A trumplet player who recently passed away (just last month). His range is incredible, and the buildup with the drums at 4:49 was predictable but enjoyable! I enjoyed his use of the plunger looking device, which I feared would turned gimmicky but fortunately did not. He makes great use of space, and he takes plenty of time to breathe between ideas. I also happen to know the drummer!
Month: April 2015
Autumn Leaves
Bill Evans again! The solo I was thinking of transcribing starts around 2:00. His inner voicing abilities are so great. There’s a lot of development of simple ideas in this solo, which make it easier to see what he was thinking when playing.
Erroll Garner
Another master. I like his use of big chords and octaves in the right hand. It really creates a strong melodic voice. His left hand is solid (but the voicings are different from those most commonly heard today) and almost percussive. I also like that he is smiling.