commakozzi

Dear Ingrid,

My first transcription on returning to the "mysterious world" of transcription was "So What", but that's behind me now... or is it?

I'm, of course, finding that transcription is leading me deeper and deeper into the world of jazz in a way that I only dreamed to be possible. It's like touching and probing the minds of the masters, but also the thoughts of the writers of this music. Some musicians favor certain notes while others seem to loathe them, and I'm finding it both interesting and confusing at the same time. However, on listening to recordings of myself from several months ago (solos over changes I've been transcribing lately) I find that my ear had definately influenced my playing. Now with the transcription of solos over those changes under my belt, my playing has transformed completely. I find myself favouring the same notes of that particular performer, but I'm also finding that I still have so much work to do. One thing in particular that I'm discovering by listening to myself and transcribing solos is that I'm lacking rhythmic imagination. I know that a way to fix this is to listen more, but come on, I listen all the time!!! My goal has been, and will continue to be, to add more melodic material to my arsenal. But I'm realizing that I suffer from a lack of rhythmic variance. So what now? Just continue on my path and it will come, or is there something you can tell me to do that might help speed this process up? I'm guessing that I should transcribe and learn those solos that impress me rhythmically not just melodically.

Sincerely,

commakozzi