BOTM March 2025: At Last

Ballad of the Month
MikeMorrell

MikeMorrell

Netherlands
Café Supporter
2,120
Breda
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Amateur (for 30 years)
Hi all,

I’ve been invited to host a BOTM/SOTM for March. I went for a BOTM: ‘At Last’.

I hope that the ballad is easy enough to play for all members, including relative beginners. The sheet music is intended as ‘guide’. Feel free to express yourself through any variations or improvisations that you wish. I hope that some vocal and sax versions may inspire you!

You can find the sheet music and backing track here:

Dropbox​


www.dropbox.com
www.dropbox.com

Many thanks as always to the talented @nigeld for the sheet music and the backing track. I asked Nigel to arrange the backing track for a “jazz trio” (piano, bass and drums) rather than for the “full strings orchestra” that you hear on most cover versions.

Mike
 
Last edited:
Digging out an old backing track I did yonks ago, I was inspired to remix the track and plug in the recording equipment. This old YAS25 likes key of C. Voice, not so much. Anyway, here's me.

Listen to At Last. by Colin the Bear on #SoundCloud
https://soundcloud.com/colin-the-bear%2Fat-last-c-cool63-8in-2x-3xend%2Fs-iQqZ5lMVdOY
View: https://soundcloud.com/colin-the-bear/at-last-c-cool63-8in-2x-3xend/s-iQqZ5lMVdOY?ref=clipboard&p=a&c=1&si=c54cbf9a0a46466c95ada4f24bec262d&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
 
Colin the Bear said:
Before there was Etta, there was Glen.
View: https://youtu.be/J9LJUCPZojM?si=7Kjooi_DzuOtWzDJ
Click to expand...
This is a ballad that that my Big Band currently plays. It was only after I chose the ballad as BOTM that I started to discover the 'providence' and history of the ballad. Starting from Glenn Miller (1941-42) through Etta James (1960) through to more contemporary vocalists such as Celine Dion, Beyoncé, Christina Aguilera, Cindy Lauper, tc.

Also discover the very many 'sax versions' on YouTube
During my 'discovery', I listened to this video too, Many thanks for posting!
 
Colin the Bear said:
Digging out an old backing track I did yonks ago, I was inspired to remix the track and plug in the recording equipment. This old YAS25 likes key of C. Voice, not so much. Anyway, here's me.

Listen to At Last. by Colin the Bear on #SoundCloud
https://soundcloud.com/colin-the-bear%2Fat-last-c-cool63-8in-2x-3xend%2Fs-iQqZ5lMVdOY
View: https://soundcloud.com/colin-the-bear/at-last-c-cool63-8in-2x-3xend/s-iQqZ5lMVdOY?ref=clipboard&p=a&c=1&si=c54cbf9a0a46466c95ada4f24bec262d&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
Click to expand...
Hi Colin, What a magical performance! Personally, I'm delighted that your choice of 'backing track' closely aligns with mine.
 
MikeMorrell said:
This is a ballad that that my Big Band currently plays. It was only after I chose the ballad as BOTM that I started to discover the 'providence' and history of the ballad. Starting from Glenn Miller (1941-42) through Etta James (1960) through to more contemporary vocalists such as Celine Dion, Beyoncé, Christina Aguilera, Cindy Lauper, tc.

Also discover the very many 'sax versions' on YouTube
During my 'discovery', I listened to this video too, Many thanks for posting!
Click to expand...
Better mention Mack Gordon for the music and Harry Warren for the lyrics. 😉
 
trimmy said:
What movie was that taken from ? I’ve seen it but my old brain 🧠 won’t recall
Click to expand...
The original version was written for the musical film Sun Valley Serenade (1941). As far as I know, the 'vocals' were cut from the film (making the tune an 'instrumental'). But the original singer featured in later performances and recordings by the Glenn Miller Band.
 
MikeMorrell said:
Hi Colin, What a magical performance! Personally, I'm delighted that your choice of 'backing track' closely aligns with mine.
Click to expand...
@Colin the Bear Just want to add that I loved your sax playing! Inspirational! I was also seriously impressed by your wide vocal range and especially by your wonderful vocal expression throughout. And (as someone with no singing abilities whatsoever) just by your ability to sing perfectly 'in tune'! Thanks for this.
 
MikeMorrell said:
@Colin the Bear Just want to add that I loved your sax playing! Inspirational! I was also seriously impressed by your wide vocal range and especially by your wonderful vocal expression throughout. And (as someone with no singing abilities whatsoever) just by your ability to sing perfectly 'in tune'! Thanks for this.
Click to expand...
Like any physical activity it's all about practice. Practice anything and you get better. If you want to sing, sing.
 
Colin the Bear said:
Like any physical activity it's all about practice. Practice anything and you get better. If you want to sing, sing.
Click to expand...
Many who think they do not have a good singing voice just need training and practice as you allude to.

I had a terrible singing voice out of high school, but over time and practice I improved.

Now people compliment me on my singing, but it was not that way in the past.
 
LostCircuits said:
I recorded this last year with my room mate in my living room

No sax, just her on vocals: Dropbox
Click to expand...
Many thanks for contributing to this thread!

You're a star for recording your roommate but she's the real star of the recording. What a talented singer she is! I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the recording!

I've listened to various recorded 'covers' of this song, mostly by famous female vocalists (Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, Cyndi Lauper, and even Eva Cassidy). These are either recorded in a studio or recorded professionally on location. And in all probability professionally post-processed ad mixed. IHMO, your roommate's version is (in terms of singing quality and self-expression) up there with the best of these.

IMHO some 'cover vocalists' (especially amateurs) can go way 'over the top' in their 'self-expression' of a jazz standard like this one. One thing I really liked about your roommate's version was that:
- her personal vocal self-expression clearly came through; the recording - to my ears - definitely sounded like her version rather than just a bland copy of someone else's
- she stayed - given her vocal 'degrees of freedom' - true to the original tune; and she avoided the temptation to vocally 'thrash around' in order to 'demonstrate' that her vocal version was unique

So my compliments to you for your recording (and posting!) And I hope that you'll pass on my sincere compliments to your room mate!

Mike

PS. Although the cafe is sax-oriented, we're all musicians. I've personally learned a whole lot (and discovered many new musicians) through 'music-related posts' that have nothing at all to do with playing sax. Such as this one. So many thanks for posting this!
 
Thanks Mike, she has a lot of talent and a 4 octave vocal range but she is "volatile" in the best case. I had to do a lot of "reigning in"/ coaching and then of course the actual recording / mixing but the credit still all goes to her. I tried to start a band with her but she fell in love with the guitar player who was dating another vocalist. You think Fleetwood Mac had drama ...
She's moved to a different place and sometimes texts me at 3:00 whether I am awake
At one point she asked me, since I live by myself, if I could change my will so that if I unexpectedly pass away, she could have the house. It was probably innocent but ...
We are still friends and have each others' back, though.
 
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