John Coltrane's "Countdown" - Improv with Chord Tones, Scales and Four Note Groupings

I had a little practice time today at Berklee and was working on John Coltrane's classic composition "Countdown". My improv students and I have been working this week on improvising on this song focusing on several techniques including the use of Chord Tones, Scales and Four Note Groupings (1,2,3 and 5 for each chord). This tune is based upon the 16 bar jazz standard "Tune Up" which is basically a series of II-7 V7 I Maj's through various keys down in whole steps. Coltrane applied his 3 Tonic System (3 major keys a major 3rd apart) to each II-7 V7 I Maj. So for D-7/ G7/ C Maj7/ C Maj7/, we now have D-7 Eb7/Ab Maj7 B7/E Maj7 G7/ C Maj7/.

Jerry Bergonzi solo on "I Hear a Rhapsody"

This is an improvised solo by the great saxophonist, Jerry Bergonzi on his composition "Bafandine", which is based on the chord changes to the standard "I Hear a Rhapsody". It was captured on one of Bergonzi's weekly sessions at The Lilypad, in Cambridge, MA, on September 7, 2015. Masterful lines, phrasing, rhythm & time feel by JB. Rhythm section is Matt Stavrakas on bass and Luther Gray on drums. Enjoy. Gustavo

Click on the link below to view/download the PDF of the transcription in both Concert & Bb versions:

Jerry Bergonzi solo on "I Hear a Rhapsody" - Transcription (Concert & Bb)

Jerry Bergonzi solo on "Stella by Starlight"

This is a solo by the great saxophonist, Jerry Bergonzi on his composition "Creature Feature", which is based on the chord changes to the standard "Stella by Starlight". 
This was captured on one of Bergonzi's weekly sessions at The Lilypad, in Cambridge, MA, on April 18, 2016. Rhythm section is Bruce Gertz on bass and Luther Gray on drums. I had initially transcribed a few lines from this solo, but as I kept listening to it there were too many things I liked, so I did it all. I will be including an analysis soon. Enjoy. Gustavo

Click on the link below to view/download the PDF of the transcription:
Jerry Bergonzi solo on "Stella by Starlight" (Creature Feature) - concert & Bb

FNGs - On Green Dolphin Street

Here is Ed Saindon applying the improv concept of Four Note Groupings (FNGs) to the standard "On Green Dolphin Street". The first chorus in the clip is a written out solo. The following two choruses were improvised using the FNG concept. The written out solo along with the list of FNGs being applied, and the transcribed improvised choruses can be downloaded using the link below. 

FNGs is a chapter in the just released "The Complete Guide To Improvisation - Volume Two" by Ed Saindon.#TheCompleteGuideToImprovisation #AllThingsImprovisation

FNG Written Solo with Chart & Transcription

The Complete Guide To Improvisation - Table Of Contents