when your tone is smoother than butter

Transcription of Eli Sullivans solo on Solid Old Man by Duke Ellington. Played by Roosevelt High School at Essentially Ellington 2019, all the solos were incredible, but I just couldn't get past the tone of the soprano player, Eli. In the future I might come back and transcribe some of the other solos. I hope you enjoy the transcription!
Original: • Essentially Ellington ...

[@randsayno9217]

Solo turned the drummer devious

[@dmjbents]

The most defined chin I’ve ever seen

[@evanpatrick9737]

The drummer is Johnny Rotten

[@postolartripper8184]

Jerma at his jazz-out break

[@auburnsmith5610]

that drummer was devious from birth

[@STONKS_MemeMan]

Bro could fight the crimson chin

[@Moserboy12]

the drummer looks like he’s got someone tied to the train tracks. so devious.

[@JazzKwinto]

This is Stan Laurel where is Oliver Hardy!?

[@chrisketchum8042]

"Curses! Foiled again!"

[@solarpanda3401]

He looks like that guy from wacky races when he is planning something 🤣🤣🤣

[@Abiolivass]

Giggity giggity giggity

[@duncanstewartbass]

@@solarpanda3401 Dick Dastardly!

[@jmzt3187]

Solo so good that they got the living troll face on the drums

[@detrickdavis6392]

Bruuu💀💀😭😭😭

[@trainzandtrombones]

The chin on that man...

[@nishdafish258]

Waluigi energy

[@utha2665]

Damn, the first time I watched I was reading the music, now I can't unsee that grimace, or is that his stank face?

[@mackenlyparmelee5440]

Bruh

[@ThaoNguyen-nw1lf]

drummer got that face like he's about to commit a crime 💀

[@WitchKing-Of-Angmar]

Or rob a bank in a sped up 1920's short film.

[@wealllame]

Hes bout to be captured by luckey luke

[@hhhharis622]

or hit the griddy

[@legalcake6125]

He goin off doe

[@alecbattien8066]

We did this tune in our high school jazz band last year and we all had the whole video memorized and this solo was always a delight to listen to

[@davidswanson5669]

Did you have a soprano sax in the ensemble or what played it?

[@williammckinney5213]

I was not in that band, but I am an alto and tenor saxophonist who got to play the school’s soprano just for one piece because they needed a soloist.

[@pollosasadosalcarbon]

drummer's face really says it all

[@loganlamoreaux5347]

its not just his expression his face is 90% chin

[@eboone]

the drummer’s face is it all

[@andybaldman]

How do people get this good in HIGH SCHOOL?

[@uprightbasswitch1931]

They practice

[@alexchu215]

@@uprightbasswitch1931 40 hours a day

[@andybaldman]

@bad token That's fine. They're still playing actual jazz.

[@elisullivan7392]

if ur curious none of this was written out but that 2 measure bit at the end of the bridge was kinda coordinated ahead of time

[@atticusfinch3536]

By practicing a lot from a very young age

[@calvinmark2112]

Well you know, famous jazz musician Miles Davis once said: “Don’t play the butter notes…”

[@wesleycolemanmusic]

Yes but also no.

[@BradMaestas]

famous jazz musician Miles Davis 😆

[@BrunoGarciaMusic]

I find miles davis improvisations really boring. But I dont know maybe my ear is just not used to that kinda jazz

[@xerospire8817]

didn't expect to see a rush pfp on a jazz video

[@wesleycolemanmusic]

@@xerospire8817 Why not tho?

[@ForkySeven]

I didn't know Robbie Rotten could play drums

[@weldin]

Of course he can! He can play four instruments at once while singing about himself being number one!

[@zrATT_]

@@weldin here's a little lesson

[@Gameinations1]

@@zrATT_ in trickery

[@iexplainjokesforaliving.5415]

@@Gameinations1 this is going down

[@tcrc-xw6zx]

@@iexplainjokesforaliving.5415 in history

[@alejandro20271]

Bro the Drummer is so good at keeping the beat. He’s really good. And the Solo was excellent.

[@raccoon1551]

its just a basic swing..

[@alejandro20271]

@@raccoon1551 still. My point still stands. He hammered it down.

[@ogKalmari]

Personally I dont like his rideplaying but maybe I'm not enough familiar with big band playing... I mean one good advice with ride is to think about how you say walk the dog, walk the dog etc. In my opinion his skipnotes are too tight together the first could give a litle bit more space to the second skipnote. But maybe that's just me

[@alejandro20271]

@@ogKalmariYea I see what your saying, I’m not that good of a drummer so I rlly can’t tell if it’s not good at this level, so ye. I think you explained it pretty well tho.

[@bork5268]

The drummer is so happy, the amount of joy on his face, the whole band is reaping the rewards of their practice and it shows how much it means to them, love it

[@Lele-hu5sr]

This was so cool! I've never played a wind instrument but I imagine its very very difficult. Kudos!

[@soggypotato6381]

Very very difficult to master it as well as some of these players

[@AngelTechno]

I've been playing sax for 17 years now, at first it's not as easy as it looks.

[@baldmista1907]

Easy to play hard to master.

[@omniyx7837]

Soprano is especially difficult because it will naturally sound annoying and horrible it takes a lot to make it sound nice

[@legentilmuyombo4533]

0:27 was 👌 What made it even more legendary was how they were dressed. I wish I was there.

[@iankolb8648]

The trombone player came up like “fuck how I am gonna top that” but then he started laying it down too!!

[@hippolytabaker9559]

I've seen Roosevelt play during a couple of performances years and years ago, one of the best high school jazz bands around. Absolute treat.

[@bradleymorton7383]

drummer looks like a goblin merchant about to overprice you for his exotic wares 💀

[@Vivi-Mage]

This is the most accurate description I’ve seen

[@nicj7021]

Waluigi going off on the drums

[@juanburgueno3274]

The drummer took the "killer solo" too seriously

[@bandgeek89]

Growing up near Seattle, I'm not the least bit surprised that this is Roosevelt. Them and Garfield always dominated jazz comps

[@charliebrownatemybro]

People in the comments are debating whether they are from affluent families or not to determine if their playing is "justified" by practice. They forget that these people meet at competitions time and time again, so not only do they dedicate a ton of time, but they are exposed to the absolute best of their field and category for many years. He's seen his direct competition play closely and that also exposes them to different learning experiences. Ten, twenty years go by and then they dominate, and people only think "oh they're from money so they paid for classes". The dedication they have is at the top.

[@aubreygrier4790]

So true! They bring their A game to every single festival, it’s insane

[@Patrick-ef4ck]

@@charliebrownatemybro well said

[@MC-ns8gb]

​@@charliebrownatemybro none of what you said changes the fact that theyre still from money and are affluent😂

[@keithfriestad3949]

How is his chin so long that’s incredible

[@elisullivan7392]

thanks for the transcription man!

[@MiguelzXD647]

That drummer has the boogeyman scared of him

[@AdamSmith-my1un]

Didn’t know Bomb Voyage played drums 🤔

[@emily.willis04]

the solo was so great that it brought out the robbie rotten in the drummer

[@romanfritz5149]

how do they all look like copies of the same person

[@AmgedphaLimael]

I love that in this type of live music, most of the musicians are their own audience; they don't just play their music, they, for that moment, ARE their music and each others admirers. Wonderful!

[@123Ir0nman]

Probably the nicest soprano sax tone I've heard

[@AriTheInterloper]

this is so smooth i ong thought it was a trumpet. respect 💯

[@JoshPillault]

Who plays this instrument? I need someone to tell me what those little weird whispery slippery notes were, they sounded almost like pinch harmonics on guitar sort of, a technique I was unaware of, sounded incredible!!

[@leowoodwind7723]

I’m not sure what you mean, but maybe you’re referring to what I think people call “slides” or “glissandos”? Like when the soloist moves through a series of notes really quickly and they’re all melded together. The most famous example being the clarinet glissando at the beginning of Rhapsody in Blue. That one is longer, but same sort of thing.

[@judecrooker6618]

you might be talking about ghost notes, which are marked with the x’s

[@alakepj9628]

I love the drummers expression

[@alexandervallarta5749]

Do you have a PDF of the solo? That would be sick for me to learn!

[@pukalo]

I didn't know H. P. Lovecraft played percussion.

[@corinsoutouras184]

Drummer definitely planning something

[@ralklrl8226]

drummers chin is insane

[@averageguy8090]

Me: oh damn where's my bike The drummer with a bike shaped stomach:

[@mu5612]

The waffle house has found its new host

[@annashull3178]

these are like 40 year old high school kids ripping jazz. bad ass

[@bobbyricelatinjazzbigband]

You need to hear this: What a Wonderful World- feat. Al Kay & Bobby Rice Brass-- trust me!

[@dellamcgowan7502]

They’re all so young. Their families must be so proud. I am & I don’t know them! Congratulations & hugs to you all. Della McGowan

[@tjrobertson9064]

That drummer lookin like rumplestiltskin if he was devious

[@swordude40]

Really wish i could see the pianist's face to officially nominate them for Weirdest Lookin Rhythm Section

[@carsongreen1857]

The drummer is the definition of the light skin stare

[@areussgg]

Real

[@PlaybillsAndPixels]

Why does the drummer look like Quinten Tarantino?

[@aguywhodoesthings7061]

why does that saxophone kinda sound like a harmonica especially at 0:18

[@giogio7810]

sheesh didn't know ludwig could play the sax so well

[@MrSocky-sj1yx]

I thought it was a trumpet for a second and I was like DAMN I’ve never heard that good tone before from a trumpet!! Then I realized

[@Billybillybillyrocking]

Dang Roosevelt high school. I went to Norco and quit band after 2 years to focus on sports. Not a great choice but oh well. I'm trying to remember freshman year jazz band competitions and how we did but I don't remember so it probably wasn't good. Definitely miss it.

[@pabloserranogarcia7557]

Drummer about to cover himself in oil and wait for it to rain

[@christisnsgameing8903]

0:33 what da hell, that face😂😂

[@BostonBum15]

Great to see waluigi on drums again

[@maisonMaple]

The chin on that drummer had its own rhythm

[@doodle_comments9312]

Rare footage of a good non-pro soprano saxophone player

[@andybaldman]

Doodle jump lol. That brings back memories.

[@doodle_comments9312]

@@andybaldman amen brother

[@skyjazz7880]

bro check waiting for godo on my page if you wanna see a really good non pro soprano

[@doodle_comments9312]

@@skyjazz7880 damn, nice solo

[@benjamindhall]

My favorite drummer from any Essentially Ellington performances I’ve ever seen.

[@ClassicalJazz1]

I’m glad he was able to afford a nice bone and all but someone should teach how to hold it.

[@LetsGoToTheHeaven]

We all came to see the soprano solo but, my god, that Jupiter of a chin just got all the attention.

[@pazyamour]

Solo starts : Drummer : 🥴

[@zanesmith666]

old mates ears on the drum could work as gongs

[@HylianAlph]

This is a high school jazz band?? I’ve heard worse professional bands, what the frick

[@TmickD803]

That bones player looks like a 37 year old man with a computer science degree who works as a customer service branch manager at a Fedex in Fredericton, New Brunswick

[@bornsetjustafellowgamer1480]

im gonna get a soprano sax just to learn this solo

[@Tunkt.mp7]

Same, day 3 or so of me having one and I’m learning the solo 👌🏻

[@bharathrajgovind5146]

Didn't know Aemond Targaryen played drums in high school.

[@meowmeowmeowmoews]

Is that a soprano saxophone? I’ve always wondered how those sounded. Awesome!

[@maxchua1740]

yes

[@meowmeowmeowmoews]

@@maxchua1740 I thought so. It’s really cool!

[@pensive_]

Fantastic. There is hope for the future with youngsters such as this. What a pleasure to listen to. It's solid, and it swings like hell. Drummer is solid and very competent. I will hire the drummer anytime, aah well, all of them then, you cant make exceptions in this case.

[@Alexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx87]

Willis with that underbite on the drums like ... "heck yea I made it to the jazz band"

[@directcurrent5751]

This band is incredibly well REHEARSED. Don't kid yourself, this group works on their sync. And please delete the cocaine comments children. Is it so hard to appreciate the meeting of superior talent with really hard working?

[@PieceofSheet0]

Really impressive playing for someone that age!

[@thelookingcat]

Waluigi the drummer

[@Mrjvc163]

wait what? this is highschool? They sound amazing!

[@calvinnotklein6368]

Yeah Roosevelt. Seattle schools dominate EE. It’s crazy

[@laffi]

Chin up gang! That was good.

[@cm4n63]

Drummer should dress up at waluigi for Halloween

[@emsauce75]

Miles Davis would not approve. Do not hit the butter notes! (Sarcasm if anyone can't realize it)

[@alanjameshorner]

nothing smooth here. all saxophones sound like someone punching a donkey to the ground.

[@gdadhd4775]

drummer turned on the chad filter for this one

[@Quicksilver_Cookie]

That drummer has the poshest stank face. I love it.

[@danceswithsquirrels7106]

Drummer looks like he’s got some bad blood against an athletic pink haired girl and a male gymnast virtuoso.

[@jonahblubber4644]

Everybody’s talking about the drummer but why does the trombone at the end look like the dude in that one farmer painting

[@lul_zaybang]

You should do Beloit High School’s tenor sax solo by Noah Poepping on the song Solid Old Man

[@matthewshipley739]

The drummer looks like Antonio Inoki and Dick Dastardly had a baby 😂😂😂

[@lovetrolling4720]

219322nd

[@MikanStarCraft]

aayyyyye RHS ROUGHRIDERS!!!

[@SJFearn]

The drummer is Hector Salamanca before he got demoted to just playing the bell

[@SJFearn]

The drummer is Hector Salamanca before he got demoted to just playing the bell

[@mason5069]

How??!! A high school this guys tone is so hard to get even the trombone player at the end sounded ridiculous

[@TheSquidge]

The drummer looks goofy

[@Moki389]

Drummer went full on goblin mode. I almost expected him to dance!

[@booker9816]

so glad i wasn't the only one who saw the devious ass drummer

[@shorteststraw417]

if the drummer was playing he'd be rubbing his hands together scheming lol

[@twixen835]

1% of comments is about the solo 99% of the comments is about the drummer’s face

[@Michael_Pereira]

Aw I was looking forward to that trombone solo as well

[@orence2866]

Robbie rotten? Why are you playing the drums?

[@junethanoschurchill6750]

That school must have a hell of a program

[@desipardo1646]

We do! I’m an alum there, was in the vocal jazz program :)

[@vviper_LFT]

listening to the song❌ looking at the drummer✅

[@snowjack101]

what instrument is he playing?

[@q12aw50]

Learn to read 🤦‍♂️

[@sweet_defenceless_creature]

Why jazz music always gotta be written in Comic Sans

[@FruitPunchSai]

Drummer got some world domination plans or something 💀😭😭

[@aubreygrier4790]

I’ve competed against roosevelt high school in a couple festivals in the past, they’re absolutely insane. mad respect for their band program.

[@kajanireynolds5512]

Bro on the drums can fold tf outta some sheets

[@Saxophon_Andreas]

Leave the drummer alone and enjoy the sax solo / Stupid

[@evifnoskcaj]

You know it's good when the drummer has stank face.

[@burundianfamily2982]

real nasty that one COOKING REAL STEAK