Pianist, Mark Eisenman, needs no introduction to Canadian jazz audiences or musicians. Indeed, as a longstanding and active participant in the jazz community in this country, Mark has unquestionably established himself as one of its elite members.

Although Mark was born in New York City, he has lived in Toronto for the past 25 years. He studied music at York University where he obtained a Fine Arts degree and where he now teaches (in addition to teaching privately).

I could begin to catalogue all - or even some - of the musicians with whom Mark has both performed and recorded over the many years he has been on the scene. However that would prove to be exhausting - suffice it to say that any such catalogue would include an extensive “who’s who” of national as well as international luminaries.

(Photo courtesy Cornerstone Records)

Mark is a much sought after pianist in his capacity both as an outstanding accompanist and as an excellent soloist quite simply because his keyboard style embodies so many of the finest qualities of his influences (who would undoubtedly include such pianists as Red Garland, Wynton Kelly, Hampton Hawes, Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock and McCoy Tyner). He has also three releases under his own name including The Chant (Unity/Page),Sweet & Lovely (Cornerstone Records) and, most recently, Apparition (Cornerstone Records).

This article presents merely one sliver of Mark’s work, more specifically, a transcription of his improvised piano solo on the tune, "Billy Boy", which he recorded with me a few years ago as part of my first acoustic jazz release, Nature Boy (Extreme Flute EF03) and which session included the able support of his trio members, Steve Wallace on bass and John Sumner on drums.

I have long admired Mark’s solo on this particular track and, accordingly, it had always been my intention to transcribe it. Although quite a few years have passed since I sat down and transcribed any solos, I finally took the time to transcribe this one because it displays such an impeccable and unhurried choice of notes (with hardly a flourish throughout) while, at the same time, it conveys a powerful and sure-footed sense of swing coupled with Mark’s own ineffable soul factor. It also just happens to demonstrate how hip one can be on what is merely a traditional children’s tune!

This version of “Billy Boy” was performed in keeping with the original as recorded by The Red Garland Trio on the Miles Davis album, Milestones (Columbia). However, we played it at a somewhat more relaxed tempo during the course of which Mark took a solo consisting of two choruses that I have transcribed here.

View transcription Page 1.

View transcription Page 2.

View transcription Page 3.

In addition to the transcription, you will find a corresponding, albeit rough, audio component embedded in the on-line notation at Noteflight (www.noteflight.com). Please note that the full and specific URL for the transcription is as follows:

http://www.noteflight.com/scores/view/7029bff2cc3bb22e8ff9266305a6e7427d3705d7

Of course, any notation/audio software does not, and cannot, capture the nuances of Mark's time and embellishments. For these, you will really have to listen to Mark’s solo as recorded on the Nature Boy album (which is readily available at either Indie Pool, CDBaby or iTunes). Having said that, at least the Noteflight notation/audio software conveys Mark's right-hand lines and provides you with a pretty good idea of what the piano solo actually looks and sounds like.

In conclusion, after finally getting around to transcribing Mark’s improvised piano solo on “Billy Boy”, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mark for delivering such an exemplary solo which, if scrutinized closely, can provide an excellent music lesson - for all of us!

© Bill McBirnie 2009

Bill McBirnie, a jazz and Latin flute specialist located in Toronto, has been chosen Flutist of the Year by the Jazz Report Awards, nominated as Instrumentalist of the Year at the National Jazz Awards and declared a winner of both the USA National Flute Association’s Jazz Flute Masterclass and Jazz Flute Big Band Competitions. He has produced several Extreme Flute projects all of which are available from Indie Pool, CDBaby and iTunes. If you wish to contact Bill, you can reach him directly at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . A full current gig listing is available at Bill's Electronic Press Kit (EPK) which you can find at the following link: http://www.sonicbids.com/billmcbirnie (Photo by Edie Steiner)