hot `n humid

[Koen88]

Hi there,

I've posted this on a SOTW thread but I'd like to get some opinions here to, I've been thinking of doing an other alto version this or next week and I can incorporate any comment.

this is played on the backing by ear after listening to backing once, second time noodling around a bit while setting up my mic, and third time's a charm... or is it?

it was played on the hottest day of the year here in holland.. last tuesday.

so if you can spare the time, have a listen:

https://soundcloud.com/koen-bidlot%2Fhot-and-humid-low-n-lazy

View: https://soundcloud.com/koen-bidlot/hot-and-humid-low-n-lazy


this is actually the way I allways improvised, just by listening, so I try to incorporate some of gary's stuff in there but it's easy to fall back into old habits and hard without sheet music...

 

[Koen88]

no comments? I know for sure there are flaws in this track. please let them know!

 

[Profusia]

Hi Koen, well I actually rather liked your effort I must say, and more importantly, my better half said she enjoyed it. So that's high praise indeed.

If you want constructive criticism, and speaking only very personally, I felt that for me it was a little abstract and didn't develop a theme. But at the same time I'm not saying that's wrong, or that every piece should do that by any means. So its not a criticism, more just an observation of my own taste. But I was extremely impressed that you could play over it so confidently, with good tone (and interesting tonal variation) and very few overly colourful notes, without practising the piece several times first. I followed the link to Wade's backing track and had a blow over it myself and it took me a few minutes to even work out an applicable bluescale to blow over it.

Don't be disheartened if not many people comment on your soundclips. I find the same thing. I guess we aren't in the "in-crowd", so maybe we should start our own in-crowd and invite a few others to join us

 

[Koen88]

Hi Koen, well I actually rather liked your effort I must say, and more importantly, my better half said she enjoyed it. So that's high praise indeed.

If you want constructive criticism, and speaking only very personally, I felt that for me it was a little abstract and didn't develop a theme. But at the same time I'm not saying that's wrong, or that every piece should do that by any means. So its not a criticism, more just an observation of my own taste. But I was extremely impressed that you could play over it so confidently, with good tone (and interesting tonal variation) and very few overly colourful notes, without practising the piece several times first. I followed the link to Wade's backing track and had a blow over it myself and it took me a few minutes to even work out an applicable bluescale to blow over it.

Don't be disheartened if not many people comment on your soundclips. I find the same thing. I guess we aren't in the "in-crowd", so maybe we should start our own in-crowd and invite a few others to join us

Thomas, thanks for the comment.. you are right about the theme, that's what I find most difficult of improvising by ear... maybe I'm to much concerned with playing some nice lines with the correct notes that the outlining is pushed to the background..

and with overly colourful notes you mean... wrong notes ;} (probably my D2..)

and however not many people commented, I did see about 50 views on this post and it has been listened for 32 times.. and on SOTW there's somewhat more attention but I reckon about 10 to 15 people of the cafe listened. but all speculations and crystal ball kinda stuff.

and well... I'm allways keen to listen to your stuff so I gues we're the new "in-crowd" 🙂

thanks again, and regards to the misses for the lovely compliment!

 

[Colin the Bear]

Not fair to talk about "in crowds". I listened to this track a couple of times and can think of nothing to say. It's so far away from the stuff I usuallly play and listen to that I feel my thoughts would be neither constructive or relevant. It's obviously a new piece. New stuff can leave the audience perplexed. I neither liked or disliked it. I wouldn't know if there are any wrong notes in it as I don't know what the right notes are. There wasn't any noticeable dis harmony

I do find on here that the more people comment on a thing , the more people comment.

So there we have it. A lot of writing that says nothing lol. Keep playing , keep writing , keep recording and posting.

 

[Jamesmac]

no comments? I know for sure there are flaws in this track. please let them know!

Well I had a listen, but the reason I don't listen to everything, is with the iPad it takes ages to load up using the wireless connection, so I imagine some others will have the same problem. But to the music, interesting, perhaps your rhythms could have been more varied.

 

[Profusia]

Not fair to talk about "in crowds". I listened to this track a couple of times and can think of nothing to say. It's so far away from the stuff I usuallly play and listen to that I feel my thoughts would be neither constructive or relevant. It's obviously a new piece. New stuff can leave the audience perplexed. I neither liked or disliked it. I wouldn't know if there are any wrong notes in it as I don't know what the right notes are. There wasn't any noticeable dis harmony

I do find on here that the more people comment on a thing , the more people comment.

So there we have it. A lot of writing that says nothing lol. Keep playing , keep writing , keep recording and posting.

lol Sometimes a bit of contentiousness is needed to flush out some discussion. It was a slightly tongue-in-cheek comment (albeit prompted by a bit of that feeling sometimes of not quite being in there with the regulars) and not aimed at anyone specific (least of all you Colin since you've comment on my soundclips numerous times), and certainly not intended to offend. Maybe to poke the bee-hive gently though.

No-one can be expected to comment on everything, I certainly don't. Usually because I don't feel qualified to comment on soundclips from players way advanced of me, and that saying "great job etc" would just seem superfluous. I just try to comment where I feel I can offer something either useful or positive that will be taken in the spirit intended. Truth be known, I've never really been an "in-crowd" kind of guy.

 

[Profusia]

Thomas, thanks for the comment.. you are right about the theme, that's what I find most difficult of improvising by ear... maybe I'm to much concerned with playing some nice lines with the correct notes that the outlining is pushed to the background..

and with overly colourful notes you mean... wrong notes ;} (probably my D2..)

and however not many people commented, I did see about 50 views on this post and it has been listened for 32 times.. and on SOTW there's somewhat more attention but I reckon about 10 to 15 people of the cafe listened. but all speculations and crystal ball kinda stuff.

and well... I'm allways keen to listen to your stuff so I gues we're the new "in-crowd" 🙂

thanks again, and regards to the misses for the lovely compliment!

I would never say "wrong notes". Its your improvisation and you can play any notes you want and who is anyone to say they are right or wrong. I just meant there was very little dissonance that caught my ear. Actually maybe a bit more would have suited the style of the piece - but that's a whole other discussion in which I'm even less qualified to participate lol

 

[Koen88]

Not fair to talk about "in crowds". I listened to this track a couple of times and can think of nothing to say. It's so far away from the stuff I usuallly play and listen to that I feel my thoughts would be neither constructive or relevant. It's obviously a new piece. New stuff can leave the audience perplexed. I neither liked or disliked it. I wouldn't know if there are any wrong notes in it as I don't know what the right notes are. There wasn't any noticeable dis harmony

I do find on here that the more people comment on a thing , the more people comment.

So there we have it. A lot of writing that says nothing lol. Keep playing , keep writing , keep recording and posting.

thanks for a bunch of nothing ;-)

Well I had a listen, but the reason I don't listen to everything, is with the iPad it takes ages to load up using the wireless connection, so I imagine some others will have the same problem. But to the music, interesting, perhaps your rhythms could have been more varied.

well what you two say and the amount of plays of the track confirms my suspicion that people do listen to these things, but indeed lacking internet connection to listen to the whole track and therefore wont comment... and people who listen to it, but havent got an idea on what to comment about it.

thanks for listening though!

 

[thesaxman71]

HI,
well here is my honest constructive view,
1, i like the whole free noodling idea you are doing, nothing wrong in that.
2, you seem to 'swoop' too much, try hitting the notes straight and swoop less so when you do swoop up to a note it gives a better effect.
3, dynamics are all the same and also tuning was a little sharp in parts but that is probably that you are over blowing, my advice is put a bit less mouthpiece in your mouth and blow softer then build it up and this will give you much better dynamic colour.
4, i like your overtones at the end, nice.

there you go, maybe others may not agree with my view but honesty is best i feel.
Ian

 

[TimboSax]

I liked listening to it, it had a fun vibe.

 

[ArtyLady]

I'm going to reply because I know how you feel - 168 views of one of mine and only 2 replies - boy mine must have been rubbish 🙂))

I really enjoyed your recording - lovely tone and technique, it was very atmospheric and played with a lot of feeling - a great chillout track. The only thing I would suggest would be to add in a few more colourful notes - perhaps use more chord extension notes (9ths, 11ths, 13ths etc)

 

[Koen88]

I'm going to reply because I know how you feel - 168 views of one of mine and only 2 replies - boy mine must have been rubbish 🙂))

I really enjoyed your recording - lovely tone and technique, it was very atmospheric and played with a lot of feeling - a great chillout track. The only thing I would suggest would be to add in a few more colourful notes - perhaps use more chord extension notes (9ths, 11ths, 13ths etc)

Thanks! yeah.. it's played by ear so those chord extension notes are hard to fit in there when you havent got any clue what chord you're playing..

I'm still trying to assimilate the improv course with this method, I would like to be able to noodle around on a track, figure out the chords (those which work) that way and make a nice improv on ear with chord knowledge.. but that's future "music"... for now.

 

[Wade Cornell]

Great to hear what others are saying. You had my comments on the other site so already know what I thought. Quite right to push people to react, even if it's to say "I don't know what I think". That's also an indication that possibly the improvisation didn't communicate a consistent feeling/story. Simply seeking out comfortable chords in which to play notes "that fit" won't tell that story. The backing isn't a "standard" and has no recognizable tune. The exercise was to make up a tune, which isn't "playing changes". If you listen to players like Colin he is always singing through his horn. A melody is about telling a story. I often tell players to put aside the horn and actually sing an improvised tune. Not sure how many take that advice, but if you do that's the pure YOU making up a melody, not fingers searching for "fits". When you can play what you'd sing then you are a real player.

 

[Marcello]

interesting sound...
As I can't tell if any right or wrong notes were played I will just say that it was a good listening...

Cheers....

 

[Colin the Bear]

See. It's like buses. None come for ages then several turn up. Heheheh