SOTM January 2025 - Mas Que Nada

[Nick Wyver]

Happy New Year!

Here's a bit of up tempo latin to blow away those winter blues. Mas Que Nada by Jorge Ben was made famous by Sergio Mendes in 1966. You may have heard it recently on Strictly Come Dancing.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-3EMeeK3sc

Or you may prefer the original.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Zu0iDvCjgk


@nigeld has done his usual wonderful job and supplied the following which can all be found here.
Lead sheets in C, Bb, Eb, together with the MuseScore file.
BIAB backing tracks at 140 and 175bpm, together with the BIAB SGU file.
Piano backing tracks at 140 and 175bm.

I'll get round to recording a version when my back allows me to hold a saxophone again.

 

[Jeanette]

I'll get round to recording a version when my back allows me to hold a saxophone again.

Wishing you a speedy recovery

Jx

 

[rhysonsax]

I'll get round to recording a version when my back allows me to hold a saxophone again.

Great tune - looking forward to hearing recordings of this.

I guess the obvious question is did you injure you back dancing to this, Strictly style ? Good luck with the recovery.

Rhys

 

[Nick Wyver]

Back is an ongoing issue over the last 30 odd years. It's just particularly bad at the moment for no reason that I can fathom. No dancing was involved.

 

[PiccoloPirate]

This one and Sergio work for us.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg0XftC43Zo


Talk to your Doctor about Indomethacin.
Helps with certain types of back/neck problems.

 

[Nick Wyver]

Talk to your Doctor

I can tell you don't live here.

 

[MikeMorrell]

Great choice, Nick!

An up-beat number with great rhythm and with a lot of scope for improv. Thanks for the different versions.

@nigeld's backings and scores look a lot more exciting than than Mark Taylor's 'Big Band 'version that I've played (on tenor sax) for 10+ years and quickly found it 'boring'. Probably because alt sax got the solos 😉 .

 

[ghostler]

Back is an ongoing issue over the last 30 odd years. It's just particularly bad at the moment for no reason that I can fathom. No dancing was involved.

My non-SOTM comments:

Do what you must (but you already knew that.) I can feel for you, have had over the past 40 years, various herniations, most resolved themselves without surgery. Then had surgery 2 years ago, prior was walker bound.

Back pain is good, a limiter, not one of those "no pain no gain" in activities, indicates "stop!" Thus for past 20 years, been doing my own physical therapy (saves money over doctors), to keep back and stomach muscles toned up to protect the back. I do increased repetitions with lower weights.

Myth buster, martial artists are muscular and strong, but they don't lift weights, due to very high repetitions in excercise, say 100 - 200 pushups, 400 modified stomach crunches, etc. Post Office workers who walk their beat delivering mail don't work out (although some do) yet have very muscular legs like working out.

Más que nada, Portuguese and Spanish for "more than anything" (nada means "nothing" but in context translates to "anything", i.e., the English equivalent "above all", "Above all, I'd like to visit the Isles of Wight someday and mingle with the people there.") Video singing is in Portuguese.

Downloaded the files, this is a really nice backing rendition, plus in an easy key for all instrumentalists. Concert C (relative Minor A), relatively easy but challenging to the newbie playing a Bb sax in D (B minor) and Eb sax in A (F# minor), yet bold enough for the advanced player to really have fun with, especially with the up-to-tempo version.

 

[Nick Wyver]

Well, if no one else is going to:

Mas Que Nada.mp3 | Powered by Box

app.box.com

 

[Nick Wyver]

You know, I could have chosen something really unpopular, like 21st Century Schizoid Man.
Still time to get in before Feb. Not that it ever shuts, of course.

 

[rhysonsax]

I have been working at the tune but will struggle to get a recording in before February.

It is a good choice and I'm surprised by the (very) slow response so far.

Rhys

 

[Jeanette]

Perhaps everyone has the January blues 💙

Jx

 

[sax panther]

Yeah I'm definitely going to have a go when I get chance, I love this tune but my effort will be fashionably late

 

[Digger2054]

I've completely missed this, nicely done @Nick Wyver good choice of tune.

I had a quick look this evening at this, another one to add my list of pieces to play.

 

[ghostler]

I think it is as @Jeanette alluded to. This is after the big holiday, and people are getting back to their usual selves.

The nice thing about the SOTM's and BOTM's is that they don't expire. If one comes across a past one that suites their fancy, they can add their performance to it.

A few necessary things have impacted my schedule, but in future plan to post a recording.

 

[Francisco]

hello everyone, musical greetings

https://soundcloud.com/user2929757%2Fmas-que-nada

View: https://soundcloud.com/user2929757/mas-que-nada?si=535a3250bed340e6b6bf62bcb3d1496d&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

 

[Nick Wyver]

Hooray!
Brilliant! Thank you very much. Loved the vocals.

 

[Ivan]

I've just written sheets for this for my band to try out

I might have been inspired by looking at this thread when posted

I'll see if I can repay the debt with a recording

 

[Ivan]

hello everyone, musical greetings

https://soundcloud.com/user2929757%2Fmas-que-nada

View: https://soundcloud.com/user2929757/mas-que-nada?si=535a3250bed340e6b6bf62bcb3d1496d&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Superb

Your voice and delicate sax are a gift to this tune

 

[Ivan]

Well, if no one else is going to:

Mas Que Nada.mp3 | Powered by Box

app.box.com

Ooft

Nicely navigated through the changes; keeping it light and dancing

Chapeau