Inspirational tune.

[Bobby G]

Exactly right, Roger, it's all down to whether you like the noise it makes, although I guess you have to 'understand' it to 'play' it. Then again, maybe it's only a partial understanding that lets you break the 'rules' and come up with something different to what's gone before.

I am 50, so first became aware of music during the 60's and started playing in bands myself in the 70's and beyond, so I grew up on the whole Beatles/Stones/kinks/Who/Herman's Hermits (shurely shome mishtake) thing, plus I was aware of folk, soul and jazz, as well as classical (thanks Dad), and later on the psychedelic, prog and avant-rock, and jazzers playing rock, singer-songwriters etc etc. So, during my formative years, both personally and especially musically, the emphasis was very much on advancing the music, experimenting and coming up with something new, keeping your ears and mind open. Because of this, I've ended up playing a lot of styles, although not necessarily mastering them.

Hence I am as likely to find inspiration in the Monkees as I am in Coltrane, or Dylan, or Steve Reich, or Mingus, or any one of hundreds more.

 

[tengu01]

Hey Ken,

So what's the sound you're after? If it's not Rollins, Dulfer, Turrentine or Clements, what is currently floating your boat?

Some jazz "masterpieces" don't do it for me, despite by best efforts. I bought "Directions in Music: Celebrating Miles Davis & John Coltrane" by Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker and Roy Hargrove.

From the Amazon reviews on Amazon, I was expecting musical deliverance. However, I just couldn't get into it. I could appreciate the technical ability of these guys, but the music left me cold.

I spent a while playing in a funk/soul/hip-hop band and really started searching out musicians who could whip up a funk crowd into a frenzy and came across Karl Denson whose "The D Stands for Diesel" album did it for me in a big way.

"All Kooked Out" by Stanton Moore, has an amazing sax player - Skerik, who can honk, scream and funk, gracing most of his tunes.

Lastly Joshua Redman's "Freedom in the Groove" album. His improvisions seemed like a natural melodic extensions of the tunes. Tracks "Hide and Seek" and "When the Sun Goes Down" really stood out.

My inspiration hasn't always come from jazz masters and just because everyone says it's good, it doesn't have to be good for you.

Wherever it comes from....keep playing

 

[Paul_Dennis]

For me it was 'Work Song' by Cannonball Adderley and also Ellington's 'Don't get around much anymore' played by my teacher George King at a local jazz gig in Norfolk.

As for New York State of Mind.....I'm not sure it is Jim Horn. My record gives credit to Richard Cannata. Interestingly there is a Phil Wood's solo on Joel's 'Just the way you are'

 

[harmonix]

Hi folks, my first tune was also "New York state of mind" at the behest and grilling of my girlfriend at the time, who was a nice guitarist and great singer.

I think the sax, though used for classical, pop, rock, whatever, finds it's true home in jazz, an extremely expressive idiom, that seems to transcend words in the hands of a proficient exponent.

Ken, for an intro into jazz, try Scott Hamilton's album "Plays ballads". He has a wonderful, lyrical approach, technically excellent, but of the school where less is more, so can present ideas at a pace where you can understand them, and get to the logic. (I find anyway)

Plus, when I was living in London, he was doing regular gigs at the Pizza Express. Don't know whether this is still the case.

Also, check out Zoot Sims, who is similar in smoothness, but more complex in approach, and swings like a madman when he wants to.

Stuff like 'Trane, Miles, Rollins would be heading towards the more "free jazz" end of things, and can actually frighten folks off jazz entirely. How many times have you heard someone straight out the box say "I hate jazz, all that squawking and honking and out-of-tune noise"? I'd say that more'n likely due to being introduced straight into the extremely deep end where most mortals circle extremely delicately at first.

I like earlier Coltrane, but his more spiritual stuff (read-later stuff) doesn't ring my bells either, so you're not alone. Charlie Parker is great too, but as an introduction to jazz, listening to it it must be as relaxing as crossing a busy motorway on foot.(extremely difficult to relax).

For alto, Cannonball Adderley, Richie Cole, and Phil Woods

Listen lots.
(And sorry for such a long post :whistle: )

 

[Bobby G]

I believe "Body and Soul" is the de rigeur tune for aspiring tenor players, Ken. It means you have reached a certain point in your musical development if you can carry it off.

Needless to say I'm not quite there yet.

Also, unlike Harmonix, I've not had to do Baker Street as yet. I wonder if sax shops have a sign up saying 'anyone found playing Baker Street will be ejected', in the same way that guitar shops have similar signs referring to Smoke on the Water/Stairway to Heaven.

 

[harmonix]

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: "Aspiring guitarist involuntarily beaten to sludgy pulp by enraged shop assistant bearing designer Les Paul axe. Police reveal incident strikes a familiar chord"

A pianist who played with my Dad once confessed that he used to play "Body & Soul" to get the aspirants off the bandstand. There is a word for it: Beware. Mad chord changes, no relaxing. I managed to busk it, and came out of that with my face streaming sweat, my nose entirely blocked and my clothes in smoking tatters. I gather I didn't kill it entirely, as the bandsmen still openly spoke to me without hiding behind things first and the audience weren't doubled over with cramps.
Generally, and Ken, you may want to take this as my most important contribution to date, when this song comes on, I favour assuming a horizontal position and faking a heart attack, or in fact, death is better. It's far less negotiable and doesn't require you to partake in any further proceedings. You can, however stand up when the song is over, and in amazement bordering on stupefecation, confess that a previously expired relative/famous musician of your choosing, sent you back from the brink of eternity "Because.Your.Greatest.Work.Is.Not.Yet.Done..."
😱

 

[Rogerb]

I'll ask my teacher tomorrow to give me a quick run-through of Body & Soul

(Does anyone out there know Don Mather? He's quite well-known in the UK big band scene, I believe, although he's now here in Spain.)

 

[tengu01]

After your teacher has given you the run through of Body & Soul, ask if you can practice gently crumpling to the floor and playing dead for around 12 choruses, without damaging your horn, knocking yourself out or sneezing, until the song's done.

:whistle:

 

[harmonix]

Is it safe to come out yet? I just needed a quick lie-down.
G'wan Roger, give it stick. Remember to loosen yore guns in yo' holstuhs, an' ahm'a gonna git the cayuses! >.<

 

[Rogerb]

At 00:09:29 AM 23/05/06, harmonix wrote:
Is it safe to come out yet? I just needed a quick lie-down.
G'wan Roger, give it stick. Remember to loosen yore guns in yo' holstuhs, an' ahm'a gonna git the cayuses! >.<

Huh :S

 

[tengu01]

Just as a bit of masochism (on my part) and sadism (on the part of the potential provider), could someone please post the chord changes for 'Body and Soul'?

 

[harmonix]

Hi Tengu01, I had a brief blitz through google to see if I could find them, but nothing obvious. Not being able to read music, they'd be as much use to me as having a box of matches in a gunpowder factory. Maybe one of the other folks has it? Failing that, a trudge down to the local music shop is going to be the way to go. :S

 

[tengu01]

Oh well. Sing along now everyone:

....these boots are made for walking...
....and that's just what they'll do....
.....Gotta walk to the music shop and get that bl**dy tune!

:laugh:

 

[Rogerb]

At 5:24:48 PM 22/05/06, Rogerb wrote:
I'll ask my teacher tomorrow to give me a quick run-through of Body & Soul

I know it's not really 'good manners' to answer your own post, but....

He rattled it off without any problems, apart from a rather dodgy new reed he's trying-out 🙂

 

[redmancba]

As with most things on this board, I'll be answering as to guitar/trumpet.
The song that made me really want to play jazz guitar (I can't recall what made me want to play guitar to start off with, probably some Green Day song ) was "Joe's Blues" by Joe Pass. Man that guy can rip.

Consequently, as I got more into jazz, I started listening to some Miles Davis. I loved that stuff, but didn't have any true desire to take up a new instrument until I heard the first few notes he blew on "My Funny Valentine" from the cd "Cookin'" That song still drives me crazy. And so here I am, struggling along. Also, Maynard Ferguson's song "Macarthur Park" was and is a very inspirational tune. It is nine minutes of him and his band playing stuff two octaves above what I can play - so that gets me practicing a lot.

I may be biased, but I think that a lot of Miles Davis' early stuff is quite accesible if a person is looking to get into jazz. He is sort of like B.B. King in that he can do a solo with half as many notes as the next guy, but it is so much more meaningful - at least to me. Anyways, needless to say, Miles Davis is on the top of the list for me.

 

[Saxlicker]

For me it was early in the early 80's. Litterally any tune that had a solo in it would have a few of us (who should have been hard at work) Pulling a knee up the mouth ......
fingering the shin.......
and swaying the foot about!!!!!!
Sadly, I adopted this every time a 'mars bar' advert came on Telly and a guy nervously rehearsed for an audition and was encouraged by his friends. He got a lift to the audition in the back of their pick up truck and blew his heart out....he got the gig!!
And a mars bar 😛
Anyone else remember that advert? It wasn't you was Pete?
Anyway...I figured i'd better go buy a real one so I didn't look quite as silly!!!