How to Sound like Eric Dolphy (Green Dolphin Street transcription)

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  • čas přidán 11. 12. 2021
  • Eric Dolphy's Green Dolphin Street from 1960's "Outward Bound" is hands-down favorite Dolphy track - so I transcribed it. (download it here: earspasm.link/GreenDolphin and play it yourself!)
  • Hudba

Komentáře • 73

  • @mambojazz1
    @mambojazz1 Před 2 lety +25

    Dolphy started actually on Bb clarinet not sax. He was a classical player clarinetist in the 50's and auditioned for the Philadelphia Philharmonic aceing the audtion but later being denied because because he was black.

  • @Jared_De_Leon
    @Jared_De_Leon Před 2 lety +14

    Clarinet nerd here lol. You are correct but there is more to the story of vintage Selmer bass clarinets I though you might be interested in. The "Series 9" is not necessarily a uniquely model, it was essentially a rebadging of the "No. 32" bass clarinet. If you look up the 1953 Selmer catalog it will be on page 8. The model is described as: "No. 32 - 18 keys, covered finger holes, single automatic octave key, articulated G#, low Eb key, extra Eb-Ab lever." This model was available from the 1950s to the 1970s. During the period that the Series 9 was available, some low clarinets were also marked "Series 9" though there was no difference in design. In the early 60s Selmer started offering nickel plating and you will find that most "Series 9" bass clarinets and those made after are nickel plated, thought there are a few silver plated Mazzeo Series 9 instruments. From the pictures I've seen it seems that Dolphy likely have a few different instruments over the years, most if not all of which were Selmer 32s. This makes sense as it was one of the best and most popular bass clarinets of the era. Great video!

    • @earspasm
      @earspasm  Před 2 lety +4

      I knew someone would have the scoop. Thanks for sharing!

  • @UncleTerry1001
    @UncleTerry1001 Před 2 lety +55

    You do such wonderful, valuable work and content with such pleasant and creative presentation. Thank you from a fellow 76 year old life-long clarinetist/teacher. (No, I don’t mean you’re also 76.) I’m so inspired and appreciative. Sincere best wishes.

    • @krane15
      @krane15 Před 2 lety

      I figured it out.

  • @giorgiomaggiore9773
    @giorgiomaggiore9773 Před 2 lety +30

    Eric Dolphy played Selmer. His mother gave his instruments to John Coltrane after he passed. By the way he started on flute as far as I know.

    • @07BSPtC
      @07BSPtC Před 2 lety +1

      I always thought he played a 1930s buffet

    • @matthewgellar1442
      @matthewgellar1442 Před 2 lety +2

      @@07BSPtC 3:40

    • @mambojazz1
      @mambojazz1 Před 2 lety +8

      He started on clarinet, then alto sax, then flute. He was a classically trained clarinetist that auditioned for the Philadelphia Philharmonic. Coltrane didn't get Dolphy's alto only the bass clarinet and flute which Coltrane later played in recordings.

    • @giorgiomaggiore9773
      @giorgiomaggiore9773 Před 2 lety +1

      @@mambojazz1 thank you for the elaboration!

  • @christopherherrmann921
    @christopherherrmann921 Před 2 lety +20

    Eric Dolphy, simply one of the greatest musicians of all time too me. This man is pure inspiration and energy. His early death was such a shame... Not to beleave how he would have directed jazz and other music even more into it´s modernity. Than you SO MUCH for the Video!!!

  • @swineminus
    @swineminus Před rokem +3

    Dolphy studied clarinet and bass clarinet with a teacher in Los Angeles when he was young. I believe the man’s name was Merle Johnston. According to Vladimir Simosko’s biography of Eric, the teacher showed him methods of manipulating mouthpieces and other skills to get a big sound. The full story of Eric’s student years needs more research and may never be fully known. His parents knew quite a bit and they did give some interviews. Assertions about studies with Joe Allard and the Philadelphia Orchestra audition are intriguing but, short of actual evidence, possibly apocryphal. Allard is believable but Philly? Let’s see some proof.

  • @MO-1888
    @MO-1888 Před rokem +2

    Thank you very much for highlighting the genius of Eric Dolphy…a truly unique and inspirational musician, sadly missed.

  • @michaelmullmusic
    @michaelmullmusic Před 2 lety +13

    Tackling anything Eric Dolphy is a feat! I've never finished a whole solo but even the shortest lines can be a bear! It's nice to hear people talking about tone and sound rather than always going straight to harmonic analysis. Thanks for the great videos.

  • @massimilianodosoli9018
    @massimilianodosoli9018 Před 8 měsíci +1

    it's amazing thanks. i only have one remark, i would put the chord changes on top of the solo transcription because it's always very important to see how he was thinking about the changes while learning a solo
    for the rest its a great gift, thanks Michael

  • @aidanlogan4384
    @aidanlogan4384 Před rokem +2

    I know this is a year late, but I believe he actually started on clarinet and later alto sax and later then bass clarinet.

  • @foolishwatcher
    @foolishwatcher Před 2 lety +5

    My favorite kind of your videos; playing along with the giants. That laugh when you finished was priceless. Your earned that joy! Keep 'em coming.😉

    • @svennygmusic3043
      @svennygmusic3043 Před 2 lety +1

      I fully agree 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼😻😻😻

  • @nilesloughlin6845
    @nilesloughlin6845 Před 2 lety +12

    Always love these breakdown-style transcription videos! I think it’s a really worthwhile practice to reconstruct the playing style of such wonderful players. It brings to light some great perspectives on how to approach technique and performance.
    If you want another challenge just for fun… try performing in the style of John Coltrane’s soprano sax playing, on soprano clarinet. I was looking for an approachable tune of his in my Omnibook for a student, and happened upon Central Park West. As I listened to his recording, I decided to try and emulate his sound on my horn on a whim… it was not easy, to say the least.

  • @WitchKing-Of-Angmar
    @WitchKing-Of-Angmar Před 2 lety +2

    Man, that was verbatim. Absolutely incredible.

  • @stepanxol
    @stepanxol Před 2 lety +4

    Wow. Just wow

  • @bgclarinet
    @bgclarinet Před 2 lety +6

    Awesome work! When I transcribed GBtC (his earliest recording), I also theorized that he doesn’t just flap his fingers around, but that he’s actually playing deliberate alternate fingerings and overtones. This makes sense because he studied for a short time with Joe Allard, the overtone “guy.” I’m hoping to do a video about it like yours!

  • @DrZombieDeadpool
    @DrZombieDeadpool Před 2 lety

    Insane!! Been waiting for this!

  • @thomasstone1363
    @thomasstone1363 Před 2 lety

    Excellent video. Thank you!

  • @ZiSlepovitch
    @ZiSlepovitch Před 2 lety +1

    Thank you, Michael, this is really, truly precious and wonderful.

  • @crieverytim
    @crieverytim Před rokem

    Fantastic work. Thanks for sharing

  • @MaxSoggiu
    @MaxSoggiu Před 2 lety

    Great work man!!!! Amazing!!!

  • @super20dan
    @super20dan Před 2 lety +5

    absolutely amazing you managed to duplicate dolphy! didnt think it was possiable. i bow before you.

  • @jeanettekorzenko4958
    @jeanettekorzenko4958 Před 2 lety +1

    Please more & Merry Christmas.. I love what you did last Christmas.. I sent that all over. It was very beautiful. 🙏

  • @mikesaxclar
    @mikesaxclar Před 2 lety

    OMG! That's incredible! Just WOW!

  • @danieldorff1
    @danieldorff1 Před 2 lety

    Wow Michael - you're amazing at the forensics as well as so many other expertises!

  • @ieatgauffres4432
    @ieatgauffres4432 Před rokem +2

    wow the work you put into this is crazy, just figuring out all the notes perfectly and the different ways to play them. Fascinating to watch!

  • @chillbill8596
    @chillbill8596 Před 2 lety

    Oh my god, thank you for introducing this absolute gem to me!

  • @galaxygear351
    @galaxygear351 Před 2 lety

    You - a beast. Thank you for your inspiration, insight on the bass clarinet. I didn’t need a cup of coffee after watching this video!

  • @anthonymasiello5464
    @anthonymasiello5464 Před 2 lety +2

    You have done something I have always wanted to do. Bravo!!! I can’t wait to play your transcriptions and try some of the Eric Dolphy techniques you described. This makes me want to break my bass out of its case. I have been mostly playing orchestral soprano clarinets lately and not as much bass. This is an inspiration. Thank you.

  • @Liam-pi9vi
    @Liam-pi9vi Před 2 lety +1

    Perfect video for me. I fashion myself an Eric dolphy disciple, though at the moment I only play the baritone sax, in the future I want to play the bass clarinet. Thanks for this!

  • @BopWalk
    @BopWalk Před 2 lety +2

    Wow, amazing effort......

  • @gustavodaoulucas3900
    @gustavodaoulucas3900 Před rokem

    Thank you so much

  • @MrRaganrok
    @MrRaganrok Před 2 lety

    Amazing !!

  • @zangsax
    @zangsax Před 2 lety

    You killed it👍

  • @javierquesada798
    @javierquesada798 Před 2 lety

    eternal health teacher and happy holidays

  • @mathijslemmens9727
    @mathijslemmens9727 Před rokem +2

    Just wow that's insane! You should do a video on how to sound like Evan Christopher

  • @javierquesada798
    @javierquesada798 Před 2 lety +1

    Fantastic teacher I have felt all that emotion. Ask the teacher I use my lower teeth a little at times for notes on treble it is valid. I was always taught with the lower teeth

  • @javierquesada798
    @javierquesada798 Před 2 lety

    happy new year eternal health

  • @xtoffrei
    @xtoffrei Před 2 lety +2

    Thank you for the transcription. I will start to practice the tune immediately - will take some months I guess.

  • @nicomomesso5163
    @nicomomesso5163 Před 2 lety

    Fantastico!!!

  • @km6206
    @km6206 Před 3 měsíci

    pretty cool

  • @lwskiner
    @lwskiner Před rokem

    Outrageous!!! Dolphy was such an important part of Miles' groups.

  • @andersonmachado2701
    @andersonmachado2701 Před 2 lety

    Bravo

  • @samuelbrown434
    @samuelbrown434 Před 2 lety +2

    i like to call the "correct" fingerings "preferred fingerings." because, according to eric dolphy, the incorrect fingerings are valid and have some utility. They're just not great for being held out so you can hear how thin and flat they are.

  • @stewartdeanking
    @stewartdeanking Před 2 lety

    Thank you for fun education. I'd love to see what that right hand is doing

  • @adamalter7484
    @adamalter7484 Před rokem +1

    Hey Michael. I have been looking all over the internet for a piece of clarinet need apocrypha that I once read that said Dolphy played on a Conn for some recordings that went down to low "D". If I find the thread I'll post it.

  • @jazzbariman
    @jazzbariman Před 2 lety +5

    A couple of quick quesitons: Was Dolphy playing a low Eb Bass Clarinet? Do you think that matters in playing like Dolphy? you have two different bass clarinets in your arsenal. Does one give you more control when playing music like this? If not, why the two bass clarinets? Are you using different mouthpiece and reeds? Did one clarinet give you the flexibility that Dolphy exhibits here? I am curious in your bass clarinet choices and use of those choices. This is not an easy transcritpion. You did a great job on it. I imagine you are a huge fan of Dolphy, but has your appreciation deepened? What was the most surprising thing you learned about Dolphy during this time? I figured he was not a "true" bass clarinetist, but showed sax tendencies on the instrument. Great job on this. It is impressive work.

    • @earspasm
      @earspasm  Před 2 lety +6

      Lots of good questions here, probably too much for me to share on CZcams, but I’ll try to write a blog post about it. Keep me honest, and if you don’t see it in a few weeks please contact me through the Earspasm site.

    • @jazzbariman
      @jazzbariman Před 2 lety

      @@earspasm I just sent you a message on your website about this. Have a great New Year.

    • @crieverytim
      @crieverytim Před rokem +1

      ​@@earspasm this man is putting you to work!!😅

  • @adrianrobledo2886
    @adrianrobledo2886 Před 2 lety

    This is important

  • @seth4x
    @seth4x Před 2 lety

    Transcription of Someday Sweetheart by Jelly Roll Morton?

  • @GregoryAgid
    @GregoryAgid Před 2 lety +1

    100%

  • @Ziloph
    @Ziloph Před 2 lety

    Any tips to hit the high c easily?

  • @gregdolecki8530
    @gregdolecki8530 Před 2 lety +2

    All right, come clean. How many times did you practice this before nailing it?

    • @earspasm
      @earspasm  Před 2 lety +5

      If I’m being honest, about 2 hours total over 3 days.

    • @gregdolecki8530
      @gregdolecki8530 Před 2 lety

      @@earspasm Measure 40 - sounds like a triplet instead of 4 16ths?

  • @tapiceriaautomotorjazz

    Jajajajaja tremendo solo

  • @friselectif
    @friselectif Před 2 lety

    Shit. oh crazy

  • @jadencoles380
    @jadencoles380 Před 2 lety

    Hey you frogot tenor venova

  • @brekedekdang39
    @brekedekdang39 Před rokem

    I am disappointed that you didn't just stop the video at 2:31. That would have been so boss. Like, "here's how you play the solo like Eric Dolphy." Get a Bass Clarinet and start transcribing. 😃

  • @leotard2536
    @leotard2536 Před dnem

    Nice video. However, your right sleeve was folded up, so everything you said is meaningless.

  • @Ignignokt2000
    @Ignignokt2000 Před 2 lety

    how to sell Eric Dolphy T Shirts without giving his estate any of the money

    • @earspasm
      @earspasm  Před 2 lety +11

      Actually, I donate all of the proceeds of that particular shirt to a local Jazz program in the inner city. It’s not much, to be honest, but since you mention it…