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SOTM April 2025 - Wonderful Tonight

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Francisco

Francisco

Member
Messages
259
Location
Portugal
Hello everyone, I was asked to present the song of the month for April, with great honor I chose Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton.
Many thanks to @nigeld for the help with the notation.
I made several background tracks, longer or shorter and with the instrumental part and not, I attach the BIAB file if anyone wants to edit it.
help me in the comments, i'm just a very amateur amateur.

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com www.dropbox.com

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQlgcjosN9w


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNnmUqoAX30


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWI4eDBQMaw
 
Here's my attempt. I've been working on vibrato recently... I feel like it's still quite crude and inconsistent, but I guess that's just where I am right now. Also tried to play with a bit of fill-in during some of the instrumental bits, but that's still very much in trying/learning mode so I guess that didn't go anywhere.

Anyway, any comments and criticism are greatly appreciated.

https://soundcloud.com/adrian-learns-to-sax%2Fwonderful-tonight-eric-clapton
View: https://soundcloud.com/adrian-learns-to-sax/wonderful-tonight-eric-clapton?si=efd7c909d3454191afc25cd0f1f8a3bf&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
 
atwl77 said:
Here's my attempt. I've been working on vibrato recently... I feel like it's still quite crude and inconsistent, but I guess that's just where I am right now. Also tried to play with a bit of fill-in during some of the instrumental bits, but that's still very much in trying/learning mode so I guess that didn't go anywhere.

Anyway, any comments and criticism are greatly appreciated.

https://soundcloud.com/adrian-learns-to-sax%2Fwonderful-tonight-eric-clapton
View: https://soundcloud.com/adrian-learns-to-sax/wonderful-tonight-eric-clapton?si=efd7c909d3454191afc25cd0f1f8a3bf&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
Read more…

Thanks for posting, I'm not the best person to criticize anyone, let's wait for someone who really understands this to do this job 🙂 . overall not bad
 
Francisco said:
I really liked it, congratulations. For those who don't like the song, you did it very well 🙂
Read more…
Thank you, @Francisco, your answer sounded a little funny, hence my "funny" reaction but I very much appreciate your comment (I should have given you the "love" reaction instead).

Muitos obrigado (I need to practice my Portuguese again).
 
atwl77 said:
Here's my attempt. I've been working on vibrato recently... I feel like it's still quite crude and inconsistent, but I guess that's just where I am right now. Also tried to play with a bit of fill-in during some of the instrumental bits, but that's still very much in trying/learning mode so I guess that didn't go anywhere.

Anyway, any comments and criticism are greatly appreciated.

https://soundcloud.com/adrian-learns-to-sax%2Fwonderful-tonight-eric-clapton
View: https://soundcloud.com/adrian-learns-to-sax/wonderful-tonight-eric-clapton?si=efd7c909d3454191afc25cd0f1f8a3bf&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
Read more…
Hi @atwl77, as an amateur tenor sax player, I just want to compliment you on your recording of 'Wonderful Tonight'. I really enjoyed listening to it! I especially appreciated your choice to occasionally switch between the lower and higher registers!
 
Francisco said:
once more before the end of the season 🙂 comments are welcome

https://soundcloud.com/user2929757%2Fwonderful-tonight-st
View: https://soundcloud.com/user2929757/wonderful-tonight-st
Read more…
Sounds good, but I hope you don't mind if I give you some pointers.
The two things that you may want to pay more attention to are:
the "tone", and here is a very good video by Dave Pollack to watch.

The second is the "articulation" in the head (melody). Wonderful Tonight is a bit tricky to get it right because there is no real pattern, like 1-3 or 2-4, you need to listen to the lyrics to find the correct emphasis for every word and that's where you use the tonguing + attack and contrast it with scooping and (optional slurring). I noticed this in your recording because it took me maybe 1/2 day to sort this out myself, just playing the simple melody until it matched what I wanted, so don't think it's an easy task.

The improv part sounds good, timing in general is spot on with a few "swinging notes" which I take as artistic freedom. The one thing I would try to improve is the intonation on the high notes (you are going a bit flat) and a bit of lack of "presence" caused by too much scooping into some of the notes. Just consider yourself singing the song and instead of being intimidated by the (potential) listener, you think "hey, wake up and listen to this note" and punch it through your instrument.

All of these things are minor and just meant to give you something to think about, you did a very fine job overall!
 
LostCircuits said:
Sounds good, but I hope you don't mind if I give you some pointers.
The two things that you may want to pay more attention to are:
the "tone", and here is a very good video by Dave Pollack to watch.

The second is the "articulation" in the head (melody). Wonderful Tonight is a bit tricky to get it right because there is no real pattern, like 1-3 or 2-4, you need to listen to the lyrics to find the correct emphasis for every word and that's where you use the tonguing + attack and contrast it with scooping and (optional slurring). I noticed this in your recording because it took me maybe 1/2 day to sort this out myself, just playing the simple melody until it matched what I wanted, so don't think it's an easy task.

The improv part sounds good, timing in general is spot on with a few "swinging notes" which I take as artistic freedom. The one thing I would try to improve is the intonation on the high notes (you are going a bit flat) and a bit of lack of "presence" caused by too much scooping into some of the notes. Just consider yourself singing the song and instead of being intimidated by the (potential) listener, you think "hey, wake up and listen to this note" and punch it through your instrument.

All of these things are minor and just meant to give you something to think about, you did a very fine job overall!
Read more…
Thanks, I agree with Dave Pollack, the most important thing is the tone, if you have a good tone it's half of the battle. Unfortunately my embouchure and air support are not in the best shape, I had even given up on the sax, but I came back 🙂 another flaw I have, I do everything in a hurry, was picking up and recording. I am actually very grateful for your comment and tips.
 
Francisco said:
Thanks, I agree with Dave Pollack, the most important thing is the tone, if you have a good tone it's half of the battle. Unfortunately my embouchure and air support are not in the best shape, I had even given up on the sax, but I came back 🙂 another flaw I have, I do everything in a hurry, was picking up and recording. I am actually very grateful for your comment and tips.
Read more…
Just keep at it, we all have ups and downs, I had to stop playing completely around end of January because of a somewhat nasty oral surgery, including bone graft, drilling out/shaving off another piece of erratic bone growth in my upper jaw, infection etc. etc... but, it was a few weeks only and the break actually helped me refocusing.
You are on the right path, use your ears and you'll be fine, you are still a young whippersnapper!
 

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