SOTM February 2024 - Mo' Better Blues

[rhysonsax]

I volunteered to host this month's Song of the Month thread and have chosen Bill Lee's tune "Mo' Better Blues" which he wrote for his son Spike Lee's film of the same name. For the film soundtrack it was recorded by the Branford Marsalis Quartet featuring Terence Blanchard.

View: https://youtu.be/xAdZk30NiQw?si=fUZ_lcoKFgTiwF06


It's a simple eight bar tune that Branford recorded in concert Gb (lots of flats !) but is often played in the more saxophone-friendly key of concert F. The original has a nice Gospel-tinged feel and it can also be played in other styles, such as this Soul Jazz version by Jamie Anderson who used a backing track from Better Trax.

View: https://youtu.be/Ex7lbp08Im4?si=SsuOYFz_Znfx-uVH&t=30


The sheet music for Eb and for Bb saxes and backing tracks in two different styles are all available to download on this file share directory.

For players who don't really read music it is an easy tune to learn by ear, so I have included a track with an example of how the melody sounds, here played by guitar over one of the backing tracks.

I'm really looking forward to hearing recordings that forum members make during February and beyond. Feel free to use any or all of the saxophones and other instruments too !

Rhys

 

[rhysonsax]

Of course you can use other backing tracks or make you own. The tune is in the ABRSM Grade 1 books, where it is in concert Bb and has a short backing track.

For some tips on learning Mo' Better Blues by ear and some examples at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels, here is a nice YouTube lesson from Paul of the Online Sax Academy.

View: https://youtu.be/ekmeNiHG2-4?si=hzXdWvGWlzsnrlmw

As this video says, the melody only uses the notes of one Major Pentatonic scale:

• Alto / baritone sax: D Major pentatonic ( D E F# A B)
• Tenor / soprano sax: G Major pentatonic (G A B D E)

Paul advises using the same scale for improvising on this simple set of chords, and also giving a bluesy sound by adding the minor 3rd (F natural for alto/baritone and Bb for tenor/soprano).

Rhys

 

[mizmar]

For some tips on learning Mo' Better Blues by ear and some examples at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels, here is a nice YouTube lesson from Paul of the Online Sax Academy.

I'm absolutely sure that B/Iers who are not confident improvisers (yet), like me, will have a great time with Paul's arrangements of this piece.
And the harmic structure is so clear you can't get lost.

 

[trimmy]

Great tune

 

[thomsax]

Very good introduction to "Mo' Better Blues". Thanks. A good song. I always try to play a song in the original key. It's in concert Gb(F#), tenor Ab(G#). Is it possible to take a backing in to Audacity and transpose it to G#? I always think in sharps. I haven't found a backing track in the original key.

 

[rhysonsax]

Very good introduction to "Mo' Better Blues". Thanks. A good song. I always try to play a song in the original key. It's in concert Gb(F#), tenor Ab(G#). Is it possible to take a backing in to Audacity and transpose it to G#? I always think in sharps. I haven't found a backing track in the original key.

I can certainly do that if you like. Would you prefer the piano, bass & drums backing track or the funkier one, and would you also like the tempo to be like the original (around 102bpm) ?

Changing the pitch by just a semitone should be OK but further than that can introduce audible artefacts when doing it in Audacity.

Rhys

PS I think you mean changing from Concert F to Concert Gb rather than Concert G# - is that right ?

PPS Or maybe you meant the written music also transposed so that Bb saxes are then in Ab ? I don't think that Sibelius could write that as a key of G# which would presumably be eight sharps ! I could write it with no key signature and just include accidentals if you like.

 

[sax panther]

. Feel free to use any or all of the saxophones and other instruments too !

Rhys

be careful what you wish for. A quick bash playing alto saxes, bass clarinet, guitar and cajon while my girlfriend is out and can't compain about the noise...

https://soundcloud.com/user-934945909%2Fmo-better-blues

View: https://soundcloud.com/user-934945909/mo-better-blues?si=f6374def78164412a13b476bed458cbc&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

 

[rhysonsax]

be careful what you wish for. A quick bash playing alto saxes, bass clarinet, guitar and cajon while my girlfriend is out and can't compain about the noise...

https://soundcloud.com/user-934945909%2Fmo-better-blues

View: https://soundcloud.com/user-934945909/mo-better-blues?si=f6374def78164412a13b476bed458cbc&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Just brilliant ! You made my wishes come true and that is a great start to the month.

I was going to say that you should ask your girlfriend to go out more often, but that wouldn't be polite so I won't.

Rhys

 

[rhysonsax]

Very good introduction to "Mo' Better Blues". Thanks. A good song. I always try to play a song in the original key. It's in concert Gb(F#), tenor Ab(G#). Is it possible to take a backing in to Audacity and transpose it to G#? I always think in sharps. I haven't found a backing track in the original key.

@thomsax - I have made backing tracks and sheet music for the original key of concert Gb and at a tempo of 102 bpm (as played by Branford Marsalis and his group) and have uploaded them to this online shared directory.

Looking forward to hearing any recordings in this tricky key.

Rhys

 

[Colin the Bear]

Gb concert. Eb on alto, Ab on tenor. Not that tricky, surely?

 

[thomsax]

@thomsax - I have made backing tracks and sheet music for the original key of concert Gb and at a tempo of 102 bpm (as played by Branford Marsalis and his group) and have uploaded them to this online shared directory.

Looking forward to hearing any recordings in this tricky key.

Rhys

Thank you very much. You save me some time. I found out that I can change key in Audacity but not reached the level how to do to change the key! Not easy with recording technique.

Now I can try to play it in the same style as BM! I like to try to "play" songs in the original keys. It's like cooking. Before I take shortakes I want to know how it should be.

I give "Mo' Better Blues" a try. I have many recordings in my computer but the recording standard is simply not good enough. I can't do so much about the way I play, just practice and to play more. The recording technique is harder to learn. I've been searching for recording workshops ( different types of microphones, mixer, room vs technique.... ) but classes about this I hard to find here over.

 

[dexdex]

Hey @sax panther, übercool one indeed. A great band you've got here !

 

[thomsax]

Gb concert. Eb on alto, Ab on tenor. Not that tricky, surely?

If you are a good reader and a person that was taught to play in all keys and many styles/genres Cb, Db, Gb, Ab, Eb, Bb ..... but I stuck in Rock & Roll Sax so I think and learn in sharps instead of flats. It's more natural for me. And I prefer to learn and play by ear so fingering is important.

The G# major scale: G#, A#, B#, C#, D#, E#, F## (G), G#.
The G# pentatonic scale: G#, A#, B#, D#, E#, G#.

 

[rhysonsax]

If you are a good reader and a person that was taught to play in all keys and many styles/genres Cb, Db, Gb, Ab, Eb, Bb ..... but I stuck in Rock & Roll Sax so I think and learn in sharps instead of flats. It's more natural for me. And I prefer to learn and play by ear so fingering is important.

The G# major scale: G#, A#, B#, C#, D#, E#, F## (G), G#.
The G# pentatonic scale: G#, A#, B#, D#, E#, G#.

But thinking of it as Ab (which it is) the pentatonic is: Ab Bb C Eb F.

Rhys

 

[thomsax]

But thinking of it as Ab (which it is) the pentatonic is: Ab Bb C Eb F.

Rhys

Yes, you're right. I get nervous when I hear about and see flats. For me flats is; harsh jazz conductor in black turtle neck sweater. I know, I need a doctor.

I was glad when our local SRV heroes was playing in concert D or E instead of concert Eb. For me E or F# is better than F!!

Back to Mo'Better Blues.

 

[rhysonsax]

I bought an arrangement of Mo' Better Blues done by Ronald Alphonse for saxophone quartet and have just started playing it with our saxophone quartet. It isn't one of the best charts we play but will probably stay in our repertoire.

I recorded all the parts today and took the improvised solo on tenor. It is also an early run out for a new baritone mouthpiece that arrived while I was playing this morning.

Mo Better Blues - Rhys SATB Sax Quartet V2.mp3 | Powered by Box

Rhys

 

[IllinoisJ]

Hello !
New here and beginner saxist.
Here’s my attempt. I don’t know if “song of the month” means we have a month to practice it and get a better version. I just saw this first SOTM and thought I’d give it a try. Since people are trying different keys…

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/5cpVU19dKeg?si=c7t7uoZ9Qk26Q_6K

 

[IllinoisJ]

The tune is in the ABRSM Grade 1 books, where it is in concert Bb

Unfortunately I can't open any of the links provided due to poor internet and/or country restrictions here.
My first note is a C (concert Bb), so, not sure if it means I play it in concert Bb or tenor F. It's still confusing.

What does ABRSM mean? What are these books?

 

[rhysonsax]

Unfortunately I can't open any of the links provided due to poor internet and/or country restrictions here.
My first note is a C (concert Bb), so, not sure if it means I play it in concert Bb or tenor F. It's still confusing.

What does ABRSM mean? What are these books?

Great that you have done a recording. Looking forward to hearing more.

The first note of the melody on the written music is Concert C which is the Fifth of the key signature (Concert F). If you are starting the melody on tenor C that would be tenor key of F which is Concert Eb.

All this transposing of notes, keys and chords will start to make sense when you are playing along with other people or with backing tracks.

Although it's Song (Tune) Of The Month, anyone can submit a recording during that month and any time afterwards. Some people put in multiple versions, in different styles, on different saxes or to show the progress they are making.

ABRSM is the UK's Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. Amongst other things they set the syllabus for music grades and impose consistent standards, both for in-person and online exams. I think that in the UK they were the first organisation to introduce Jazz Grades and there are music books that go with each grade containing tunes, scales etc and some have backing tracks too.

Rhys

 

[IllinoisJ]

Thank you for the answer and thanks for the encouraging (and generously forgiving) thumbs up. I can see how a SOTM can be an incentive to practice, especially if making it public. I'll try to participate in SOTM.