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

Website of Steve Neff

  • BLOG
  • SHOP
  • MY ACCOUNT
  • RAVES
  • CONTACT

Search Neffmusic

You are here: Home / Reviews / Book Reviews / Chris Potter-Transcriptions and Essays by Jeff McGregor Review

Chris Potter-Transcriptions and Essays by Jeff McGregor Review

February 4, 2021 by Steve Leave a Comment

For the last couple of weeks,  I have been checking out two amazing transcription books by Jeff McGregor entitled Chris Potter-Transcriptions and Essays and Mark Turner-Transcriptions and Essays.


Chris Potter-Transcriptions and Essays by Jeff McGregor

If you were to gather ten saxophone players around a table and have a discussion about who the cutting edge modern tenor saxophone players of this era would be, the names of Chris Potter and Mark Turner would undoubtedly be mentioned in that discussion.

These are two tenor saxophone players that have captured my attention for many decades now. ( I actually went to Berklee with Mark Turner in the late 80’s and even then, I would slow down nonchalantly, bend down and pretend to re-tie my perfectly tied shoelaces as I walked outside his practice room so I could hear what he was working on back then……)

For this review, I will be writing about the Chris Potter transcription book. Chris Potter caught my attention some years later as I didn’t hear of him until the year 2000 or 2001.  I was talking to a fellow musician on a gig and he mentioned Chris Potter’s name in passing.  When I told him I had never heard of him, he implored me to go home and check him out.  Of course, that is what I immediately did when I got home at 2AM that night, and now years later my iTunes music folder is full of albums featuring Chris Potter!


Chris Potter-Transcriptions and Essays by Jeff McGregor

Chris Potter is a saxophone player that seems to always be pushing the boundaries of what we think a saxophone player can do.  I can’t even recount all the times I have heard Chris Potter play something on the saxophone and thought, “That’s impossible!”  Whether it be playing incredibly complex lines up in the altissmo or down at the bottom end of the horn, unusual and hard to play intervallic lines, playing in odd meters, playing over a jazz standard acapella for 15 minutes straight without repeating any ideas or just his incredibly advanced harmonic and rhythmic lines that just leave you perplexed and in awe while listening to his solos.

As a transcriber myself, I know firsthand the challenge of trying to transcribe a Chris Potter saxophone solo. His sax solos might start simple enough, but Chris usually travels to what we saxophone players refer to as “insane” in short order.  Between trying to figure out the flurry of notes, the rhythmic groupings of the notes, the lines up in the altissimo and then trying to figure out how to write this all down on a piece of paper is time consuming and can also be quite frustrating and infuriating!

I can’t tell you the number of times I have replayed one small section of a Chris Potter solo trying to figure these elements out while almost pulling out my hair in the process. Jeff McGregor gets much admiration and appreciation from me because of this.  He picked the two most advanced tenor saxophonists of this generation to transcribe! Chris Potter and Mark Turner.  That is no small feat!


Chris Potter-Transcriptions and Essays by Jeff McGregor

The Chris Potter Transcription and Essays book is a quality product.  It is spiral bound so the book can lay flat on a music stand or desk.  The pages are nice and thick quality paper that doesn’t bleed through.  The music staves are widely spaced with an average of eight staves to a page.  The solos, although incredibly complex, are easy to look at and read as far as the spacing and font sizes.  The easily read staves, spacing and fonts actually have the effect of calming the reader down and instilling a sense of confidence that you will be able to play the solo laying out in front of you. Of course, that all flies out the window when you start listening to Chris play the solo……

Here is a breakdown of the contents of the book from  Jeff McGregor’s website:

This new collection of 30 transcriptions follows Chris Potter’s discography from Gratitude (2001) to Circuits (2019), including transcriptions from all of Potter’s Underground and ECM albums.

The accompanying essays are based on extended interviews with Chris Potter. They follow the history and development of Potter’s ensembles and recordings. Various aspects of Potter’s approach to improvisation are discussed and excerpts from the transcriptions are analyzed. 

Transcriptions are all Bb parts. This project was edited by Jim Brenan.

230 Pages

This collection includes the following transcriptions.

  • “The Source” from Gratitude (2001)
  • “The Visitor” from Gratitude (2001)
  • “Megapolis” from Traveling Mercies (2002)
  • “Children Go” from Traveling Mercies (2002)
  • “7.5” from Lift: Live at the Village Vanguard (2004)
  • “Lift” from Lift: Live at the Village Vanguard (2004)
  • “Next Best Western” from Underground (2006)
  • “Nudnik” from Underground (2006)
  • “Big Top” from Underground (2006)
  • “Underground” from Underground (2006)
  • “Train” from Follow the Red Line: Live at the Village Vanguard (2007)
  • “Pop Tune #1” from Follow the Red Line: Live at the Village Vanguard (2007)
  • “Togo” from Follow the Red Line: Live at the Village Vanguard (2007)
  • “Ultrahang” from Ultrahang (2009)
  • “Rumples” from Ultrahang (2009)
  • “Time’s Arrow” from Ultrahang (2009)
  • “Small Wonder” from Ultrahang (2009)
  • “Boots” from Ultrahang (2009)
  • “Wine Dark Sea” from The Sirens (2013)
  • “Stranger at the Gate” from The Sirens (2013)
  • “Lament” from Imaginary Cities (2015)
  • “Sky” from Imaginary Cities (2015)
  • “Heart in Hand ” from The Dreamer is the Dream (2017)
  • “Ilimba ” from The Dreamer is the Dream (2017)
  • “Yasodhara” from The Dreamer is the Dream (2017)
  • “Sonic Anomaly” from The Dreamer is the Dream (2017)
  • “Hold It” from Circuits (2019)
  • “Circuits” from Circuits (2019)
  • “Green Pastures” from Circuits (2019)
  • “Exclamation” from Circuits (2019)

Chris Potter Transcription and Essays starts with a foreword where Jeff writes about the timeline of Chris Potters recording history starting from 1992 up until 2019.  He writes about the different groups and albums that the transcriptions are from.  There are many interesting quotes from Chris Potter throughout the timeline where he talks about the chemistry of the different groups and how different elements impacted the style, timbre and even compositions of each period.

At the end of Chris Potter Transcription and Essays are more insightful notes on the transcriptions as well as some essays providing an in-depth analysis of Chris Potter’s solos on “Sky” and “Pop Tune #1”.

Each transcription has the time markers of the solo marked at the start of each solo which is helpful in finding where the solo starts in the recording.

Chris Potter-Transcriptions and Essays-Sample Page

Each solo transcription also come with the chord changes written above the solo. I find the chord symbols to be incredibly enlightening as I can look at them and imagine some things I might play over those chords and then analyze what Chris Potter chose to play over these same chords.  When his note choices are different than mine (which unsurprisingly is quite often), I can try to figure out what he was thinking or what harmonic concept he was utilizing.

Here is an insightful paragraph from the notes of Chris Potter Transcription and Essays in regard to the chord changes:

“The use of chord symbols in transcriptions and lead sheets is complex. Chord symbols often simplify the actual chord voicings, voice leading, and harmonic extensions used in performance.  However, they are a useful reference point for the basic harmonic progression of a composition.  Chris provided lead sheets for all of the solos included in this collection, which gave an authoritative starting point for the harmony.  On the recordings, the harmonic instruments are faithful to the lead sheets but interpret the prescribed chords in a variety of ways. Furthermore, Potter himself is often substituting different harmonies. It is my general position not to try to represent these substitutions by altering the original chord changes. I feel the reader should interpret the given chord changes as the musicians themselves would: as a starting point and a basic reference.”

One caution about this transcription book that you might find either a negative or a positive, is that Jeff McGregor has chosen to not use 8va notation but to write the notes played in the actual octave they are in.  If you are familiar with Chris Potter’s tenor sax playing then you know there will be a ton of lines above the staff in these transcriptions, so you either have to learn the notes up there or take out a pencil and start figuring them out.  Below is an example:

Chris Potter-Transcriptions and Essays-Altissimo Example

Besides the harmonic insights that Chris Potter Transcription and Essays reveals, the other huge benefit to having this book in your collection are the rhythmic insights that are revealed.  A line from one of these solos that you might listen to and be perplexed by, can now be looked at and played slowly.  This has personal relevance for me because Chris Potter uses triplets a lot more than I do and he uses them in such a way as to make a relatively simple eighth note line more complex and intricate.  This has always fascinated me about Chris Potter’s playing.  Now I can look at Chris Potter Transcription and Essays and see very quickly how he is creating these lines rhythmically and then learn from his example.

If you are a fan of Chris Potter, then this fantastic book needs to be in your collection. The book offers an inside look into the creative elements and technical tools Chris Potter uses while improvising.  These insights and clues into his improvisational process are invaluable to any student of modern jazz  improvisation.

Special thanks to Jeff McGregor who must have spent countless hours of his life on this project and sent me the book to review here at Neffmusic.  Of course, also a special thanks and heartfelt gratitude to Chris Potter who day in and day out keeps blowing our minds with his journey through these musical landscapes that he creates.  The saxophone world is very grateful!

Chris Potter-Transcriptions and Essays by Jeff McGregor

You can purchase the Chris Potter-Transcriptions and Essays from Jeff McGregor’s site.  It only comes in Bb as of the time of this review but hopefully Jeff will come out with a concert version in the near future.  It comes printed for 35.00 + shipping and as a PDF download for 30.00.  I personally would go with the printed version as it is only 5 dollars +shipping more and I’m not sure saving that small amount of money is worth all the time of printing and binding 230 pages but that is your decision. I know many of you will be excited by the news of this book and want to download it immediately.  This will, without a doubt, keep you busy for many months in the practice room!  Enjoy!

Disclosure: I received the book mentioned above for free in the hope that I would perhaps review it here my blog.   Regardless, I only review saxophone related products that I enjoy and believe will be good for other saxophone players to try also. Steve

Filed Under: Book Reviews, Jazz Improvisation Tagged With: chris potter, essays, Jeff McGregor, solos, tenor saxophone, Transcriptions

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

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

1 2 3 4 5
Hey Steve! I hope you and your family are well.  I’m just writing to say thank you so much for all the resources you have made available to the saxophone community. I have been using your material for many years and I always come back to it… in fact I just took a break from practicing to write this…( reviewing “CreatingModern II-V-I Lines with simple pentatonics”.) I am, and continue to be, one of your raving fans! Blessings to you and your family this holiday season! Wishing… Read more
Gerry Aylward
1 2 3 4 5
Two years later I began a search for a sax teacher and happened to come across Steve Neff when I was searching YouTube for sax teachers.  I went to neffmusic.com and was very impressed with the lessons Steve Neff was offering.  The concept of selecting lessons was an approach that I thought was unique and purchased a few lessons.  I liked the lessons so much that I signed-up for a 6 month package. I was very happy with all the lessons I selected.  I also purchased Steve’s book Mastering the B… Read more
Michael
1 2 3 4 5
For anyone living in remote areas away from live jazz sax teachers, Neff is the way to go. In fact this is a great resource for anyone seriously interested in mastering the sax. I’ve never been disappointed in a lesson.
Oliver
1 2 3 4 5

Steve,  Just want to say thanks for all you are doing for all of us. I’ve learned more from you than anyone else in my 40 years of playing.

If you can give some tips on One Note Samba, Ceora, and Wave… that would be cool.  I really like learning how you apply your concepts to actual songs!

Have a great year,

Kevin Ledbetter

I've learned more from you than anyone else in my 40 years of playing.
1 2 3 4 5
I just wanted to write a thank you note to you for this website. I play and teach saxophone, but I have always been intimidated by the gear aspect. Your website has helped me become a lot more knowledgable. Your knowledge is staggering! I’m telling all my students about your website. Pierre
Pierre
1 2 3 4 5
Hi Steve, I live in a gorgeous but rural area of Oregon-no music store within 80 miles. Your lessons are my lifeline!  Truly the best there are anywhere online. Love your playing. Love your teaching.  Thanks again. Ed
Ed Woodmansee
1 2 3 4 5
I just started looking at my lessons and I have to say, dude you are awesome.  I ABSOLUTELY will learn from you!  I started the tenor about 1 ½ yrs ago and have since picked up an alto, and more recently a soprano.  I spend most of the time on the tenor, followed by soprano, and have only gotten to the alto a few times.  I think I’ll be sticking with tenor.  I’m having a great time and hope one day to play well enough to get regular gigs.  I’ve been playing keys for about 35 years (… Read more
Wil
1 2 3 4 5

I want to thank you for your “Ultimate II-V-I Primer”  which has sent me off on a much better path to improvisation.  The primer and the four bound books I have will keep me busy for a long time.  I like your lessons for two reasons.  The lessons work and THEY ARE FUN.  Thanks again.

Robert

Robert
1 2 3 4 5
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
1 2 3 4 5

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
1 2 3 4 5
Your major diatonic patterns book is great. I”m studying the first twenty patterns (first twenty pages) each day with different articulation each day and slowly increasing the tempo each week or so.  There is a noticeable improvement in finger coordination across all keys and its amazing how much more secure I feel on the difficult keys when attempting to play pieces with 5+ flats/sharps. I’m able to sort out the fingerings for these pieces now much more quickly than before, often in one or two … Read more
Geoff
1 2 3 4 5
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
1 2 3 4 5
I just joined Neff Music last month. I can’t tell you how excited I’ve been to be able to pick back up on lessons. I’ve been in a rut and you got me out! I’ve especially appreciated the Lesson Path section. It was so clear I knew exactly where to jump in and start. Many many thanks!
Karin
1 2 3 4 5
Steve- I joined your site this month and have downloaded 4 lessons and also purchased your new book and video on diatonic patterns. I just want to say I am very pleased with your approach and teaching techniques. I am getting back into playing after laying off for some time. The information you offer on your site is of great value and I am enjoying being a member. Thank you for what you are doing for the saxophone community.
Tony
1 2 3 4 5

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
1 2 3 4 5

Thank You Steve. I think that I will be busy for years. Thank You for your great contribution to jazz music. Your books, more than teaching “how to play jazz”, actually teach “how to speak jazz”. I wish I found your methods years ago.  

Jean-Eric
1 2 3 4 5
Just to say thanks for your advice and lessons.  I’ve just read your amazing story.  I really appreciate what you do in regards to teaching.  I have bought a couple of your lessons and frankly they’re undersold.   I’ve learned much more with these two lessons than with 2 years of sax teachers.   Thanks so much………..
Mike
1 2 3 4 5

Never really had lessons before just kinda worked things out on my own. Was in a rut but your lessons are really helpful in opening melodic possibilities. Ur an awesome resource to the saxophone community. Thanks for sharing. 

Anthony
1 2 3 4 5

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
1 2 3 4 5

I am enjoying your style of teaching, and you’ve done a great job with the videos….good sound quality and well constructed lessons.  Balances the more guitaristic material found on the majority of guitar based programs.  Jazz vocab is what I’m all about at this point in the journey.  I especially dig the fact that you’ve studied with Bergonzi…helps me see his voluminous output in a more bite sized way.

Milton
1 2 3 4 5
Hi Steve, I have been shedding your materials for quite a while now and I love them! They are extremely well organized and presented and there are tons of ’em! I really appreciate your methodical approach and find myself referring students to your resources often.  Thanks so much!  
Kenyon Carter
1 2 3 4 5

Steve,

I have played for many years and have enjoyed going “back to the basics” in some of your lessons!  You have such a gift for explaining concepts.  As I have gotten older, some of the basic things have gotten muddled because I just play, not knowing why.  As I refresh myself with “why”, it increases my confidence and expands my playing.  Thank you so much for using your gift!  You are a blessing!

Julia
1 2 3 4 5

I want to thank you again, because, not only are you an inspiration to listen to, you are a fine teacher!

I have been teaching sax and other winds for over 20 years, and you give me that “push” to give my students more!

Mark Peotter

Mark Peotter
1 2 3 4 5

After reading your story I will never feel quite right about complaining about any of my MINOR health issues!!    God bless Steve and I really hope that your health doesn’t stop you from fulfilling your calling.    These books have been such a help to open up my jazz vocabulary…   Thanks so much for sharing your story and for providing these great teaching tools…   John Leclerc   Saxophonist / composer/ EWI player and professional working musician of 35 years….

John Leclerc
Start
Stop
NextPrev

Featured Video Lessons

  • Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book) Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $19.99 Original price was: $19.99.$14.99Current price is: $14.99.
  • The Secret to Modern Outside Jazz Lines Lesson-Minor The Secret to Modern Outside Jazz Lines Lesson-Minor $9.99
  • Creating Modern II-V-I Lines with Simple Pentatonics Lesson 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 The Best Embouchure for Tone, Intonation and Endurance Lesson
    Rated 4.91 out of 5
    $9.99
  • The Secret to Altissimo (no one has ever told you about before) Lesson 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!

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

  • Bebop Scale-Altered Scale II-V-I Practice Lesson Bebop Scale-Altered Scale II-V-I Practice Lesson by Noah
  • Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book) Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book) by Andy
  • Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book) Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Russ
  • Creating Modern II-V-I Lines with Simple Pentatonics Lesson Creating Modern II-V-I Lines with Simple Pentatonics Lesson
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Timothy
  • The Best Embouchure for Tone, Intonation and Endurance Lesson The Best Embouchure for Tone, Intonation and Endurance Lesson
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Ray Holland

Footer

Recent Comments

  • Brian Albee on Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review
  • Steve on Revisiting a Lamberson J7 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review
  • Thor on Revisiting a Lamberson J7 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review
  • Perry on Will the Real Michael Brecker’s Sax Mouthpiece Please Stand Up?
  • Steve on Will the Real Michael Brecker’s Sax Mouthpiece Please Stand Up?

Top rated products

  • Mastering the Major Bebop Scale & Sound (Digital PDF Book) Mastering the Major Bebop Scale & Sound (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $14.99
  • Tune of the Week-Softly as a Morning Sunrise Lesson Tune of the Week-Softly as a Morning Sunrise Lesson
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • The Style of Dexter Gordon-Lady Bird Lesson 1 The Style of Dexter Gordon-Lady Bird Lesson 1
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • Tune of the Week-Days of Wine and Roses Lesson Tune of the Week-Days of Wine and Roses Lesson
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • Tune of the Week-Invitation Tune of the Week-Invitation
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99

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 © 2005–2025