The Greatest Sax Solo Of All Time

Download transcriptions at georgecollierm... and check out the Discord!: / discord
Original video: • Van Morrison - Tupelo ...
Performed by: Pee Wee Ellis (sax)
Song: Tupelo Honey (Van Morrison)
Transcribed by: Tom Pickles
faq:
Q: how old are you / A: i'm in high school!
Q: how are you related to jacob collier? / A: i'm not, we just have the same last name
Q: how do you transcribe? / A: i use musescore for notation and 'Transcribe!' for beat marking, slowing down etc
Q: do you have perfect pitch? / A: no
Q: where can i suggest videos? / A: / discord
Q: what music do you listen to? A: open.spotify.c...
Q: why are some videos not transcribed by you? / A: sometimes other people submit transcriptions, most are commissioned from others who can do a better job than i can. i want to make sure you see the best transcriptions possible!

[@GeorgeCollier]

I really love the last phrase of this performance. It’s just so smooth and feels so complete. If you're a sax player and want to take a crack at this, post a link to the video in this comment!!

[@youryes]

I love your work dude 🙂 Please consider transcribing that Derek Trucks moment, where B. B. King and John Mayer are just amazed by him 😁

[@armstrong.r]

Agreed, this solo feels to me like a convoluted monologue that really hits home at its conclusion.

[@suicidalkatt]

fuckign crazy, unreal the skill at this level

[@funkalicioussilvano3346]

can you transpose this to alto, i can do it i bet

[@sockthesock410]

@@funkalicioussilvano3346 transcribing it to alto would take away a bit from the impressiveness of the solo simply because you aren't jumping around as much at altissimo level as he is, although it still wouldn't be easy. Not as easy as you may think

[@Elfhugger]

Would anyone else be interested if Mr. Collier took his transcriptions from these videos and sat world class musicians in front of that sheet music and see what they could produce? Not only see Mr. Collier's ability at transcribing but the talent of sight reading and musical interpretation/expression of the artists?

[@GeorgeCollier]

This transcription was by Tom Pickles :) I don’t think I have a big enough audience to get world class artists to talk to me 😂😂

[@Elfhugger]

@@GeorgeCollier Maybe with Jacob's help. =D

[@ThEuNbEaTeN1994]

@@Elfhugger they're not related

[@Elfhugger]

@@ThEuNbEaTeN1994 i know...thus the =D. It should've been =P.

[@mmert138]

@@ThEuNbEaTeN1994 what? I thought he was Jacob Collier's father.

[@jbtrumpet]

I didn't think it was gonna be the greatest sax solo of all time and then I watched and it's the greatest sax solo of all time

[@jamesmclips]

Yeh na

[@HieronymousLex]

How can you listen to something like Coltrane on So What or really any solo he’s ever played and still think this is the best sax solo ever lol

[@q12aw50]

@@HieronymousLexany solo he’s ever played? No

[@PepperWilliams_songcovers]

You might want to start listening to Coltrane

[@jayclarke9611]

How bout ‘I wanna talk about you ‘’ solo? There is no ‘greatest’ solo…it s totally subjective…for a avg less trained listener , this might be a great great solo, for a trained musician, they might say it s ok, but heavily cliched

[@MrGreatplum]

The late great Pee Wee Ellis! I’ve been lucky enough to see Van Morrison over 30 times and Pee Wee was often in his band - some of the call and answer stuff he did with Van was epic!

[@MrGreatplum]

Here’s pee Wee and Van on fire back in 1998 - check out from 2:38 onwards! kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y2Wzm2hpi75gfKM

[@Thatsweat]

Pee wee

[@Thatsweat]

@Bruhhh funny

[@jimmythebold589]

too bad van lost his mind...

[@MrGreatplum]

@@jimmythebold589 - recently, yes 😩

[@pauldavies9360]

I like how he even wrote 'slightly ahead' on those triplets lol

[@IhatrYT]

You’ve made so many of these “you can’t make a ___ sing” to the point where I’m like heck yes it can if you transcribed it

[@toericabaker]

i can make your mama sing

[@ExoticDva]

@@toericabaker Prove it right here right now.

[@biggieb.4843]

@@toericabaker What Dva said. You can't, can you?

[@TheHandyDandyHandle]

@@toericabaker then get it transcribed and we'll believe you

[@alexanderbracero4951]

@@TheHandyDandyHandle the musicians version of pics or it didn't happen

[@sambernaldross8504]

I was lucky enough to have a lesson with Pee Wee, who lived near to me. Incredible man and legendary player! He offered regular lessons, but it sadly wasn't possible - his playing always remains iconic so many years later!

[@a_tarasevich]

That's so cool man

[@sambernaldross8504]

@@a_tarasevich genuinely was a complete honour, for me aged 13 was just mental to me

[@sammbee3782]

To be fair I don’t think anyone thought you COULDN’T make the sax sing

[@YogSoth]

Was this meant to be a reply to another comment?

[@sammbee3782]

@@YogSoth The video was titled something like “You can make the sax sing” when I posted that comment. The title was recently changed.

[@YogSoth]

@@sammbee3782 gotcha

[@tammygreen2932]

Like B.B. KING makes his guitar say her name, LUE`CEALLLLL

[@bingusmctingus4395]

Tupelo Honey, a perfect song for the day today. Thanks George for your content.

[@dan8ball22]

I lack music theory knowledge and I sure as hell understand almost nothing from the transcripts, but I do like your taste. Thank you for showing me some great music and hopefully you'll never get bored of sharing this!

[@WoodburyWrestling]

0:30 has lived rent free in my head since this was posted last year

[@shanef4457]

That was brilliant and your also amazing at finding and transposing these videos for us. We really appreciate your hard work

[@steveha2865]

This solo is truly breathtaking. Pee Wee Ellis was an amazing saxophonist and composer. One of the very best.

[@markbost6915]

"noodle on c maj" is honestly advice we can all live by

[@jayclarke9611]

Lolol

[@wilberforce95]

The double drum kits really provide a solid base

[@rhmayer1]

Saw Pee Wee Ellis in some jazz group back in the '80's at a jazz club in San Francisco. I'll never forget how good he was. That's the reason I clicked this when it came up. I didn't even know he played with Van Morrison. Great solo. (Great transcription!)

[@joak9755]

Simple but effective, just some very high note to play which aren't easy.

[@robertkelly469]

The precision and control are just outstanding.

[@ClearOutSamskaras]

The precision and control are not outstanding at all. He plays the saxophone like someone observing perfect form while doing a series of push ups. Is it impressive when someone practices perfect form while doing push ups? No, it's a basic that is practiced in order to achieve a certain effect. Here, the aim being pursued is producing something for a rock/pop effect, the saxophone's least desirable and least impressive setting.

[@JP-xd6fm]

@@ClearOutSamskaras Get out with your snoobyness!, pop/rock sax is the fucking best!

[@MVXXll]

I dont play sax but i can tell how hard this must be... My ears are absolutely blessed to have heard this heart wrenching solo...

[@jimmythebold589]

I met pee wee at a music camp when i was twelve. i taught myself to play trombone and electric bass the week i was there, and put a band together to play some pat benatar songs (late 70s). he was super nice, and told my i could go far in music, given my skills. alas, i never did. i also met brad gillis, who played guitar in my band, as well as patty smythe who sang, this was before either of them were famous. brad wore that flight suit EVERY DAY, lol... i also mixed for first time at the mixing board, the sound guy was a legend, frank catero, he said i was very good at mixing, although it was the first time. i was young and had no idea who any of these people were, but it was a great time. this was in Marin, in the hills at an abandoned army barracks...

[@chrisa0001]

What did you end up doing?

[@sheldonbermont9373]

The legend you're referring to is Fred Catero

[@mr555harv]

The title reveals little study of saxophone history. There are so many great solos from the truly great players. This is a great solo in the rock and roll or Texas blues tradition.

[@MightyJoxam85]

You know a solo is about to be hot as hell when the singer just walks off as it begins.

[@jonahbrame7874]

That is a full on concerto cadenza. The journey he went on was completely coherent and resolved beautifully at the end.

[@SapioTV]

Uh that really tugged on my heart strings. Thanks for the wonderful transcription beginning the New Year

[@damookster5919]

Having the transcription at the bottom humanizes it. It’s not human. Wow.

[@jpsned]

Aw man, once something like this is out there, everyone who knows you're a sax player will expect you to be able to play like this! 😀

[@austinsamson4732]

those are some extremely high notes hes hitting with ease

[@coffinman5007]

Yeah suppose David Sanborn can't do that can he?

[@F0nkyNinja]

and out of tune

[@okonel9012]

So smooth !! 🤩🤩

[@hawks1ish]

Yes but also it lowkey sounds like a pot of water boiling in the best way too lol

[@quintennnnn]

Love the work you do! Kinda surprising to me that there is such a large audience for this kind of content.

[@jakobkellerer3742]

Best saxophone video ever!!!!!!

[@timothy4664]

That's a hard sell with the legends we left behind.

[@HappyIce-e3z]

Now that is what you call a saxophone solo!!! Rock on man!!!

[@RabidRiddinRabbits]

Fucking goosebumps. I'm ab to bust my sax back out after like 10 years thank you for the inspiration

[@rutja60]

No words. Just listen. Listen. Listen. Listen again. Again, again and again.

[@pier_valente]

rip pee wee, always in our hearts

[@edmcwv]

Broderick, I know this video is 5 yrs old and you did a beautiful job with this song. Sam Cook would be smiling and I hope you are still playing. ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@metal666cro]

absolutly love your content!

[@theshapeexists]

What a beast. This and Michael Breckers solo on Common Ground, especially in Barcelona 1992 are 2 absolutely goosebump inducing sax solos. Just badass

[@amaionnaise]

this was beautiful. loved listening to it! that performer is amazing and perfection!!

[@ILCEM-Y]

Wow... this is how it sounds playing directly from the soul

[@thaynavieiradeandrade5046]

Man,what a feeling! This solo is beautiful.

[@lucieni.8075]

At this level he doesn't play with his sax, he speaks with it!

[@Krivplayzz]

0:31 amazing 🤩

[@laurensabrahamse3266]

Hey look its the funny flute from careless whisper

[@tltate]

Certainly one of the greatest.

[@HVH_49]

Amazing as always, glad i found your channel

[@gisaac46]

I can read every note on that transcription but doesn't mean I can play it. Love the sax solo.

[@beachcomber7200]

Sounds like joy ...

[@chavagarcia148]

Tremendo!! Unico!! Solo un saxofonista de alto nivel lo puede hacer...mis respetos

[@Korean_barbecuee]

This is my favorite type of tone from a tenor sax

[@elot8654]

Finally some more saxophone content.

[@jrtech605]

So smooth every note

[@guilhermerbarros]

Pee Wee Ellis is a Legend. Rest in Power

[@bill3837]

God love it. That was really good

[@benthesaxguy13]

Amazing!

[@florSaxinetti]

I wasn't expecting that awesome. It killed my sax

[@martillopis9814]

i love how something can sound dirty and clean at the same time

[@vincentedelmond5404]

Amazing peaceful and relaxing

[@JoyDivision88]

Feel blessed that I saw VM with Pee Wee Ellis and Mark Isham in the band. Ah that squealin' feeling.

[@stephendverner]

Dayum!!!

[@garcia2768]

Coltrane, ' Blue in green' . This is the best sax

[@jayclarke5466]

Trance-I Wanna Talk About you

[@saxtiagobeltran625]

really excelent, a pleasure for my ears and my soul

[@gatfatf]

Sounds like a prince guitar solo, stellar stuff for sure

[@autonomoussociety868]

Look up Tueplo Honey

[@YouThinkWho]

The intonation is so fye in this 10/10

[@pvblito]

What? His intonation is off several times in the solo. Regardless, it was a great solo.

[@Thouveninpascal]

Of all the time, more that Parker, Coltrane , Brecker, Sanborn, in 1000 years... so good , George Collier.

[@kendricbaines2415]

Stop playing lol

[@Thouveninpascal]

@@kendricbaines2415 lol?

[@kendricbaines2415]

@@Thouveninpascal Was it a typo? I thought your sentence was a typo saying that this was great, *more than* (those guys you listed)

[@Thouveninpascal]

@@kendricbaines2415 "The Greatest Sax Solo Of All Time" , it is serious?

[@kendricbaines2415]

@@Thouveninpascal No way lol well I hope it isn’t serious

[@CimarronLeatherStudio]

Fabulous, just got a 100/0/SMS

[@ronalda.saname396]

Simply beautiful.

[@PsychoNurseNL]

really nice vibe👍

[@jesusmmartind]

El solo me tiene ❤ no me canso de escucharlo, no conocía a Pee Wee Ellis como me hubiera gustado tomar clases de 🎷 con el, que pedazo de músico, que sonidazo con el tenor.

[@muninarza]

This made me get myself a saxophone 🎷 beautifully played 🔥💯

[@WINCHANDLE]

How in heaven's name did you transcribe this to notes. OMG. I couldn't do that to save my soul

[@200headshock5]

That some intense eye contact

[@edabreu7871]

Awesome!!

[@alanfurlong-drummer4419]

Gods sax player, bless him.

[@caseyjones5145]

Another chill right down the spine, electric emotion.

[@ClearOutSamskaras]

Do you really believe that!?

[@DDD11239]

​@@ClearOutSamskaras Feel free to explain otherwise.

[@gigglygully4406]

Holy smokes!

[@sand_eater140]

as a person learning how to play alto sax, I am inspired

[@itz_akuma]

Keep going fam and may your reed stay moist 😂😂😂😂

[@reubenyahsrael346]

The greatest solo of all times! Well, I guess you never heard of cannonball Adderley

[@JP-xd6fm]

People comming here to say that the people from the 40s was better... it may be for the "experts", but I rather Pee Wee Ellis sax or Clarens Cleemons sax over those jazz players. I enjoy way more this music than the "pure jazz" stuff

[@saxx001]

Take 5, there's many more out there.

[@MathildaMichaelia-i6c]

Jazlyn Estate

[@dave6012]

So this is what the SNL sax player was trying to do all these years

[@Ventsolo]

HAHAHAHAHA That guy was a hero of mine until I met him..

[@pvblito]

Lenny Pickett?? You didn't even know his name and you're here trying to say he can't play as well as Pee Wee Ellis? He's a beast and been doing it for decades. I don't think most of you folks commenting here know much about music at all. No one is cleaner than Pickett in the altissimo register. Pee Wee is phenomenal, but he struggles for intonation up high.

[@solomann940]

OMG, i got goose bumps, what an amazing solo

[@voltagestorm1787]

The last phrase is a cannonball lick 😂😂

[@nater4871]

Tonight I fell in love with the saxophone. Of course I have heard it and of it, I just never truly listened, but tonight I feel like I really discovered it. it's so beautiful and sexy and smooth. I wish I could describe the nearly euphoric feeling it gave me to just.... feel understood somehow through its sound. Wow

[@TonysPalacio]

i aint ever see a note so high up the scale it creates its own octave

It's really like trying to sing with that sax, awesome 🎷

[@JaniceBurks-e5j]

Filiberto Burgs

[@snoe846]

1:18 didn’t know donkeys could be added to this masterpiece

[@JP-xd6fm]

Please post a video of your best solo, then and only then you could open the mailbox you have for mouth

[@snoe846]

​@@JP-xd6fm😂😂 Bro cannot take a joke

[@JP-xd6fm]

@@snoe846 😅😅 Sorry!, I never met Pee Wee but for some reason on the videos I see from him I like the guy

[@SwinburneCash-t6y]

Colten Grove

[@pvblito]

Absolutely excellent solo, but wouldn't crack the top 10 all time though. Y'all forget there are people like Coltrane, Bird, Sonny Rollins, Wayne Shorter, Michael Brecker, David Sanborn, Grover Washington Jr., Gerald Albright, Kirk Whalum, James Carter, ad nauseum who have all played solos that will blow your natural mind away. If you are convinced that this is the best saxophone solo of all time, then you don't know much about the history of musical artistry of the saxophone.

[@DDD11239]

Unless you've heard every saxophone solo (both pro and amature), you cannot state that your examples are the best.

[@JoseLuis-iz9nq]

Que pedazo de instrumento que es el saxo, es increíble el sonido

[@sloth8866]

I'm convinced the god of swag is infront of me right now

[@tjsax7]

Amazing solo for the style

[@Pat_11131]

Tears in my eyes

[@ryanhunsberger4097]

i concur. this is the greatest sax solo of all time

[@radafotosmania]

No lo puedo asegurar totalmente... Creo q no existe el mejor SOLO de Sax de todos los tiempos... Es muy difícil de catalogar, porque hay muchos muchos solos de saxofonistas de tanta calidad con una gran cantidad de recursos y riquezas sonoras increíbles... En fin, la música es algo para deleitarse y hacer la vida más fácil...

[@manatejo]

Je regarde cette vidéo pour la 20e fois..

[@michaelboyle3584]

You should transcribe the subway saxophone battle!

[@leroyharper4513]

🙏🏽Pee Wee Elis🙏🏽

[@rogerdittus2952]

Love this Solo - Pee Wee was the man. I think he was Van's musucal director at thus time so he knew this song, Tuoelo Honey, so well and fir me the real power of his solo comes from the emotional extension of that this whole show us magic. Every member if this vand is a hitman. John Allair organ solo on Satisfied is so good. There's a Mark Isham trumpet solo that's amazing. But "greatest sax solo of all time" is hyperbole. Excusable hyperbole given the solos out there from the pantheon of greats in the hazz and other genres. Now if someone said "for me, this is the greatest sax solo", then no one coyld argue. The actual greatest sax solo us in a certain live Grant Green recording and played by a man named Claude Bartee ad far as Im concerned 😊