BOTM August, 2023 The Sad Ones

[CarriageTownSax]

Using GMT, I'm going to go ahead and post this as tomorrow is getting rather busy, already. Nigel invited me to host the ballad of the month for August, and I've chosen The Sad Ones, by the late American tenor saxophonist Buck Hill, aka The Wailin' Mailman.

Here is some background on the composer.

And Buck's own version from his 1979 Steeplechase LP Scope.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYOezw2Osvo


Here are links to the backing and charts.

BIAB Backing

Charts:
Concert Instruments

Bb Instruments

Eb Instruments


Looking forward to hearing some takes on this. Good luck, enjoy, and let me know if there are any issues with the files.

 

[LostCircuits]

Very nice song and Buck is fantastic!

 

[Digger2054]

Sounds good, will try and give this a go.

(BTW The music for Bb has Eb on the header)

 

[rhysonsax]

What a nice tune. It's going to be a challenge to get that kind of control and lovely tone down low on tenor.

Buck Hill also recorded it with organ on his album "Relax" which sounds like this:

View: https://youtu.be/ktnXUWpEGTw


I wonder if anyone else has recorded it.

Rhys

 

[CarriageTownSax]

Sounds good, will try and give this a go.

(BTW The music for Bb has Eb on the header)

Thanks. Fixed.

 

[CarriageTownSax]

What a nice tune. It's going to be a challenge to get that kind of control and lovely tone down low on tenor.

Buck Hill also recorded it with organ on his album "Relax" which sounds like this:

View: https://youtu.be/ktnXUWpEGTw


I wonder if anyone else has recorded it.

Rhys

I have (privately) 😉 , but I chickened out and did it on bari.

 

[rhysonsax]

I have (privately) 😉 , but I chickened out and did it on bari.

Yes, I was thinking it should sit well on the baritone. And it would work very well on bass clarinet too.

Looking forward to hearing your version (new or old recording).

Rhys

 

[rhysonsax]

Thanks. Fixed.

But the Bb sheet now has a blank patch across the middle of the first melody line.

At least it does where I am looking at it on my computer.

Rhys

 

[rhysonsax]

Could you share the Band in a Box file you used to create that nice audio backing track ? I am thinking of trying out some other styles.

Rhys

 

[Digger2054]

But the Bb sheet now has a blank patch across the middle of the first melody line.

At least it does where I am looking at it on my computer.

Rhys

I'm getting the same - Here's the original I downloaded in Bb but marked as Eb on the sheet.

 

[rhysonsax]

Here is a recording I just made on baritone.

The Sad Ones - Rhys bari V1.mp3 | Powered by Box

Rhys

 

[Digger2054]

Nice!
I'm struggling with the C#-B in Bar 8 on my tenor... Also updated the file in the link above so it now says Bb.

 

[CarriageTownSax]

Could you share the Band in a Box file you used to create that nice audio backing track ? I am thinking of trying out some other styles.

Rhys

Here ya be:

The Sad Ones BIAB file

 

[CarriageTownSax]

But the Bb sheet now has a blank patch across the middle of the first melody line.

At least it does where I am looking at it on my computer.

Rhys

Curses! Fixed. Apologies for the snafus and the delays. Snafus are on me, but I'm not getting updates from the forum when things are posted. :/

 

[rhysonsax]

Here ya be:

The Sad Ones BIAB file

Thanks but that Link isn't working for me !

Rhys

 

[CarriageTownSax]

Rhys - nice take! Your horn is perfect in the mix -- seems like you're there with the trio. I like that you stayed in the neighborhood of the melody, weaving near it throughout the improv. Tune is kind of deceiving in its simplicity. Basically rocks back-and-forth between two changes in the A-section, but and then that block of adjacent changes where it switches to 3/4. The bridge gives me fits, because the chords are not 7th chords, so it's pretty much wide open, but I never feel sure of myself there. I liked the way you navigated that section. You really nailed the feel on the melody

Thanks but that Link isn't working for me !

Rhys

Not sure what to tell you -- just clicked on it and it DL'd immediately. Let me try to send it via message.

 

[CarriageTownSax]

Can't attach in a message. Anybody got any advice? I was able to DL the file in both Firefox and Safari by clicking the link.

I tried this on my ergonomically friendly Mark VI, and damned if I can make that transition between B-C# cleanly. Tried on my ergonomically clunky 10M and ended up with this.

The Sad Ones (tenor)

 

[Digger2054]

The link works for me on Android, tap & hold, download link.

@CarriageTownSax nice and smooth.
@rhysonsax nicely controlled on bari.
Enjoyed listening to both of them.

I'm chipping away at this, the C#-B is frustrating, will see what my teacher says.

 

[CarriageTownSax]

The link works for me on Android, tap & hold, download link.

@CarriageTownSax nice and smooth.
@rhysonsax nicely controlled on bari.
Enjoyed listening to both of them.

I'm chipping away at this, the C#-B is frustrating, will see what my teacher says.

Tim Price had an exercise to help with facility down there, but I have a tiny, arthritic pinky and nothing is going to change that. #ToughGettingOld

 

[rhysonsax]

I thought this might work well on the soprano and to do a different backing I used a vibraphone style from Band in a Box.

The Sad Ones - Rhys sop with Vibes V1.mp3 | Powered by Box

Rhys