Centrum

From John Clayton, Artistic Director:

 

Dear Jazz Port Townsend Participants,

I am excited to tell you that registration for Centrum’s 2024 Jazz Port Townsend is now open and I hope you’ll be able to join in on our fun!  I’m also thrilled about a chance for you to make some money in the process of preparing to come to our amazing week. 

 

Centrum is allowing me to offer participants a chance to be rewarded for transcribing some jazz! Here’s how it works:

 

Transcribe 5 pieces from the list below and you will receive a $200 tuition scholarship.

Complete 3 more for an additional $125.

That’s a guaranteed $325 for doing one of the most valuable things a musician can do, internalize great solos!

 

If you do transcribe 8 songs, your name will automatically be added to a lottery that will allow those chosen to receive a full scholarship! Yes—you could end up joining us and not pay a penny in tuition!

 

This registration form will include a section at the end for submitting your transcriptions. We just wanted to let you know now so you could dive in and get started. 

 

Requirements For Each Level

We want to make sure everyone has a chance to be successful at this. With that in mind, our three audition levels—Beginner/Intermediate, Advanced, and Semi-Pro—Have different requirements for this transcription project. 

 

Beginner/Intermediate: Transcribe the melody

Advanced: Transcribe the melody plus one chorus of the solo

Semi-Pro: Transcribe the melody and the entire solo.

Note: Exceptions to the amount to be transcribed will be explained following the song title. 

 

Also

•If you have a favorite solo that’s not on the list and you’d like to submit that instead, please email Gwen Franz at gfranz@centrum.org and propose what you’d like to do. We’ll get back to you if your choice is acceptable for this project. 

•Bass players are encouraged to memorize solos, but it is permissible to write out bass lines.

•Drummers are encouraged to “lock in with the grooves” on the recordings. 

•Pianists are encouraged to learn left and right hands, not just the right.

 

Here is your Do List.

1. Choose your songs and begin transcribing. We encourage people to learn by ear and not write out anything.

2. Submit your transcription recording of yourself playing along with the track. Take a few minutes to check for a good balance between you and the recorded track. We need to be able to hear you clearly! State your name at the beginning of each track. 

3. Please submit your recordings as MP3's. A phone app such as Audacity (audacityteam.org) will record you in an MP3 format, or the website Zamzar.com will convert your recordings into MP3's for free.

And that's it! We'll send you a certificate acknowledging Centrum crediting you with up to $325 for your growth, or even your lottery win!

Below is the list of tunes, by instrument. Many have links to their recordings. This list is also available on the Jazz Port Townsend webpage under TRANSCRIPTION PROJECT. Ready, set, go!

Deadline is May 6, 2024

 

ALTO SAX

(Selected by Joel Frahm, Grace Kelly and Jay Thomas)

· Cannonball Adderley- Waltz For Debby (From “Know What I Mean?” By Bill Evans.) (1:07 until 2:05, Begginer/Intermediate; until end of sax solo for Semi-pro)

· Gigi Gryce- Sans Souci, Jay Thomas: “…is a nice one. It serves as double duty because its a contrafact built on Out Of Nowhere melody and 1 chorus of the alto solo.” (begin until 1:46 for Beginner/Intermediate)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxMBj9H1ZoM

· Salute the Band Box “is a great one,” according to Jay, “because it is also a contrafact on I'll Remember April.” Melody and 1 chorus of the alto solo, begin until 1:58 for Beginner/Intermediate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ednsLL9w89w

· Johnny Hodges- Things Ain’t What They Used To Be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOePGV9Utrk

· Charlie Parker- My Little Suede Shoes (begin until 1:19 for Beginner/Intermediate) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TghfhihKd8

· Charlie Parker- Donna Lee (for Semi-pro) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02apSoxB7B4

· Cannonball Adderley- Limehouse Blues (for Semi-pro) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aq5EVhEMnE

· Phil Woods- I Love You Just The Way You Are (2:59 until 3:33) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dy3tEiVBSnk

· Cannonball Adderley- This Here (begin until 2:37 Beginner/Intermediate; entire solo for others) `

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYDGzJDJeDI

 

TENOR SAX

(Selected by Joel Frahm)

 

· Ben Webster- Lover Come Back To Me (Soulville record) (begin to 2:19/begin to 4:19)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTtUq-8TSQc

· Coleman Hawkins- Solitude (From “Duke Ellington meets Coleman Hawkins”)From 1:57 to 3:37/1:57 to end)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcdnSpmfQO0

· On A Clear Day- Stanley Turrentine (From “Let It Go”) (Begin to 1:50/Begin to 3:36) 

· Sonny Rollins- Moritat (Begin to 1:32/Begin to 2:19/Begin to 3:05/Begin to 3:53)

· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcOnhR5zkXs Gene Ammons- Exactly Like You (From “Jug”) (begin to 3:32) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq-m9a3CXDo

· Dexter Gordon- Willow Weep For Me (begin to 1:56/begin to 3:29/begin to 5:01) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkpdnH75m_E

· Extra Credit- CHALLENGING Joe Henderson- Miles Ahead (From "So Near, So Far”)

· Sonny Rollins- Without A Song (Semi-pro, Begin to at least 2:02)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hP3snBSzYU

 

BARITONE SAX

(Selected by Gary Smulyan)

 

· Sophisticated Lady- Harry Carney (From Duke Ellington live at the Stratford festival in 1956):56-2:26/:56-3:29 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSGpPuJi9mg 

· Also a great recording by pepper Adams on an early version with Donald Byrd and a great Garnett Brown arrangement for the Thad Jones and Mel Lewis band as a samba also featuring pepper Adams. 

· Moanin’ from Moanin’ is Mingus. The original features Pepper Adams but, there is a great version by the Mingus big band featuring Ronnie Cuber..

· Line for Lyons

· Bernie’s Tune Bernie’s tune would be Gerry Mulligan as well as line for Lyons.

· Thanks For The Memory- Serge Chaloff https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LP9fEiWuOlw

· Tea For Two- Serge Chaloff Begin-1:15/Begin-1:53/Begin-2:32 

 

TRUMPET

(Selected by Terell Stafford and Jay Thomas)

Easy Listening Melodic Solos-BDA

Chet Baker In New York (Remastered) 

Chet Baker

Soft Winds (6:29)

She Was Too Good to Me 

Chet Baker

1. Autumn Leaves (7:03)

She Was Too Good to Me (40th Anniversary Edition) 

Chet Baker

Tangerine (5:31)

Jazz In Paris, Vol. 53: Chet Baker Quartet Plays Standards 

Chet Baker Quartet

Summertime (4:16)

Kenny Dorham Sings and Plays: This Is the Moment! 

Kenny Dorham

Autumn Leaves (3:09)

Where Are You? (4:34)

Bluing: Miles Davis Plays the Blues 

Miles Davis

Bluing (feat. Sonny Rollins) (9:57)

Vierd Blues (6:54)

Easy Listening Melodic Solos-BDA

Kind of Blue 

Miles Davis

So What (9:06)

Freddie Freeloader (9:36)

All Blues (11:34)

Cookin' with the Miles Davis Quintet 

Miles Davis Quintet

Tune-Up-When Lights Are Low (13:10)

Steamin' 

Miles Davis Quintet

The Surrey With the Fringe on Top (9:07)

Diane (7:52)

Workin' 

Miles Davis Quintet

Four (7:15)

Trane's Blues (8:35)

 

TROMBONE

(Selected by Wycliffe Gordon)

· Lament, JJ Johnson, The Trombone Master

· Dickie Wells Blues, Dickie Wells, Mr. Bones Begin to :57/Begin to End (Semi-Pro) 

· Laura, JJ Johnson, The Trombone Master Begin to :55 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8CPPlq9n0A

· Amazing Grace, Wycliffe Gordon, Slidin’ Home,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCM-mEVsRAc

· Duke's Place, Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, The Great Summit

· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt1zw81ZbTs

· (Note: This track can be utilized by multiple instruments as a transcription source)

· Cottontail, /Anthropology, Wycliffe Gordon, Boss Bones

 

· Sophisticated Lady, Wycliffe Gordon, The Intimate Ellington (Ballads and Blues) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r732g8mKWtE

· Just A Closer Walk, Wycliffe Gordon, I Give You Love https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6URzacPv_fU

· When the Saints Go Marching In, Wycliffe Gordon, In the Cross

· What A Wonderful World, Louis Armstrong, (any version)

· There Is No Greater Love, Ben Webster, Music for Loving

· We'll Be Together Again, Ben Webster, Music for Loving

· My Old Flame, Begin to 2:09/Begin to End https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo-FZUuJcgE

 

 

VOICE

(Selected by Sara Gazarek. Solos)

· Chet Baker, “It Could Happen to You”

· Ella Fitzgerald, “In A Mellowtone,” “Blue Skies” 

· Sarah Vaughan, “All of Me” 

· Nancy King, “There Will Never Be Another You”

 

Songs to learn:

· Centerpiece or Twisted (Blues)

· It Could Happen to You

· East of the Sun

· There Will Never Be Another You

· I Should Care

· Body & Soul 

 

(Selected by Dee Daniels) 

 

· Too Close For Comfort (Carmen McRae)

· https:// Sarah Vaughan) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPwrlaShdPc ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQ80pziM31E

· It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) (Ella Fitzgerald) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ScOUncmWOE

· Blues Skies (Ella Fitzgerald) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB-xqDZbEVQ Skylark

· (Dianne Reeves) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tErzArTRWJk The Masquerade Is Over

· (Peggy Lee) Fever https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGb5IweiYG8

· I've Got You Under My Skin (Frank Sinatra) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqH7VwpSwBo

· Bésame Mucho (Diana Krall) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjuS8DmspBU

 

 

PIANO

(Selected by Dawn Clement)

Here's the playlist to go along with it:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOeZPachgbmMa5xgSMDahz0FKHHCvvANy

 

 

· ALBUM - “Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers with Thelonious Monk” PIANIST—THELONIOUS MONK TRACK - In Walked Bud TRANSCRIPTION -* Monk’s intro and fills behind the melody Monk’s solo at 2:16, 1st chorus only

· ALBUM - “Monk’s Dream: Thelonious Monk Quartet” PIANIST - THELONIOUS MONK

· TRACK - Blue Bolivar Blues (Tk 2) Monk’s intro and melodyMonk’s first two choruses of comping behind Charlie Rouse’s solo

· ALBUM - “Song for My Father: The Horace Silver Quintet” PIANIST - HORACE SILVER TRACK - Song for My Father TRANSCRIPTION - Silver’s comping on the head Silver’s solo, two choruses 

· ALBUM - “Miles Davis Four and More” PIANIST - HERBIE HANCOCK. TRACK - There is No Greater Love TRANSCRIPTION - Herbie’s comping on the head and behind the first chorus of Miles Davis’ solo Herbie’s solo at 7:21, the whole thing 

 

 PIANO 

· (Selected by Tamir Hendelman)
  Freddie the Freeloader- Wynton Kelly (Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue)

· C Jam Blues- Oscar Peterson (Oscar Peterson’s Night Train)

· Ceora- Herbie Hancock (Lee Morgan’s Cornbread)

·  https://www.jazzadvice.com/lessons/how-to-create-the-perfect-solo-a-lesson-with-herbie-hancock/ is a little article about this solo 

· Beautiful Love- Bill Evans (Bill Evans’ Explorations)

· Autumn Leaves- Hank Jones (Cannonball Adderley, Somethin’ Else)

· So Tired- Bobby Timmons (the melody and Bobby Timmons’ piano solo fom Jay Thomas) 

 

 Heads:

· Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise- Sonny Clark (Sonny Clark, Cool Struttin’)

· Come Rain Or Come Shine- Bobby Timmons – (This Here is Bobby Timmons)

· Summer Wind- Gene Harris (Ray Brown Trio, Summer Wind/Live at the Loa)

· Celia- Bud Powell (Bud Powell, Jazz Giant)

· Willow Weep For Me- Tommy Flanagan (Tommy Flagan, The Smart Attitude)

 

GUITAR

(Selected by Dan Balmer)

· Tune UP: youtube.com/watch?v=-wvXgq3UU7c.

· Lady Bird https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chJgX7KzxlA

· Afternoon in Paris. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsNFdkW3JsQ

· Minority https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VacwnfTwHxs

· For Gentle Rain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsVoVsMVZb0.

 

Guitar Solos to check out

· Charlie Christian Solo Flight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdDqJRiP-2w

· Django Reinhardt. Nuages. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DY0FF4iR9Cw

· Pat Martino Sunny. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sD_9dTwmidw

· Wes playing Far Wes.    

· Grant Green https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWaH2PSREWo.      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mP0flneNfaQ.     same as above!

· George Benson Affirmation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peXeXadf1D4

· Jim Hall. Concierto de Aranjuez. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DBissQmnZs.   

 

Guitar 

(Selected by Miles Okazaki)

Blues in various keys 

 

· "D Natural Blues" (Wes Montgomery, D)

· "Butch and Butch" (Oliver Nelson, G)

· "Turnaround" (Ornette Coleman, C)

· "Dance of the Infidels" (Bud Powell, F)

· "The Kicker" (Grant Green, Bb)

· "The Intimacy of the Blues" (Billy Strayhorn, Eb)

· "Chi Chi" (Charlie Parker, Ab)

· "Things Ain't What They Used To Be" (Duke Ellington, Db)

· "Mr. Day" (John Coltrane, Gb)

 

· Minor heads:

· "One for Daddy O" (Cannonball Adderley)

· "Five Spot After Dark" (Curtis Fuller)

· "Lonely Moments" (Mary Lou Williams)

· "Chant" (Duke Pearson)

 

· Short Forms:

· "Skatin'" (Wynton Kelly)

· "Driftin'" (Herbie Hancock

· "Jelly Roll" (Charles Mingus)

· "Big Nick" (John Coltrane)

· "Light Blue" (Thelonious Monk)

· "Barracudas" (Wayne Shorter)

 

· More Complex:

· "Think of One" (Thelonious Monk)

· "Lester Left Town" (Wayne Shorter)

· "The Chant" (Victor Feldman)

· "Boplicity" (Miles Davis / Gil Evans)

· "The Peacocks" (Jimmy Rowles)

 

BASS

(Selected by Jon Hamer)

· Jimmy Blanton - C Blues (C Jam Blues) (:00-:46), Barney Bigard and his Orchestra - The Jimmy Blanton Era

· Paul Chambers - Trane’s Slow Blues (:00-), John Coltrane, Lush Life

· Oscar Pettiford - Montmartre Blies (:00-1:29), Oscar Pettiford, Montmartre Blues

· Sam Jones - Groovin’ the Blues (:49-1:39), Kenny Drew, Undercurrent

· Ray Brown - Hogtown Blues (1:01-2:33), The Oscar Peterson Trio, Canadiana Suite

· Richard Davis - Prey Loot (:52-), Lucky Thompson, Lucky Strikes

· Milt Hinton - Housed From Edward (:20-1:50), Brandford Marsalis, Trio Jeep

· John Clayton - Blues for Stephanie (:01-1:35), Monty Alexander, Reunion in Europe

· Ron Carter - Blues for D.P. (4:29-5:46), Ron Carter, My Romance

· Scott LaFaro - For Real (:00-) Hampton Hawes, For Real

· Dave Holland - Prancing (1:27-), Joe Henderson, Musings for Miles: So Near, So Far

 

· Bass solos.

  *Jimmy Blanton - Duke Ellington, Jack the Bear, Pitter Panther Patter, etc.
  *Oscar Pettiford, cello solo on Blues in the Closet along with the send off
  Oscar Pettiford - Stardust, Memorial Album
  Slam Stewart - I Got Rhythm, Duo with Don Byas
  Paul Chambers - Visitation, anything off of “We Three” soloing or walking
  John Clayton - How Insensitive, Shout Me Out
  Ray Brown - anything off of “As Good As it Gets” with Jimmy Rowles….”Honey” and “Sophisticated Lady"
  *Rare Ray - there are many things on “Bass Hit”
  Charlie Haden, Waltz for Ruth (duo with Pat Methany)
  Charlie Haden,  Body and Soul - Night and the City (duo with Kenny Barron)
  George Mraz, Confirmation - Tommy Flanigan, Eclypso
  George Mraz, How Deep is the Ocean - Rich Perry, Doxy
  Dave Holland, Prancing - Joe Henderson, Musings for Mile: So Near, So Far
  Hasn Glawschnig, Oceanography (contract of How deep is the ocean), Panorama
  John Patitucci - Sunny Side, Remembrance
  Christian McBride/Ray Brown - In a Mellow Tone, Walk On

 

 

DRUMS

Matt Wilson

 

Easy Listening Melodic Solos-BDA

Chet Baker In New York (Remastered) 

Chet Baker

Soft Winds (6:29)

She Was Too Good to Me 

Chet Baker

Autumn Leaves (7:03)

She Was Too Good to Me (40th Anniversary Edition) 

Chet Baker

Tangerine (5:31)

Jazz In Paris, Vol. 53: Chet Baker Quartet Plays Standards 

Chet Baker Quartet

Summertime (4:16)

Kenny Dorham Sings and Plays: This Is the Moment! 

Kenny Dorham

Autumn Leaves (3:09)

Where Are You? (4:34)

Bluing: Miles Davis Plays the Blues 

Miles Davis

Bluing (feat. Sonny Rollins) (9:57)

Vierd Blues (6:54)

Easy Listening Melodic Solos-BDA

Kind of Blue 

Miles Davis

So What (9:06)

Freddie Freeloader (9:36)

All Blues (11:34)

 

 Cookin' with the Miles Davis Quintet 

Miles Davis Quintet

Tune-Up-When Lights Are Low (13:10)

Steamin' 

Miles Davis Quintet

The Surrey With the Fringe on Top (9:07)

Diane (7:52)

Workin' 

Miles Davis Quintet

Four (7:15)

Trane's Blues (8:35)

 

Your fan, 

John Clayton
Artistic Director
Jazz Port Townsend