Beginner recording Improvement 1 year on... 'Virgo' by Wayne Shorter

dubrosa22 · May 12, 2014

Last year I recorded a version of Wayne Shorter's 'Virgo' for the cafe's Ballad of the Month thread for April 2013. It was my first real foray in recording tunes with solos. So, I thought I'd record another rendition one year later to see how I've progressed (if at all).

Here's the NEW VERSION
https://soundcloud.com/dubrosa22/virgo-by-wayne-shorter-alto-2

Here's the OLD VERSION
https://soundcloud.com/dubrosa22/virgo-by-wayne-shorter-alto-1

Personally I think my tone and timing has improved a little bit, but do I feel the first version had more 'inspiration' in the solo 🙁 Any feedback at all is very much appreciated.
V

P.S. The image I've used is of my daughter who is the Virgo in my life and the reason I love this tune so much! 🙂

BigMartin · May 12, 2014

dubrosa22 said:
Personally I think my tone and timing has improved a little bit,

Most definitely, and more than a little bit. Also the intonation is a lot better to my ears.

but do I feel the first version had more 'inspiration' in the solo 🙁 Any feedback at all is very much appreciated.

Don't feel qualified to comment on this aspect.

trimmy · May 12, 2014

Massive improvement

The 2nd take had a lot more feel to the piece 🙂

ProfJames · May 12, 2014

Absolutely agree with Trimmy. Second take was far better. Enjoyed it a lot

Sue · May 12, 2014

I love your playing Vaughan and in my very humble opinion you have developed so much in a short time. I always enjoy your recordings and your daughter looks just adorable 🙂

TimboSax · May 12, 2014

Great idea, this really shows how you've improved 🙂

(Daughters are cool :manicure:

)

Jeanette · May 12, 2014

To my untrained ears your tone is much improved, richer and more depth and it wasn't that bad a year ago 🙂

Jx

dubrosa22 · May 14, 2014

Wow, thanks so much for the vote of confidence guys. Really supportive.

I thought I was on a downhill spiral... 🙁

@TimboSax - yes, daughters are the best :cheers:

@Sue - thank you Sue, my biggest fan! :banana:

And yes, my little girl IS adorable!

Now back to @aldevis's evil Raznjici >:)

V

(Gee, I went mad on smileys tonight! :doh:

)

aldevis · May 14, 2014

dubrosa22 said:
Here's the NEW VERSION
https://soundcloud.com/dubrosa22/virgo-by-wayne-shorter-alto-2

My main comparison is your "Serene" that for unknown reasons started after whatever I listened on Soundcloud.
Your phrasing, time and melodic invention are really brilliant.
There is something about sound and tuning I am not sure about. Like the reed is to bright and hard. It seems to limit your dynamics. Tuning in your head is absolutely spot on, but I feel you are fighting against the instrument to control it.
I have been a lucky SML user for a good while, and I know it is a very friendly horn.

A leak maybe?

(Raznjici cannot be evil)

dubrosa22 · May 15, 2014

aldevis said:
My main comparison is your "Serene" that for unknown reasons started after whatever I listened on Soundcloud.
Your phrasing, time and melodic invention are really brilliant.

Thank you, much too kind!
Sorry about the 'Serene' thing. Soundcloud seems to plaster it about to everyone.... how tedious! 🙁

aldevis said:
There is something about sound and tuning I am not sure about. Like the reed is to bright and hard. It seems to limit your dynamics. Tuning in your head is absolutely spot on, but I feel you are fighting against the instrument to control it.
A leak maybe?

Thanks, we've actually discussed this once before. My sound has a somewhat pinched quality, although I would say it is a reversed pinch in EQ terms (like a notch or buzz around 1kHz?). A lacking/weak harmonic that is possibly due to the very dead and flat sounding soundproofed 'box' I record in, but most likely my need to shed overtones to get my tone much more developed in the lower end (anything below C#, no octave key sounds to me so hollow and flat.

Famous last words but I'm certain there's no leak; I service the horn every year and I'm sure it's 99% fine.

I did record this tune with RJS 3S which is quite a bit brighter for me than my typical Blue Box 2.5 or 3 or my holy grail 1980s LaVoz MH which I should've used here instead.