This month’s transcription delves into the timeless classic “Two Bass Hit” from the brilliant Miles Davis album, Milestones. Tony Williams once called Milestones, “The perfect jazz record.”  With each instrument brimming with musicality, it’s no surprise that icons like Miles, Coltrane, Bill Evans, Art Farmer, and Dexter Gordon, among others, loved Philly Joe Jones. A true master of his craft, Philly Joe’s vibrant energy and musical prowess on the drums radiate throughout this piece, showcasing his undeniable greatness. Penned by Dizzy Gillespie, “Two Bass Hit” defies convention by having all instruments start with the melody on the “and” of one, brilliantly disguising where beat one is throughout the intro. Philly Joe’s intricate left-hand comping and innovative bass drum vocabulary set the jazz standard of the era. A quick note, stems with a line through them indicate hitting the right stick on the shaft of the left stick, with the tip […]

April 2024 Issue