SOTM SOTM July 2024: Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me

[ESJohn]

I have the privilege of hosting the SOTM for the month of July. It's a few days early so that you can enjoy listening to it and thinking about what you would like to submit. I am hoping and planning on submitting my own in a week or so as we are looking at a holiday week approaching. Nigel has once again come through with some great backing tracks keyed for both professional and beginner/intermediate level players.
The selection this month is a great Duke Ellington tune that I heard a few months back and started to imagine how it would sound coming from the saxophone. I love the easy swing that conjures up an evening at a favorite restaurant or tavern with someone you love beside you. The smooth tempo of 80 provided by Nigel should help everyone to get into the groove.
Thank you and enjoy!

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

 

[ESJohn]

Here are some examples off of the internet to help you get into the mood:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx37mttC8RU

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59Rd3OucP0o

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0iCRcFOwgg

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

 

[Pete Thomas]

The ultimate version:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usCO7q3YxHM

 

[ESJohn]

And maybe another ultimate version. Ella and The Duke together!

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INJVFZK0k0I

 

[wakyct]

This horn-less version by Dr. John also has a minute plus outro, nice to play along to?

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9q5ujX9GNg

 

[ESJohn]

Oh wow! I remember listening to him sing Sylvia's mother and Cover of the Rolling Stone on my AM radio back in the 70's! I didn't know he branched out like that!

 

[Hankenstine]

Before it was known as 'Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me' it was originally composed and recorded by Duke Ellington as 'Concerto For Cootie':

View: https://youtu.be/chqPqj8CQUM?feature=shared

 

[ESJohn]

I really appreciate the information, Hankenstine! There is a link to an article about the piece and Duke Ellington on this website. I need to read it thoroughly in order to learn more about him and his music! I'd like to know when the lyrics were added, as this site mentions that it started as an instrumental (only?).

Swing & Beyond

Where Swing is King!

swingandbeyond.com

 

[rhysonsax]

A lovely studio recording by Zoot Sims with a top rhythm section:

View: https://youtu.be/8WXTqPaGBTw?si=279mq3g1mI7wPCOe


And here's the one and only Roland Kirk with vocalist Al Hibbler:

View: https://youtu.be/xuoy4n0UMAA?si=0apfAtYsEN_nbxJ8


Rhys

 

[mrpeebee]

Still no option to make new recordings here, but I have two old ones to share:

1 - From 2016 with backing track:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HU-CmGYtIrs


2 - From 2011 live with the big band I'm playing in:

View: https://youtu.be/YZszb2BvV88


My tenor solo starts just afer 1:27, but it took the camera women till the last solo-notes to find out who was playing the solo!

 

[ESJohn]

Thank you, mrpeebee! I wasn't sure that this was going anywhere.
Looks like the camera women needed to take a course in music appreciation so that they would recognize the sound of a saxophone and would point the camera toward you. You think they would have noticed that you were standing up!
Both recordings are great! It's hard for me to decide which of the two I'd like better.

 

[mrblackbat]

Here's a take from me; all critique always welcome!

Do Nothing Til You Hear From Me.mp3

drive.google.com

 

[ESJohn]

I enjoyed the improvisation, mrblackbat! Thanks for the contribution!!
What mouthpiece/reed combination did you use?

 

[trimmy]

but it took the camera women till the last solo-notes to find out who was playing the solo!

😂 she definitely thought you were a trumpet, until they removed them from their mouths !

 

[mrblackbat]

I enjoyed the improvisation, mrblackbat! Thanks for the contribution!!
What mouthpiece/reed combination did you use?

The mouthpiece is a metal 10MFan Robusto 8* (1st gen) and the reed is a Gonzalez Jazz 627 3.

Glad you liked it!

 

[mrpeebee]

You think they would have noticed that you were standing up!

I'm not that tall, that's probably the reason! 😉

 

[Jeanette]

End of the month, big thank you @ESJohn for hosting and to those who contributed.

The thread is open to any new recordings 🙂

Jx

 

[ESJohn]

My thanks go out once again to Jeanette and Nigel for the tremendous assistance provided!
A special thanks also to the contributors! You gave us all much enjoyment!
My apologies also for not contributing an entry as I had promised to do. Bad on me!