BOTM BOTM November 2020: It Never Entered My Mind

[rhysonsax]

Thanks for those two baritone versions @guidocreo - we now have the full set of SATB and it's only 5th November.

Nice baritone sound and some good ideas in the improvisation.

Where did the backing tracks come from ? They sound like pretty good BiaB tracks in different styles.

The harmony at the start of the song is quite static, staying around the key centre for a period (all those DMaj, DAug and D6 chords in the Eb saxophone parts) and I think it may have thrown you off. In your first recording there is a 4 bar introduction, where the drums are playing with sticks before changing to brushes at the start of the tune (first A section), but you came in after two bars, so the whole of the tune was played two bars ahead of the chord changes. The drums change back to sticks for the Bridge (B section), but you were already two bars into it by then.

To get familiar with a new tune and to make sure you recognise the geography of a new backing track, listen out for where the drummer signals the start of each new section (each one of A A B A) with a drum fill or cymbal crash. It's also a good idea to play through the harmony just using the root notes (played with minims / half notes in a tune like this with mainly two chords per bar). Then try with the other main notes from each chord (thirds, sevenths) and really get a feel for the changing harmony and the most important points in the song.

I hope you do another version later in the month.

Rhys

 

[6441]

Manyh of these almost totally diatonic songs turn around in one key, then one other key in the bridge, and back, making it sometimes difficult to hear where you're supposed to be. Combine that with different backing tracks using different intros, sometimes with a different number of measures than the charts we have available. Therefore...

Not guilty!

You'll have a great recording if you can get in sync. As a matter of fact, if you have separate tracks in a software app, you could move the saxophone up two bars (I think, depending on how you count them) and it would be in sync!

 

[U CAN CALL ME AL]

A Monty Python Version!

CLICK
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[rhysonsax]

A Monty Python Version!

View attachment 15993
CLICK
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Well Monty, that was different. I think I need to go and lie down now.

Where do you get your ideas from ?

Rhys

 

[U CAN CALL ME AL]

Well Monty, that was different. I think I need to go and lie down now.

Where do you get your ideas from ?

Rhys

Hi @rhysonsax

Usually when I get rhythms and timings completely wrong they then seem to translate and lodge in my head. It's something that has happened to me ever since daydreaming and mucking around on piano during my early lessons. Probably to escape the clutches of my boringly classical teacher who would rap me over the knuckles when I couldn't read the music correctly. I'd make it up at home never in earshot of my teacher I valued my hands too much.

Regards Al

 

[rhysonsax]

Hi @rhysonsax

Usually when I get rhythms and timings completely wrong they then seem to translate and lodge in my head. It's something that has happened to me ever since daydreaming and mucking around on piano during my early lessons. Probably to escape the clutches of my boringly classical teacher who would rap me over the knuckles when I couldn't read the music correctly. I'd make it up at home never in earshot of my teacher I valued my hands too much.

Regards Al

And what about the idea of doing the song (from a musical, usually played as a jazz ballad) in this particular style ? I don't even know what genre/style that is !

Rhys

 

[U CAN CALL ME AL]

And what about the idea of doing the song (from a musical, usually played as a jazz ballad) in this particular style ? I don't even know what genre/style that is !

Rhys

I’d just call it happy, escapist style!
Al

 

[guidocreo]

Thanks for those two baritone versions @guidocreo - we now have the full set of SATB and it's only 5th November.

Nice baritone sound and some good ideas in the improvisation.

Where did the backing tracks come from ? They sound like pretty good BiaB tracks in different styles.

The harmony at the start of the song is quite static, staying around the key centre for a period (all those DMaj, DAug and D6 chords in the Eb saxophone parts) and I think it may have thrown you off. In your first recording there is a 4 bar introduction, where the drums are playing with sticks before changing to brushes at the start of the tune (first A section), but you came in after two bars, so the whole of the tune was played two bars ahead of the chord changes. The drums change back to sticks for the Bridge (B section), but you were already two bars into it by then.

To get familiar with a new tune and to make sure you recognise the geography of a new backing track, listen out for where the drummer signals the start of each new section (each one of A A B A) with a drum fill or cymbal crash. It's also a good idea to play through the harmony just using the root notes (played with minims / half notes in a tune like this with mainly two chords per bar). Then try with the other main notes from each chord (thirds, sevenths) and really get a feel for the changing harmony and the most important points in the song.

I hope you do another version later in the month.

Rhys

What a figure! and it's not even the first time! 🙂
( SOTM May 2020 - My Little Suede Shoes )

In my partial defense I have to say that after a particularly busy day I put the score on the music stand, I found the first pleasant base on youtube and I pressed the record button: one hit one take but my ears betrayed me.🙁

The backing tracks come from Youtube and yes, I'll surely do another version late in month.

Ciao Rhys and thanks for listening.

 

[guidocreo]

Manyh of these almost totally diatonic songs turn around in one key, then one other key in the bridge, and back, making it sometimes difficult to hear where you're supposed to be. Combine that with different backing tracks using different intros, sometimes with a different number of measures than the charts we have available. Therefore...

Not guilty!

You'll have a great recording if you can get in sync. As a matter of fact, if you have separate tracks in a software app, you could move the saxophone up two bars (I think, depending on how you count them) and it would be in sync!

😀

Thanks Randy.

Unfortunately I record a single track (backing and me) with the iPad camera connected to the mixer output.

So no post production tricks, maybe I should start recording with Logic again but I was wasting a lot of time in a job (post production) that I'am not capable to well do.

Ciao.

 

[6441]

ANyway, @guidocreo you'll want to keep doing more takes like I do, reaching for the Moon! That's how we advance.

 

[rhysonsax]

I’d just call it happy, escapist style!
Al

That's interesting and makes me think (it doesn't happen often these days).

The original song (It Never Entered My Mind) is quite melancholy in mood - both the lyrics and the melody (to my ears).

In general, does it work playing a song in a style that is quite different in mood ? And what determines whether the new version works or doesn't work ?

Rhys

 

[6441]

This is such a challenging song, I tried it on alto an octave up, which points out how weak I am on those high notes, but I like some of it. Soundcloud seems to be having issues, so it's on Soundclick. I'd be curious as to opinions on the better alto sound, low or hi?

It Never Entered My Mind Take 1 5 NOV by randulo

The best independent music community on the net. Listen to music, buy and sell beats and albums. #guitar #saxophone #voice

www.soundclick.com

 

[rhysonsax]

This is such a challenging song, I tried it on alto an octave up, which points out how weak I am on those high notes, but I like some of it. Soundcloud seems to be having issues, so it's on Soundclick. I'd be curious as to opinions on the better alto sound, low or hi?

It Never Entered My Mind Take 1 5 NOV by randulo

The best independent music community on the net. Listen to music, buy and sell beats and albums. #guitar #saxophone #voice

www.soundclick.com

I liked lots of that - was it in concert Ab ?

I too find it hard to have a full, strong sound up the top of the instrument, but this was sounding pretty darn good to me, especially considering how far into your saxophone journey you are.

Proper teachers can advise about strengthening up weak notes - I know in theory, but find it very difficult in practice to avoid tightening up, to breathe deeply enough, to control vibrato, take in enough mouthpiece etc.

How high in the range did you play on this recording ?

Rhys

 

[6441]

How high in the range did you play on this recording ?

Yes, it's in Ab concert (F alto), the highest note is a G concert Bb (alto E). I think there's a quick Ab somewhere. Singers are all over the different keys on this, but Ab gives a nice range in either octave, if you master it. The lower one goes down to a C (Eb concert) and that's good practice for those notes, hard to play them soft, right?

What I'd like to do is be able to play with more sophisticated chord changes which I'm looking for at the moment.

My brother suggested this version:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUJEKB4T2-M

 

[rhysonsax]

"Arranged and conducted by Oliver Nelson" is a great sign - I love his big band writing and he was a fine saxophone soloist too. But this is a bit too "commercial" for my taste.

Rhys

 

[6441]

Her interpretation, the phrasing is soulful and original. The whole of it isn't my favorite kind of vibe; either.

 

[Colin the Bear]

@randulo Bb (G alto) surely.
There's an arrangement on
www.jazzstudies.us

 

[6441]

Yes, it occurred to me in the middle of the night, I calculated the wrong direction. The highest note is G with a little Ab somewhere. G concert on the alto is called E.

 

[guidocreo]

Another take, on tenore

View: https://youtu.be/43NIwhtjIJk


Ciao and keep you safe.

 

[rhysonsax]

Thanks @guidocreo , nice tenor sound and a good mix.

You started in the right place (after the 4 bar introduction) with a gentle reading of the tune, but you fell behind by the start of the second A section, so when you got to the bridge (B section) you were two bars behind the tune.

The drummer on the backing track changes to sticks for the second chorus but you were still finishing off the head.

As well as learning the form of a tune with chord tones played as long notes, it is a good idea to read through the lead sheet and sing the tune, out loud or in your head, to really embed the harmony in your mind. And try to really hear where in the backing track there is a change of section, usually signaled by the drummer playing a fill or changing from brushes to sticks and vice versa.

Some tunes have chord changes that are much harder to keep your place than others and I guess that this is one of those.

I find that when I play, my ears sort of close down because I'm concentrating on the playing side (ideas, technique, note choices, rhythm etc) and I am much less aware of the rhythm section. If you listen back to your recording while looking at the lead sheet, do you see where the change of sections are happening in the backing and spot where what you played differs from that ?

Rhys