Watermelon Man

Well folks, here's the next exciting installment of....Martin with 'The Doc Adams Band'....Watermelon Man...recorded live...hope you like it...

View: http://soundcloud.com/martingnd/watermelon-man-1


I've got two criticisms of my own playing:

My timing could be improved in some places...I got into a habit of starting a phrase slightly ahead of the beat, which I'm trying to correct.

Also I can hear an annoying vibrato on some of the long notes...again, trying to correct it...I remember as a kid, my clarinet teacher telling me that a vibrato was not cool...but it keeps on creeping back into my playing!

Add to this list if you can.

Cheers,
Martin
 
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Nice. Bit Dexter Gordon-ish tone wise. Is that deliberate?

Also I can hear an annoying vibrato on some of the long notes...again, trying to correct it...I remember as a kid, my clarinet teacher telling me that a vibrato was not cool...but it keeps on creeping back into my playing!

It can be cool though. Of course it needs to be deliberate rather than "creeping in". My only criticism of the vibrato here is that it might be more effective if it was a bit slower.
 
Hi Martin, very nice,nothing wrong with starting phrases early so long as its intentional. In your tune here it sounds good. As for vibrato, there is nothing wrong it.It is all about taste,in that is there to much or to quick,let your ear guide you, just take control of it. Great feel to the piece and thanks for posting:welldone

Cheers

Chris
 
Hi Martin, very nice,nothing wrong with starting phrases early so long as its intentional. In your tune here it sounds good. As for vibrato, there is nothing wrong it.It is all about taste,in that is there to much or to quick,let your ear guide you, just take control of it. Great feel to the piece and thanks for posting:welldone

Cheers

Chris

Chris, thanks for your comments.

Starting the phrases ahead of the beat was deliberate, but when I heard the recording, I felt that I was over doing it....

The vibrato...I knew it was there...but it's really only when I heard the recording that I started to think it would be better to reduce or eliminate it.

I guess recording is a useful tool to help us decide what we like or dislike about our own playing.

Martin
 
Nice. I like that you're doing your own thing, less Curtis-like !! Maybe less vibrato? Your low tones are very good. What is your setup?

Thomas
 
Nice. I like that you're doing your own thing, less Curtis-like !! Maybe less vibrato? Your low tones are very good. What is your setup?

Thomas

Thanks Thomas,

As you know, my tenor is a 'The Martin' from 1947. I'm playing with a PPT9* mouthpiece and a RJS 2S reed. I only started to really like this mouthpiece when I put a soft reed on it. Playing further up the reed, to compensate for its softness seems to give me a sound that I like...plenty of roughness...the note kind of breaking up into overtones when I push it.

Martin
 
Hi Martin,
What can i say. brilliant! I love that big greasy tone you get with your Martin, reminds me of the old style rockers and r&b players. As regards the vibrato i like it, it gives you your trade mark sound, your identity even. Dont forget all the greats have some form of trademark sound, just like you do. I think your sound is awesome and i'm very picky, your doing everything great. I would recognise your sound anywhere and today where you can't tell one player from another thats a good thing. Don't lose that sound Martin your on a winner. By the way what key are you in sounds great. All the very best mate, Rob.
 

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