Summertime ... and the last time]you tube video

tomjazz · Jun 21, 2008

Hi i was asked by a young player from oz to try and play this slower with no backing and with a little feeling well i her her version and tried to do the same is it any better? or is it painful to listen to i only tried this as i was in between my scale program and i thought i would have a little break and have a go.this is the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEVUnAZysTo&feature=user Thanks Tom.

Taz · Jun 21, 2008

Why is it that I always appear to be the first to comment on you videos Tom 8| Well here is my honest opinion.
You've dropped the backing on this piece and just allowed yourself to utterly SHINE through. You are showing some really sine tone and breath control. tailing notes off to almost nothing in the way you did is superb (I'm sure there is a technical Latin word for it but I don't know it.) This vid allows us to hear you, and what a great sound it is. Nice vibrato control too.
There are one or two points to work on. I can tell you what they are, but not how to cure them. The first is when you start to form the first note of a phrase, the note sounds like its being attacked and not gently coaxed from the sax.
The second point, to my ears anyway, sometimes you don't seem to cut the end of a note cleanly, it just sort of merges into the following note. I think some tonguing exercises would cure that.
On the whole though it was a pleasure to listed to just you. Well done 8)

tomjazz · Jun 21, 2008

Wow Pete, thank you very much i was not expecting that i only did it because a young girl from oz made a comment on my Summertime and said i should listen to her vid she had just done for me to show me what i should be doing. Well i thought i would try it in her style sort of thing this is her link http://www.youtube.com/user/musicnerd181357 i think i should have used a blues scale for impro but i thought i got near to her?? And Pete i know exactly what you mean about the attack on a new phrase and not cutting off properly i can and will cure that well back to scales thanks mate love your honesty bad or good.Tom

Tenor Sax · Jun 24, 2008

I would say, "Forget the young girl". A very good Example is from A gentleman I haven't heard from on this site for sometime, Crazy-Daisy-do.

Try this:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUoizkwHvik

Chris

tomjazz · Jun 24, 2008

Hi chris i had a listen he is fantastic, did you mean i should not have tried this Thanks Tom.

Taz · Jun 24, 2008

I cant speak for Chris, but I don't think the young lass was giving you a very good example. I think she was just showing off, and not very well at that. Don't get me wrong, she's a good standard, but as Chris points out, CDD is a superb example.
Keep at it friend 😉