the tune is 'Yeah, Yeah, Yeah', from the 2013 live recording 'Get Up!). Not too challenging, just good counting practice. The bass player is Will Lee. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/yeah-yeah-yeah-bob-mintzer-big-band/

Something simple - a request from another forum; the bass part to 'Nossa Gente (Avisa La) from Brazil's Oladum (the recording is featured on a 20 year compilation and I cannot find any details of any of the players, never mind the bass. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/nossa-gente-avisa-la-olodum/

Bit more Gary Weinrib. The complete bass part from 'The Body Electric' ' from the 1984 Rush album 'Grace Under Pressure'.

Something simple but effective, as they say. Mostly an exercise in note recognition, the complete 11 minute Sam Jones performance of the tune 'Autumn Leaves' from the classic 1959 Cannonball Adderley record, 'Somethin' Else'. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/autumn-leaves-cannonball-adderley/

A request off one of the forums, the complete bass part for the tune 'Cheiro De Amor' from the 1980 Maria Bethania album, 'Mel'. I am told the bass player is Luizão Maia but I have not been able to confirm this myself. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/cheiro-de-amor-maria-bethania/

I had missed this album as my mind was elsewhere and Marsalis had lost me for a while with his 'trad' phase but the 2009 album 'From The Plantation To The Penitentiary' is another absolute masterpiece. The tune 'Supercapitalism' is an incredibly complex composition wonderfully executed but its the tempo changes that are all over the place. The secret is to trust the pulse. The time signatures change but the tempo doesn't (much). Listen to the tune with the chart in front of you and you will soon get the idea. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/supercapitalism-wynton-marsalis/

Some more Veal, a track from the 2009 Marsalis album, 'Christmas Jazz Jam'. The tune is 'Blue Christmas'. A bit late in the season but it's reading practice, not party music! https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/blue-christmas-wynton-marsalis/

Another from Brother Veal, the complete bass part from the tune 'You Don't Know What Love Is' from the 1991 Wynton Marsalis album, 'Standard Time Vol. 2: Intimacy Calling'. Simple, sophisticated and elegant. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/you-dont-know-what-love-is-wynton-marsalis/

Fun and fantastic. The complete Ray Brown bass part for the tune 'I'm An Old Cowhand (From The Rio Grande)' from the 1957 Rollins recording 'Way Out West'. Sublime swing. That's 800 transcriptions up there now (less than half of the number on Tom Read's site 😃) https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/im-an-olsd-cowhand-from-the-rio-grande-sonny-rollins/

Some exquisite work from Reginald Veal on the tune 'When It's Sleepy Time Down South' from the 1991 Wynton Marsalis album, 'Standard Time Vol. 2: Intimacy Calling' https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/when-its-sleepy-time-down-south-wynton-marsalis/

If I am not mistaken, it is over three months since I posted any Anthony Jackson! Unbelievable! Today's transcription is my perspective on the AJ performance on 'Elegant Gypsy Suite' from the 1977 Al Di Meola album, 'Elegant Gypsy'. A couple of hairy moments in there but is is playable! https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/elegant-gypsy-suite-al-di-meola/