If you play any kind of an instrument, odds are you’ve got at least a handful of the Play-a-long book and cd sets from Jamey Aebersold. This time around they’re doing something out of their comfort zone, which is putting together a collection of transcriptions. This one is of the beloved hard bop pianist Wynton Kelly, most famously known as the Miles Davis’ sideman on classic sessions such as Kind of Blue and …At the Blackhawk, but also an impressive leader in his own right. His releases Kelly Blue, Kelly at Midnight and Full View are underappreciated gems. These transcriptions are some gorgeous improvisations of his bluesy, bopping and gospel inflected style, and musicians of all instruments will get something out of these tunes.
Familiar tunes like “All of You, Autumn Leaves and “On Green Dolphin Street” have Kelly delivering lovely and light lyrical improvisations that make complete sense on reading. I took out my clarinet and played some of the right hand pieces and was amazed how well it felt on my hands. My only caveat with this book is that it doesn’t include anything from Kelly’s stint with Wes Montgomery, and only one tune from Kelly Blue is included; mores the pity. Still, that’s nit picking for a well deserved and overdue spotlight on an underrated jazz hero.
Jamey Aebersold Jazz
www.jazzbooks.com