Here’s another great saxophone solo transcription from a Youtube video that I started working on this morning. This is another great solo from the terrific tenor sax player, Danny Walsh (I’ve already transcribed a couple other solos by him). Danny Walsh is an amazing NYC saxophone player that many people may not know about but is definitely worth checking out! Here is a short bio of him taken from the description of the Youtube video below:
A world-class saxophonist, composer and performer Danny Walsh is regarded as one of the most gifted and versatile recording artists in the jazz and R&B circuits. During the course of his career, he has not only recorded, performed and toured with many jazz, R&B and classic rock luminaries, but continues to be involved as a clinician at colleges and universities throughout the nation. Upon graduation from The Berklee School of Music, Danny was immediately hired by Aerosmith. Soon after he secured more opportunities with the Mingus Dynasty Big Band, Mike Stern, Greg Allman, Phil Woods, Mulgrew Miller, Marcus Miller, Bruce Springsteen, Donald Brown, Terruo Nakamura and many others. In this broadcast, he is joined by a group of other gifted musicians: Emiko Ohara on keyboard, Rob Reich on guitar, Eric Halvorson on drums, Chris Berger on bass and the lovely Anastasia Rene as a guest vocalist. A very special night for all!
Danny Walsh-Tenor Saxophone
This whole gig, in the Youtube video below, sticks out to me because the setlist is primarily tunes we would all play on a typical gig. Cold Duck Time, Wave, Our Love is Here to Stay, The Way You Look Tonight, Masquerade, etc……. I find it fascinating to hear a player of Danny’s calibre playing these common tunes that we probably have all played on gigs and just tearing them to shreds. The other thing that I love is how effortless Danny looks while soloing on the sax. He’s playing these intense lines but looking like he’s playing Mary Had a Little Lamb or something. Not a drip of sweat or sign of effort, it just seems like it is flowing out of him effortlessly. I love that!
If you have never heard of Danny Walsh before, check out his CD and any future projects he plays on!
Full Gig Video-Wave Solo starts at 9:59
The entire solo is only one chorus long but it is action packed! The whole solo follows this format: Beautiful melodic line, killin’ 16th note line, beautiful melodic line, killin’ 16th note line, beautiful…….You get the point! Thanks Danny for another great solo!! Enjoy! Let me know what you think in the comments below…….
Wave-Danny Walsh Solo Clip
Wave Solo Bb-Danny Walsh
Wave Solo C-Danny Walsh
It’s a couple days later and just to blow your mind, I had to complete this transcription by transcribing Danny’s solo on the ending vamp of this tune (It’s at 15:42 on the video but be prepared, the lines are so intense that you might need therapy after hearing them….) I’ve also included an audio cut below but watching the video is even better. The PDF is another four pages of soloing but well worth it! Check it out below……..
Wave Ending Vamp-Danny Walsh Solo
Wave Ending Vamp Solo Bb-Danny Walsh
Wave Ending Vamp Solo C-Danny Walsh
This is Danny Walsh’s last recording. Check it out!!
Danny Walsh “Entering In” Itunes
Danny Walsh “Entering In” CD Baby
Devastating Minor Lines for Jazz and Funk Soloing
Devastating Dominant Lines for Jazz & Funk
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Modern Improv
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- II-V-I Altered Scale Mastery-Lesson 1
- Minor Chord Substitution Lines Lesson
- Minor ii-7b5-V7b9 Substitution Lesson 1
- Modern Minor 6th Pentatonic Lines Lesson
- Playing Outside-3 Tonic Chromaticism Lesson
- Playing Outside-4 Note Pentatonic Cells Lesson
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Hey Steve,
You know I’m a huge Danny Walsh fan. He’s playing the Saxscape Live on this clip. Of course he knows harmony inside and out, but he told me when he plays those lines (amazing lines) he’s just hearing it and not thinking about chords so much. He makes it look easy. A few months ago my phone rang and caller ID said it was Danny. I answered it and it was him playing Tequila on some gig. He must have butt called me. I listened to him for about half an hour, it was pretty funny.
Howard, That is pretty funny about the phone call. That’s one call I wouldn’t mind getting with Danny ripping over Tequila. Hahaha!!
Nice!
And a little Jimi Hendrix quote right there at the end.
He has a very sophisticated harmonic ear. Great to hear those patterns employed in such a clear forward moving way.
Thanks for posting!
I’ve seen him a lot in the last few years because he plays 2, 3 night a week in NYC so quick train ride from NJ. Every night is a lesson for me. Nice flute player and singer as well.
Martin
Steve,
Great job transcribing. I enjoyed very much. Question – what software did you use to create the PDFs ?
The tunes “She” and “The Chicken” would also be great to see.
Rich, I use Finale to create the transcriptions. Are “She” and “The Chicken” on that same Danny Walsh video or are you talking about another recording? Steve
Steve – they are on the same video.
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Which tune is “She”? I don’t know that tune……..
He announces “She” by George Shering at 42:55 and “The Chicken” at 54:50
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Ok obviously late to this thread but I’ve seen him live with Mike Stern. Currently they are in Chicago and Danny is just killing it.
Lucky man! I would love to see Danny live with Mike Stern! I have to settle for random Youtube clips….
I’m so looking forward to seeing and hearing Danny in the flesh again next month 16/03/23 @ Birds Basement here in Melbourne “Downunder”. The last time I saw him live was at an Italian Restaurant by the name of Michael’s at Manasquan ? or Brielle ?N.J in 1998. My Partner Katie and I were living in Point Pleasant Beach and spent the whole year working in the U.S.A. I met and spoke with Danny that night and found him charming as I’m a Saxophonist myself. One tune he played that night that just blew me away was “Europe” which is played with so much emotion by Gato Barbieri. I was lucky to see Gato, also that year on a Jazz Cruise from South Pier around Manhattan. Also that year Frank Sinatra died. But The stand out Memory for me was listening to Danny that night. A truly amazing and brilliant Player A true Maestro on Tenor, Alto and Soprano Saxophones!!!