5 Fantastic Trumpet Solos To Inspire You
1. Miles Davis - So What
This is the head and trumpet solo of Miles Davis's modal composition So What, from the epic 1959 album Kind Of Blue. This composition only uses two chords throughout, making it a modal composition. I love the cool vibe of it. Davis' trumpet solo is very laid-back and reserved (in keeping with the whole song) and it really demonstrates that less is sometimes more. It's interesting that being unrestricted from the usual jazz standard chord changes allows such expression and freedom.
2. Lee Morgan - Blue Train
This is Lee Morgan's fabulous trumpet solo from John Coltrane's composition, Blue Train, from the album of the same name (1958). An inspiration for trumpet players, but also great to listen to even if you're not. I really love some of his phrasing and lines. He has a bluesy, cool, hard bop feel.
3. Clifford Brown - A Night In Tunisia
This is Clifford Brown's trumpet solo on Dizzy Gillespie's famous latin jazz tune A Night In Tunisia. The recording is of the Art Blakey Quintet performing live (1954). This trumpet solo is great to listen to. It shows a lot of jazz language, but it also contains some nice interesting features like repeated phrases and melodic ideas, which adds a bit of variety to it.
4. Wayne Shorter - Black Orpheus
This is Freddie Hubbard's trumpet solo on Wayne's Shorter's version of Black Orpheus from 1962. This is a nice, but rather short, trumpet solo by Hubbard. He uses some great jazz lines and language over this minor tune. He also uses a couple of embellishments and different rhythms such as triplets, and semi-quavers near the end, which adds a nice bit of interest.
5. Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band - Cut ‘n’ Run
This is an excerpt from Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band - Cut 'n' Run, from 2006, which includes a fantastic trumpet solo. This solo is great, the soloist uses a little motif that he keeps returning to now and then, which really brings the whole thing together. There is also a lovely little moment where uses a whole tone scale to great effect.
So there you have it, 5 trumpet solos that I’ve selected from my music collection. I hope they inspire you in your playing. Which is your favourite? And what ideas have you taken away from these recordings that you can use in your own jazz improvisation?