Speak Low: Progress made...

All right, I just started working on my new transcription for Speak Low this weekend and have made some progress. Fired up the long dormant Superscope, threw on the headphones and sat for the last two mornings at the digital piano. Status: I pretty much have the first two A sections down. During the week I worked on learning the head and trying to figure out the changes off the record as sort of a warm up to the solo transcription.

Now about the transcription, I need to get some notation software that is decent and easy to use for the PC. I am now pretty much a PC guy with a Windows 8 laptop, but I don't have any software for it. Can one of you guys recommend something? On the Mac, I was using an old version of Sibelius. I don't know if they make it for the PC or it is just going to be something from Finale. I last looked at notation software about seven years ago and don't know really what is out there now. I don't really need the full versions something in the $100 or less range would be best probably. I know that the cheap stripped down version of Sibelius wouldn't let you notate triplets and that is something that I definitely need plus it didn't have the nice Real Book style font that I like.

I'm not going to start putting it down on paper until I get the first chorus down and up to speed so it'll probably be another 2 weeks before I actually need anything. I will look into it. If I can't find anything inexpensive, I will get the old white MacBook out of the closet and use Sibelius if I can find the charger. But for a long term solution, I would like something for the PC.

Peace,
AnchovyD

Take 3. This Time is for Real. All Links Fixed!

Yes, Yes, I know that I sound like a broken record. Every year or two coming back here promising to repair the broken links to my transcriptions and scans and every year falling short. The last handful of years found me crossing over to the dark side and playing in cover bands and composing well thought out heavy synth-rock in an ambitious martial arts, protein powder and creatine fueled masterpiece EP.

While away the pilot light in my heart always burned bright for Bish and now that the above distractions are gone in my life, I have reconnected with Walter Bishop, Jr. in an even deeper way. I just wish I could have met the man in person.

And per popular request, the next solo I transcribe will be Speak Low. Alone Together is already in the can and will be posted shortly.

Thanks,
AnchovyD

New Business Here at Bish's Place

First off, it is the beginning of a new year and it is high time for me to post another transcription. I am nearly done and will have it up in early February.

Second, I've been getting emails about the links to the transcriptions in the older posts being dead. I checked it out and my hosting service apparently zapped my account when I renewed. My ftp site was wiped clean. Don't worry, I'll find those files on my computer and re-upload everything. I really should have my own file server going.

Happy New Year everybody.

AnchovyD TCB baby.

After a Long Hiatus, We are Back.

Sorry for those of you waiting for a new transcription to surface over the last year or so but I've been out of it for a while. I can't remember where we left off but I know where I am now. Where am I? I'm in the middle of transcribing Bish's Alone Together from the Speak Low album. I am moving fairly quickly through this one and expect to have it all figured out in maybe two or three more weeks. After that, give me a couple of weeks to actually get it down into Sibelius and then I will post the PDF here.

My goal is still to transcribe all of the solos from the Speak Low album and I'll be half way done after I get Alone Together down.

Again I apologize for the absence but all of my transcribing time went into learning tunes and solos for some bands that I've been in. Bish was put into the corner for the last year or so and nobody puts Bish in the corner. We're both back for good. I need Bish for my soul, his lines are the Truth.

Peace Out,
AnchovyD

Thoughts on Another Walter Jr... ...Walter Davis Jr.

Who's your daddy?

Just wanted to let you know about another Walter Jr., the great Walter Davis Jr. For those of you who don't know him, you need to give this guy a listen. He looks like he could be Luis Guzman's daddy.

Luis from Boogie Nights

Anyway, I think that he has one Blue Note record Davis Cup it is decent but he has some horn players on it and doesn't get to stretch out as much as I'd like. He played a lot with Jackie McLean. And I think he dropped out of the music scene to be a tailor in the mid-sixties. Maybe it was drug related. He resurfaced in the 70's and recorded some good trio albums.

What is crazy about Davis is that he sounds like the second coming of Bud Powell. It is almost ridiculous how much he sounds like Bud. Check out the Live Au Dreher album from sometime around 1980, it is an awesome live set from Davis. Also he has a Monk tribute LP that he did in the 80's and guess what? This guy can also sound like a dead ringer for Thelonious. Now I remember reading that he was younger the Bud and Monk but he grew up in the same neighborhood and he played with and learned from them but man I've never heard someone pull off a more convincing Powell or Monk and the best part is that he really is playing, that is his style. He doesn't sound like a jerk who is just throwing in some Monk licks when doing Bright Mississippi or whatever. He is playing with Monk's vocabulary. Now it seems like his main style is like Bud Powell since he plays that way on most records but again he is freely using the vocabulary and has the same comping. I love this guy.

As far as transcribing his stuff, I thought about it, but he is so close to Bud that I'd rather just go to the source. But he is exciting to listen to. People say that Barry Harris was the next Bud but Walter Davis Jr. is in my book. While Barry Harris learned to play from Bud's solos, he has a unique voice and his ballad work is downright beautiful. With Walter Davis Jr., you'll need to do a double take to make sure who is in the CD player.

Peace Out,
Anchovy D

Down Beat Interview with Walter Bishop Jr.

Hey everyone, as promised, here is my surprise post. Merry Christmas! The pdf presented below is an interview from the March 1977 issue of Down Beat magazine. The interview was conducted by none other than Mr. Brett Primack. Primack is the guy who produced the Walter Bishop Jr. VHS Masterclass video back in 1987 (here is his website, he also goes by JazzVideoGuy on YouTube). I actually tracked down Primack when I was looking to get a copy of the Masterclass video but couldn't find one anywhere, but that is another story. Let me just say that I was surprised when I saw Primack's name on the byline. Obviously he must've been friends with the great Bish, I just wish that I could've shook Bish's hand and thank him for all that he has done in my life.

And without further ado, enjoy... (just click here or on the image below for the pdf)

Peace Out,

Big D

The School of Bish is Still Alive

 

Okay everybody, I just wanted to chime in to let you know that there have been some delays on the path to the next transcription. I may have to burn the midnight oil to get the two and 3/4 choruses of Alone Together goodness out to you by the end of June. I just about have the first chorus down but haven't booted up Sibelius in since Blues in the Closet so nothing is written down as of yet, but I do have what I've figured out up to 100% speed so far and I've been trying to get Blues in The Closet up to speed I've only got it at 70% right now. Spending too much time getting everything up to speed seems to be the problem. Not enough time for notating. The heat has been cramping my style and with all the freaking Arizona smoke, I can't even run my swamp cooler or open a window.

Anyway, some of the articles that I intend to post aren't just transcription related but some other good Walter Bishop Jr. stuff. I will be back this weekend to post a treat for you. Shhhhushh, it's a surprise, kinda like Dom DeLuise's sexuality. 

Peace Out,

D.