PRACTICE PORTAL

Here are some more transcriptions from one of my favorite pianists, Mulgrew Miller. as i mentioned in an earlier post, Miller’s compositions share something in common with the great Cedar Walton. they’re made up of memorable, even singable melodies, and set on top of unconventional, sophisticated progressions.  they’re accessible and elusive at the same time. the two songs below are good examples of what i mean. “For Those Who Do” is from the record HAND IN HAND. it features five members of the album’s septet: Kenny Garrett on soprano sax, Steve Nelson on vibes, Christian McBride on the bass and Lewis Nash on drums. the form is interesting: after a four measure drum intro, the melody is stated by the saxophone. the first section is twenty bars long. after a second twenty-two bar melody is played, the section’s progression repeated for solos. after blowing by Garrett and Nelson, the initial melody is restated. the second melody is then looped while Miller blows over it. the lines that he plays over the challenging progression are just incredible. Miller dances on the outer edges of the harmonies but he is always able to anchor what he does with a strong rhythmic sense and an ever present funkiness. “Another Type Thang” comes from the date WITH OUR OWN EYES, a trio record featuring Miller, Richie Goods on bass and Tony Reedus on drums. the melody begins after an eight bar introduction. the A section consists of a four bar idea that is repeated in the following four bars, modulated down a major third. the B section starts with a two bar motif that is repeated in descending whole steps. half of the A section is repeated, then a coda like section, eight bars long is played. the blowing is over the twenty-eight measure ABA form. Miller plays a really grooving solo punctuated by amazing 16th note runs…

MULGREW MILLER- “FOR THOSE WHO DO (melody)” (mp3)

LEAD SHEET FOR “FOR THOSE WHO DO” (pdf)

MULGREW MILLER- “FOR THOSE WHO DO (solo)” (mp3)

SOLO FROM “FOR THOSE WHO DO” (pdf)

MULGREW MILLER- “ANOTHER TYPE THANG (melody and solo)” (mp3)

LEAD SHEET FOR “FOR THOSE WHO DO” (pdf)

SOLO FROM “FOR THOSE WHO DO” (pdf)

Tags: Jazz, Lead Sheet, Mulgrew Miller, Piano, Solos, Transcription

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