SOTM May 2025: Softly as in a Morning Sunrise

[PiccoloPirate]

Softly, is nice at 110-120 bpm, sometimes a bit slower, with walls of sound, to say hello again.
From the time the Sun first breaks the horizon, until she is up, can be as long as five minutes. Plenty of time for a Cafe con Leche.
Faster is nice, if you have chops, and are saying something and not just trying to keep up, or play a bunch of licks.
It's a pretty tune, nice to keep it that way.
Wonder if Beckenstein covered this tune?

 

[LostCircuits]

Softly, is nice at 110-120 bpm, sometimes a bit slower, with walls of sound, to say hello again.
From the time the Sun first breaks the horizon, until she is up, can be as long as five minutes. Plenty of time for a Cafe con Leche.
Faster is nice, if you have chops, and are saying something and not just trying to keep up, or play a bunch of licks.
It's a pretty tune, nice to keep it that way.
Wonder if Beckenstein covered this tune?

I did a search including ChatGPT to ask whether Jay recorded Softly and got zero hits

 

[LostCircuits]

And I did another one today too.... little on the edge with this one (as is the backing to be honest!)

View: https://youtu.be/GHs7FMvndP4?si=MOlUOPMLobCUm9kx

On the edge is fine, I like the latin feel of the backing, they gave you a workout, LOL, I could hear you gasping for air in between. But that's how it's supposed to be, give it all you got!

 

[ghostler]

Edit: Apologies, I just realized I am a day early, hope nobody objects

IMO, no apologies are necessary IMO because you released it timely. 😀

The song is also in Volume 27 of Hal Leonard Jazz Play Along, Great Jazz Standards. My now dog-eared copy is no longer in print (Hal Leonard website no longer lists it), but some may still find it until all copies sell out in stores. Amazon US shows it is still available in used copy.

Listings of most of the songs in the series may be found in this downloadable file:
https://www.halleonard.com/bin/MiscJpasongfinder142014.pdf )

It is a moderately tempo'd song. Just fooling around on my Korg PA600, it works well to a Disco Cha Cha. Because of its syncopation makes it an interesting piece for one to develop their soloing style.

The H.L. book has it in the concert key of C Minor (Eb), Bb part is in D Minor (F), Eb part is in A Minor (C). So, for those who are still working on the harder key signatures to play in, this one seems to give a little breathing room.

 

[wuffysax]

...I made a smooth-jazz version of this great title.

with soprano and tenor and some improvisation

hope you like it

View: https://youtu.be/vwHV9hNk_i8


beste Grüsse

WuffySax

 

[mrblackbat]

Started working on transcribing Sonny Rollins' solo from Live at the Village Vanguard. First 16 bars here on loop, not quite tight on the rhythmic phrasing. Fantastic motivic development by Sonny here!

View: https://youtu.be/HgdMk2WJ5YI

 

[LostCircuits]

...I made a smooth-jazz version of this great title.

with soprano and tenor and some improvisation

hope you like it

View: https://youtu.be/vwHV9hNk_i8


beste Grüsse

WuffySax

Sorry, Wuffy, I've been super busy the last few days, meant to post this earlier, that's a great rendition, I really like the duet between tenor and sop.

Thanks for posting!

 

[LostCircuits]

Started working on transcribing Sonny Rollins' solo from Live at the Village Vanguard. First 16 bars here on loop, not quite tight on the rhythmic phrasing. Fantastic motivic development by Sonny here!

View: https://youtu.be/HgdMk2WJ5YI

Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?

Nice, Matt, I remember the discussion we had about 2 years ago and you have come a really long way since then! Which makes at least one of us

 

[Francisco]

Just a petit solo 🙂

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

 

[LostCircuits]

Just a petit solo 🙂

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

Nice, @Francisco, it's not the length of the clip that matters but the ideas and execution. Well done, keep playing!

 

[Jeanette]

Big thank you to @LostCircuits for hosting this month's tune.

Also to @nigeld for his support.

Recordings can be added any time.

Jx

 

[LostCircuits]

Hey @Jeanette, I still have 10 hours left to record something
Sorry, I had a twilight zone month, haven't been able to even take my horn out of the stand (emergency call back to work after those yahoos ignored me for years but saved my financial butt).
Let me get to work on a quick and probably beyond dirty take.

 

[Jeanette]

Hey @Jeanette, I still have 10 hours left to record something

😁 I know but I'm away at the moment and travelling tomorrow it's also our 40th wedding anniversary tomorrow. I didn't want to forget to thank you!

Jx

 

[LostCircuits]

Cubase is throwing a monkey wrench, I can only export individual tracks but no mixdown ... I have no clue what's going on

 

[LostCircuits]

Ok, here we go, at least I hope: Dropbox

Hopefully it is accessible (maybe not, it's a bit screechy..)

This is the backing track I used (truncated it after 3 go-arounds):

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lnyo21W5YTI


It says 160 bpm but I couldn't get it to really line up with the metronome and without drums it's been a little challenging to keep time.

 

[ghostler]

it's also our 40th wedding anniversary tomorrow.

Congratulations, @Jeanette . By coincidence our 40th is soon, too.

 

[BalancedReaction]

Whenever I try to play the head of this song, I always seem to break into this 🙂

View: https://youtu.be/1V_xRb0x9aw?t=29


Which is a song I'm much more familiar with (Gorillaz - Clint Eastwood)

 

[MikeMorrell]

s commJust a petit solo 🙂

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

Hi @Francisco, TBH I haven't listened to any other recordings in this thread. I really enjoyed your recording! I agree with @LostCircuits' comment, "well done, keep playing!"

I well know (though for me, it's many years) that you get a bit nervous and anxious when recording yourself for 'publication' on the café. I would encourage you to record yourself more often. And to contribute to the café. I have no doubt that in time, you will become a more self-confident and expressive contributor to the café!