JOE PROCOPIO LIVE IN CONCERT: 8 WRITTEN SOLOS BY A MASTER OF ALTO SAX JAZZ IMPROVISATION FROM THE SOLOS FOUND ON THE CD “JOE PROCOPIO LIVE IN CONCERT” Featuring Joe And Greg Procopio
About this ebook
It has always been difficult for young musicians to find the virtuosity of improvised music by master musicians written out so that they may study the musical minds of those they admire. For example, Mozart, considered by many to be one of the greatest composers, once said: “It is a mistake to think that the practice of my art has become easy to me. I assure you, dear friend, no one has given so much care to the study of composition as I. There is scarcely a famous master in music whose works I have not frequently and diligently studied.”
Keep in mind that this was said by a master whose surviving music shows no erasures. He simply heard it in his head and wrote it down with no mistakes. In like manner, improvisation is composing music off-hand while composition is taking the time to think about your musical thoughts before writing them down.
It is safe to say that some of the world’s most beautiful music by masters such as Mozart and Beethoven has never been heard except by those who were there at the time because the technology to record improvised music simply wasn’t available and their improvisations were never recorded. In like manner, if one sees their compositions as frozen improvisation, then the study of improvisation itself becomes another key for all musicians to unlock some of the mystery in making meaningful and long-lasting music.
The following 8 transcriptions are written copies of improvised jazz solos recorded live and written down later. Here lies the wonder of recorded music. Now improvised music can be studied frequently and diligently.
From The CD: Joe Procopio Live In Concert - Featuring Joe & Greg Procopio:
Secret Love (Track 1) My Funny Valentine (Track 2) The Preacher (Track 3) This Masquerade (Track 5) The Argument (Track 6) Stardust (Track 8) Don’t Blame me (Track 9) I’m Confessin‘ (Track 10)1 The Enjoyment of Music by Joseph Machlis 3rd edition ©1970 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. New York pg 205
Ratings and reviews
About the author
Joe Procopio
http://www.joecopio.com
Artist/Composer/Conductor
Professional Musician/ Artist/ Leader/Lead Alto Sax for many of the nation’s top recording artists including: Steve and Eydie Gorme, The Temptations, Aretha Franklin, Tony Bennett, Lawrence Welk, Frankie Avalon, Frankie Laine, Jack Jones, Kathryn Grayson, Carmel Quinn, Don Cornell, Bobby Rydell, Vic Damone, Rodney Dangerfield, Foster Brooks, The Vagabonds, The Ritz Brothers, Sammy Cohn, Jimmy Van Heusen, Tiny Tim, Al Martino, Petula Clark, Wayne Newton, Pat Cooper, The Four Tops, The Spinners, etc.
Lead Reed Central New York, Jack Palmer Orchestra 1970 – 1988
“The Procopio Brothers” Joe and Greg Procopio Sax and Guitar Duo 1976-1988
Artist/Writer Warner Brothers/Mercury/ Kama Sutra/Buddah Records 1965 – 1975
Child Prodigy “guest” guitarist for Miller, Dorsey, and other Big Bands
Conductor Boston Symphony Orchestra student – summer 1963
Clarinetist Conservatory Of Milan, Italy 1964
Lead Alto Sax Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra Savoy Theater Myrtle Beach, SC 1996 – 2000
Lead Reed Palace Theater MB,SC,’99-01: Chorus Line, Phantom, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Sunset Blvd,etc.
Teacher/Administrator
Miles Clark Endowed Chair, Music, College of the Albemarle, Elizabeth City, NC 2001-2004
Chairman Music Department Cazenovia Central School Cazenovia, NY 1965 – 1988
Director Of Instrumental Music Chapel Hill High School Chapel Hill, NC 1988 - 1993
Instructor Applied Music Cazenovia College Cazenovia, NY part-time 1978 – 1981
Deaconate St. James Church Cazenovia, NY, Diocese of Syracuse, NY 1980 - 1988
Member of the Board of Catholic Education Diocese of Syracuse Region II 1976-1978
Awards/Honors
I am indexed.
Listed in the Londeix as ‘Compositeur Americain’ in “150 Years Of Music For Saxophone” International Publication by Jean-Marie Londeix, Roncorp 1994 pg.212, pg.293
Teacher Of Guitarist T. Maxwell heard in TV’s Magnum P.I., The Rockford Files, Kojak
Awarded membership in American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers 1987
Top 25 International and Award Of Excellence Music City Song Festival Nashville, TN 1986/1988
Recording Artist Award International Competition By Columbia Records and ASF 1982
Full Tuition Scholarship Conservatory Of Milan, Italy 1964
Conductor Scholarship Boston Symphony Orchestra (1 of 16 from 22 countries) 1963
Candidate Woodrow Wilson and Danforth Foundation Fellowships 1963
Publications
BOOKS:
Basic Music Theory, Básica Música Teoría, Making Sense With Music, Basic Harmony And Musicianship, The EasyWay To Play Guitar, The EasyWay To Play Clarinet, The EasyWay To Play Saxophone, The EasyWay To Play Flute, Making Sense With Music, Basic Fingering Charts, The EasyWay To Read Music Treble Clef. The EasyWay To Read Music Bass Clef, The Words of Christ
SOLOS:
: Theme And Three Variations For Saxophone Alone (Premier at World Congress Saxophones); Barbie,, Giuditta (Judy), Cara Mis, St. Mary’s Song, Arietta; Lake State Publications Grand Rapids, MI; Honkin’ Horns, Cryin’ Saxes, The Clarinet And Pro’s Polka, The Argument, Ba Doo Ba, Three Little Pieces For Piano
SONGS:
“Looking For The Good Life” Title song for Dirty Dancing II Vestron 1988, The Touch, The Taste Of Time, All In My Life, Why Are You So Lonely, Maybe It’s The Way, For You My God, My Lord, On My Way, A Woman’s Blues, Bye Bye Bye Bad Luck Blues, What Am I Gonna’ Do ‘Bout You, “Sudden Loneliness”, “Let Me Try” Kama Sutra NY, NY; “Love Believes” Sunrise Records, Hollywood, Ca,
SHEET MUSIC:
The Bach Jazz Sonata in Eb, Stike’s Sticks, Teddy’s Ready, Marie ~ Marie. My Little Princess, The Argument, My Sweet Jes, Lilly’s Dance (The Tumbler), Honkin’ Horns, Cryin’ Saxes, Ear’s Tears, Firsyd Love, Gordie’s Theme, I Believe And I Belong, Look Inside, The Lover Dies, Nan, Summertime,
Thinking Of A Dream, That’s All She Wrote
CD’s:
Joe Procopio “Live In Concert” , “Saxology”, “All In My Life”
“Pethoven” Special Music For Pets And People
Terry Tickle and His Swing City Big Band, Ravensong Records
Education
B.S. 1963 Education, Crane School Of Music, SUNY Potsdam, NY
M.S. 1973 Education, Crane School Of Music, SUNY Potsdam, NY
Certificate Of Music Conducting and Clarinet Boston Symphony Orchestra 1963
Certificate Of Music Conservatory Of Milan, Giuseppe Verdi Milan Italy 1964
Teachers
Conducting: Robert Shaw, Igor Stravinsky, Eric Leinsdorf, Eugene Ormandy; Saxophone: Earl Bostic,
Dr. James Stoltie; Clarinet: Gino B. Cioffi Principal Clarinet Boston Symphony Orchestra,
A. Prisco Conservatory Of Milan, G.Boralli RAI Italia, Louis Marucci (protégé Pinti/ Toscanni);
Guitar: Frank Vaccaro; Composition: Aaron Copland, Gunther Schuller
