• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Website of Steve Neff

  • BLOG
  • SHOP
  • MEMBER’S AREA
    • JOIN
    • FAQ
    • MEMBER LOGIN
    • Member Monthly Lessons
    • Member VIP Area
    • Member-Practicing with Neff
    • Member-Brecker Alternate Fingering Lessons
    • Member-Killin’ Altissimo Lick Lessons
    • Member-Monster Lick of the Day
  • RAVES
  • CONTACT
You are here: Home / Transcriptions / Transcription of Jeff Ellwood’s Solo on Just the Two of Us

Transcription of Jeff Ellwood’s Solo on Just the Two of Us

November 30, 2016 by Steve 7 Comments

Here’s another transcription I am excited about sharing with everyone.  I found the video on Facebook this morning and proceeded to play it over and over until my wife got annoyed at me and said “Steve, it is 6:30 in the morning!  What are you doing?”  “Sorry, honey.” I replied.  That was how my day started……….

I grabbed some coffee and went straight up to my office and started transcribing.   I had a long list of stuff I was suppose to do today but I had to transcribe this first!

The video below is Jeff Ellwood playing a tenor sax solo over “Just the Two of Us” by Bill Withers.  Jeff is the Jazz Saxophone Professor at Cal State Fullerton. He posts quite regularly in the group “Jam of the Week” on Facebook. Seeing a post by him usually makes me stop whatever I’m doing and check it out!

Jeff Ellwood

Jeff has quite a unique approach and I guarantee that you have never heard a solo like this over “Just the Two of Us”.   Some of you who like “by the book” solos that dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s might not like this as much because it is “too outside” for you perhaps but I love it!  Jeff takes some extreme liberties with his lines that make you wonder “Where the heck is this going?”  and “Will this ever resolve?” but rest assured Jeff does almost always resolve. (It just might not be where you think it should be…….)

I personally love Jeff Ellwood’s playing!  At my age it is refreshing to hear someone solo and not know where it’s going or even what the heck he is doing at times!   That’s why I had to transcribe it?

Check out the video below and the transcription.  I wrote it all out and I still don’t know what he was doing or thinking at times!   Enjoy!

If you want to check out more of Jeff Ellwood and some of his transcriptions and books you can read more about him at www.jeffellwood.net. Thanks Jeff!

https://cdn.neffmusic.com/2016/Ellwood-Just_the_Two_of_Us.mp4

Jeff Ellwood soloing on Just the Two of Us from Instagram

Just the Two of Us-Jeff Ellwood Solo Bb

*If you would like to support me here at neffmusic.com, you can do so on the support page of my store by debit or credit card.   Any support is appreciated and will go towards keeping this site running, saxophone reeds, mouthpiece patches, coffee, and towards justifying the many hours I spend on providing free transcriptions to the saxophone community!  Thanks,   Steve

Filed Under: Transcriptions Tagged With: Grover Washington Jr., jazz saxophone, Jeff Ellwood, Just the Two of Us, tenor sax, transcription

Steve

About Steve

Steve Neff has been playing and teaching saxophone and jazz improvisation around the New England area for over 30 years. He is the author of many best selling jazz improvisation methods as well as founding the popular jazz video lesson site Neffmusic.com.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarNoah says

    December 1, 2016 at 4:00 am

    I’ve never listened to Jeff before, I love it! It reminds me a lot of Bob Malach’s playing- as I’ve always thought he had a great “yin/yang” approach of playing the craziest lines that just go on and on and just when you feel like your head is about to explode, he ties it all together with a simple blues lick or pentatonic ending! I’ll be listening to more of Mr. Elwood in the future, thanks for transcription Steve!

    Reply
  2. AvatarWSR says

    December 1, 2016 at 4:21 pm

    Killer lines. Thanks sooooo much. You are the best dude!
    Cheers mate,
    Craig
    ps
    AKA SOTW member WSR

    Reply
  3. AvatarGrahame Easthope says

    December 1, 2016 at 4:36 pm

    That’s not just outside, it’s on another planet. Love it.

    Reply
    • SteveSteve says

      December 10, 2016 at 10:51 am

      Yes, check out his solo I just put up on Freedom Jazz Dance also………..Steve

      Reply
      • AvatarAntoine says

        November 5, 2022 at 10:23 pm

        Hello Steve, thank you for all your transcripts, for Jeff’s “Just the two of us” would you have the audio link because I can’t find it? Good luck

        Reply
        • SteveSteve says

          November 6, 2022 at 9:31 pm

          I fixed that link to the Jeff Ellwood video that was broken. It now works again. Thanks for the heads up!

          Reply
  4. AvatarRob Payne says

    December 2, 2016 at 9:58 pm

    I went to his website to check out his videos and the Lennie’s Pennies video caught my attention because years ago I played in a big band led by Gary Foster who did the alto solo on Ellwood’s video. I got to meet Lee Konitz (I bought him some French fries) when he was a guest soloist for the band and we played a big band version of Lennie’s Pennies. Lennie Tristano was of course a huge influence on Konitz who was Foster’s main influence and Tristano is in fact one of my favorite pianists. Ellwood sounds great to me, a real monster on tenor. He’s very original in his playing, a rarity in any art form. Thanks for posting this!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Cart

Subscribe to the Neffmusic Newsletter for the latest reviews and best deals delivered straight to your inbox every month. Join now and you will also receive my 40 Ultimate Michael Brecker Licks free!

Select list(s) to subscribe to


Thanks for joining!


NEFFMUSIC PRINTED BOOKS

Testimonials

Hello Steve, I’m getting so much out of your lessons and books, amazing how much one may think one knows, there is always a new frontier or new way to view something you think you had somewhat down. You have taken it all to a new level and am so grateful. Your lessons are so down to earth and understandable and clear!  Thanks so much Steve! Cheers, Eddie

Eddie Parente

Mr. Neff,  I want to thank you for sharing your God-given talents through your on-line lessons.  My husband, Michael, is blind, but he is a great sax player and he has been enjoying your lessons for quite some time now.  It’s not unusual for me to hear “Hey, babe, listen to THIS!” – and he will cut loose on his sax, just thrilled at what he learned during his session with you.  His excitement warms my heart!  You have no idea how much you have poured into my husband.  You have opened musical … Read more

Carole B
I’m an experienced player in the pop/soul/funk areas of music and, previously, classical.  Over the decades I’ve been playing, I’ve always felt that I could do what I needed in those styles of music.  However, recently I began to feel limited by my use of the same old licks. When I discovered Steve Neff’s website, and heard the audio examples based on the exercises in his books, I realized they were what I needed.  I purchased all of them and have been working on them since.  It’s very hard work… Read more
Paul
I want to let you know that your instructional material is transforming my playing.  It is an immense pleasure to learn and play now, and I can’t tell you how grateful I am. The instructional material I got from you is by far the best of any I own (and I have over 100 books, DVDs, and what not). I literally can’t thank you enough! Deric
Deric
Thanks so much for putting all this great learning material out there. I don’t often have the time to take a lesson with a teacher, so the ability to download lessons is really invaluable. My playing has improved enormously (I think :)) – and the lessons are so varied there’s always something to be inspired by. Incredible value too!
Roger

Your material is great! I got your New Altissimo Lesson 6 months ago and I have learned more from that than in all my 44 years of playing! I appreciate your down to earth teaching method and I really appreciate the heart that you teach with. I have been a subscriber to your lessons for the past 6 months and I have learned a great deal. Over that period of time I have had some questions and you have never failed to respond. Thanks! I have already recommended your lessons to a number of players in… Read more

Michael Byington
I am a music book junkie and I have to say that your books are the most clear, user friendly, and helpful books I own.  They are my absolute favorites and I only wish I had them years ago.  I wouldn’t change a thing about the experience I had in acquiring my degree at Berklee, but my playing has perhaps grown more in the time I’ve spent buried in your books and lessons.  Keep up the great work!!! Thanks, John
John
Just wanted to send you a quick note to say thank you for being you, your playing, your website and your desire to help others. I’m a professional musician in the US Army and I’ve visited your website almost every day since discovering it a couple of months ago. Your lessons are profound and easy to use. I’ve purchased most of your PDF books and now am starting to delve more into the video and audio lessons.  Thank you for being a great resource!
James
Just a brief note to compliment you on your teaching skills and in particular for the honesty of your lessons.  I am a returning alto sax player in my 50’s and I was looking for a no nonsense, straight to the point kind of guidance. I had intended to email you with a few questions regarding the use of the bis key but then I noticed that there was a lesson on that specific topic and after viewing it,  all my questions were answered. I once took a group lesson with a well known professional sax … Read more
Patrick

Hello Steve,

I have not received my alto yet but have already gone through 14 lessons. I love your approach, style, knowledge and competence. I now regret so much to have stayed away from playing the sax for the past 45-50 years…(I am 65).  But It is never too late to get back to your first love. After 23 years in compuer sciences and 22 years in finances…I am now back to music for the rest of my life.

Doing some research on the net, I found this:

http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?1… Read more

Claude

Featured Video Lessons

  • The Secret to Modern Outside Jazz Lines Lesson-Minor $9.99
  • Creating Modern II-V-I Lines with Simple Pentatonics Lesson
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • The Best Embouchure for Tone, Intonation and Endurance Lesson
    Rated 4.90 out of 5
    $9.99
  • The Secret to Altissimo (no one has ever told you about before) Lesson
    Rated 4.75 out of 5
    $9.99

Now over 600 video and audio lessons to choose from!
BECOME A MEMBER TODAY AND SAVE BIG ON EACH LESSON!

Mastering Major Diatonic Patterns
Mastering Major Diatonic Patterns

Free Lessons

  • Free Lesson on The New Ultimate II-V-I Primer-Major Keys
  • Free Video Lesson on Mastering Altered Pentatonics
  • Free Video Lesson on Mastering the Blues Scale Volume 1 & 2
  • Free Video Lesson on Mastering the Dominant Bebop Scale and Language Book 1 & 2
  • Free Video Lesson on Approach Note Velocity Book

Recent reviews

  • Mastering Altered Pentatonics (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Dino Govoni
  • Mastering the Bebop Scale Review-Blues in All Keys Lesson 1
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Steve Nye
  • Devastating Minor Lines for Jazz and Funk Soloing (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Mark White
  • Devastating Dominant Lines for Jazz and Funk Soloing (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Mark White
  • The Best Embouchure for Tone, Intonation and Endurance Lesson
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Christopher Lutyk

Jazz Improvisation Books

Mastering Altered Pentatonics
Mastering Altered Pentatonics
Devastating Dominant Lines for Jazz & Funk
Devastating Dominant Lines for Jazz & Funk
Mastering the Minor ii-7b5 V7b9 Bebop Scale
Mastering the Minor ii-7b5 V7b9 Bebop Scale
Dominant Bebop Scale Book
Mastering the Dominant Bebop Scale
Mastering the Dominant Bebop Scale-Book 2
Mastering the Dominant Bebop Scale-Book 2
The New Ultimate II-V-I Primer (Major)
The New Ultimate II-V-I Primer (Major)
Mastering Major Diatonic Patterns
Mastering Major Diatonic Patterns
Devastating Minor Lines for Jazz & Funk
Devastating Minor Lines for Jazz & Funk-Thirty 5 Star Reviews!!!
Mastering the Blues Scale Vol. 2-Dominant Chords
Mastering the Blues Scale Vol. 2-Dominant Chords
Best II-V-I Patterns Book
Best II-V-I Patterns
Approach Note Velocity Book
Approach Note Velocity
Mastering the Blues Scale Vol. 1-Minor Chords
Mastering the Blues Scale Vol. 1-Minor Chords
Major Bebop Scale Book
Mastering the Major Bebop Scale & Sound

Footer

Recent Comments

  • Rory Leitch on Phil-Tone Rift Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review
  • Marc Vanden Eynden on Phil-Tone Rift Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review
  • Steve on Phil-Tone Rift Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review
  • Rory Leitch on Phil-Tone Rift Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review
  • Alan Klingaman on Phil-Tone Rift Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

Top rated products

  • Monthly Silver Lesson Subscription
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $30.00 now, and $30.00 on the 1st of each month
  • Triad Pairs 4x4 Lesson
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • Amazing Grace Lesson
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • Memorizing Jazz Standards-Lesson 2
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • Mastering the Blues Scale Vol. 2-Dominant Chords (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $14.99

Product tags

alto sax alto saxophone approach notes audio lesson bebop scale beginner beginner saxophone blues blues licks blues patterns blues scale blues scales diminished scale dominant chords ear training fundamentals II-V-I improvisation jazz improvisation jazz lines jazz patterns jazz sax jazz saxophone jazz standard jazz standards licks Mastering the Blues Scale Michael Brecker modern improv modern improvisation online lesson patterns playing outside practice habits reading music sax basics sax lessons saxophone scales smooth jazz steve neff tenor sax tenor saxophone video lesson video lessons
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • SUPPORT

Neffmusic © 2023