Examples of Short Solos

After a recent workshop on Barney Kessel I gave at Duquesne University several of the students asked me about the art of taking short/concise solos.  Barney Kessel, Johnny Smith, and Herb Ellis to name a few were all  masters at taking only a chorus or two – yet they made very powerful musical statements.  The students asked me to post some examples of short solos in a live context.  Here are four of mine:

Solo on ‘Air Mail Special’ – Duo with Joe Negri

Solo on ‘Someday My Prince Will Come’ – Duo with Joe Negri

Solo on ‘Four on Six’ – Duo with Joe Negri

Solo on ‘There’s a Boat Leaving for China’  – with Doug and Dane Richeson