At least 85%, possibly as high as 95% of Bebop tunes are ‘heads’ written over songs from musicals and shows of the 1930’s and 40’s. Musicians such as Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie did this to avoid paying royalties in the recording studio for the songs they were using in the clubs. Popular songs such […]
This iconic sax solo from the first Back to the Future film holds a special place in my heart.
Over the last two years we’ve all had great fun putting together this video. No matter what our level, I’m so thrilled that nearly every student who was studying with me at that time entered into the sprint of the project.
Coleman Hawkins, (1904 – 1969) was the one of the pioneers of the tenor saxophone. Whilst he is associated with the Big Band era, (in particular Fletcher Henderson) he was also one of the early BeBop pioneers and had a huge influence on many of the Bebop players, including Charlie Parker and Sonny Rollins.
Our second transcription course to follow on from our ‘Memorising Chord Changes’ course is Stanley Turrentine’s solo over ‘When the Saints’.
I have chosen this particular piece to transcribe because it will help to ingrain the lessons you have studied in our ‘Memorising Chord Changes’ course. Blue Seven is a simple 12 bar blues form with some classic Sonny Rollins language, short punchy phrases that are packed full of harmonic inventiveness.