Three Pieces

Here are three of the pieces I have been working on in some way, shape or form towards improving my improvising;

Thelonias Monk - Straight No Chaser.

Many people in the class will be doing this, I'd imagine, as it's one we actually did in class.  With this one we simply were told to listen to it and compose a solo for it.  One would say "but composing isn't improvising!".  Composing a solo that works well over a jazz chord sequence in a specific song, then having said solo analysed by an experienced jazz player who then gives feedback is helpful as it we then know what sounds "right" and "wrong", and will use this knowledge when it comes to improvising in future.

Another piece I've been working on is Freddie Freeloader, from Miles Davis's critically acclaimed "Kind of Blue";

I've simply been learning the song so that once I start improvising fully, I'll have things to play into.

As I mentioned in my last post, I've given transcribing a brief go.  One of the songs I did was 'How Deep Is The Ocean?' by Bill Evans.
There are many versions of this song, and I couldn't find the one I used with the exact lick I transposed.  You can get an idea from this live version I found, however.  I spent ages going over 3 seconds of music, rewinding, playing, rewinding, playing (this was on my phone; my computer doesn't work at the moment) and scribbling down the notes on paper.  Eventually, I got what I thought was it and transposed it into all 12 keys.  I will start uploading any work I do soon.