[Johnny Padilla]

Greetings,

I am honored to be hosting September SOTW Beginners/Intermediates TOTM. Thank you Mr. PeeBee for giving me a chance.

I have chosen a composition by Michael Brecker, "African Skies", for this month. With a challenging melody and the African 6/8 feel, it should be a fun one to learn and play. Michael Brecker, recorded this composition twice. Once with "The Brecker Brothers" "Out of the Loop" and once as a leader on his recording "Tales From the Hudson" with McCoy Tyner on Piano. I am looking forward to hearing the performances. The sheet music/lead sheets are included in one file as a PDF. The music is 2 pages in the keys of C, Bb and Eb. You can print pages 1&2 for C. 3&4 for Bb and 5&6 for Eb. The backing track is JA 83.

Respectfully,

Johnny Padilla

African Skies - Brecker Brothers

African Skies - Michael Brecker

African Skies - Michael Brecker Solo

JA Backing Track Stereo
https://drive.google.com/file/d/17ZOWX8UYVc0Hs6VkYqgBvEslDEswkhAs/view?usp=sharing

JA Backing Track Binaural
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hvNtyiUnDNYeAUPkRegfdcVCaJnNuljU/view?usp=sharing

African Skies PDFs
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yjk46qs4M4zkiQaV7iXaCRDAjkiRCGGO/view?usp=sharing

 

[Alex Nyman]

Greetings,

I am honored to be hosting September SOTW Beginners/Intermediates TOTM. Thank you Mr. PeeBee for giving me a chance.

I have chosen a composition by Michael Brecker, "African Skies", for this month. With a challenging melody and the African 6/8 feel, it should be a fun one to learn and play. Michael Brecker, recorded this composition twice. Once with "The Brecker Brothers" "Out of the Loop" and once as a leader on his recording "Tales From the Hudson" with McCoy Tyner on Piano. Looking forward to the performances. The charts pdfs of C, Bb and Eb in one file. You can print pages 1&2 for C. 3&4 for Bb and 5&6 for Eb. The backing track is JA 83.

Respectfully,

Johnny Padilla

Great choice Johnny.

 

[mrpeebee]

Thanks for picking up the hosting task and for picking the tune and preparing all the details Johnny, it's much appreciated.

I added this month B&I TOTM to the index thread:
https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showt...f-the-Month)-INDEX-since-January-2010-onwards

Looking forward to another good B&I TOTM month.

 

[J-Moen]

Oh man this one is going to be a lot of fun! Excited to make my first TOTM recordings in the new house, and this'll be a great one to get started on! Good choice Johnny!

 

[Alex Nyman]

Although this is the B/I TOTM thread I offer my take on this Brecker track that I hope doesn't offend anyone as I'm not exactly a beginner but I know there is a lot of cross posting from various players but if this doesn't fit within the parameters of this thread then maybe Peter can move it or delete it.

Here is my take https://soundcloud.com/alex-nyman-759436259%2Fafrican-skies-brecker
Just by way of explanation it's just Tenor and Soprano however I've used a filter pedal on the Soprano in the solo during the 4 repeat sections.

Thank for listening if you have time.

Best, Alex

 

[Brendan]

Fantastic version Alex ! Love that soprano wah and the Brecker-ish tenor.
I'm glad you posted this ... I was having trouble getting Brecker's version and the lead sheet to line up.

The hardest part for me is the timing - can't really count, have to go by feel. :evil:
The backing track conspires to throw me off at every turn !! :mrgreen:

 

[Johnny Padilla]

Alex,
Yeah baby,that was killin’. Love what you did with the tune, great concept and feel. Now that’s the way to get the ball rolling.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Alex Nyman]

Fantastic version Alex ! Love that soprano wah and the Brecker-ish tenor.
I'm glad you posted this ... I was having trouble getting Brecker's version and the lead sheet to line up.

The hardest part for me is the timing - can't really count, have to go by feel.

The backing track conspires to throw me off at every turn !!

Yes. I know the feeling. But you can count in 4 too. J counts in 6. Either way listening to Mike enough times will help. Thanks for listening Brendan. Much appreciated as always.

 

[Alex Nyman]

Alex,
Yeah baby,that was killin'. Love what you did with the tune, great concept and feel. Now that's the way to get the ball rolling.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks Johnny! Glad you liked it. Always a pleasure to work on Mike's compositions.

 

[billpf]

Here is my take

Just by way of explanation it's just Tenor and Soprano however I've used a filter pedal on the Soprano in the solo during the 4 repeat sections.

Thank for listening if you have time.

Best, Alex

That is an awesome version Alex! Really impressive on so many levels - great playing of course, but the way you have layered different sounds and instruments is amazing, and it completely captures the spirit of the piece. Great work!

Bill

 

[Michael_A]

Thanks Johnny! Glad you liked it. Always a pleasure to work on Mike's compositions.

Alex, great performance... Did you have a chance to see/meet Michael Brecker? I have a feeling that you might have some story (just because you call him Mike).

 

[Alex Nyman]

Here is my take

Just by way of explanation it's just Tenor and Soprano however I've used a filter pedal on the Soprano in the solo during the 4 repeat sections.

Thank for listening if you have time.

Best, Alex

That is an awesome version Alex! Really impressive on so many levels - great playing of course, but the way you have layered different sounds and instruments is amazing, and it completely captures the spirit of the piece. Great work!

Bill

Thank you Bill. Very kind.

 

[Alex Nyman]

Thanks Johnny! Glad you liked it. Always a pleasure to work on Mike's compositions.

Alex, great performance... Did you have a chance to see/meet Michael Brecker? I have a feeling that you might have some story

(just because you call him Mike).

Hi Michael. Yes I did meet Mike in NZ when he came over about 15 years ago. Incredibly unassuming and modest. Thoughtful. A man of true musical integrity and someone who inspired me then as he did back when I first heard him in '76 and who continues to inspire me today. Thanks for listening as always. Best, Alex

 

[mrpeebee]

Although this is the B/I TOTM thread I offer my take on this Brecker track that I hope doesn't offend anyone as I'm not exactly a beginner but I know there is a lot of cross posting from various players but if this doesn't fit within the parameters of this thread then maybe Peter can move it or delete it.

Here is my take https://soundcloud.com/alex-nyman-759436259%2Fafrican-skies-brecker
Just by way of explanation it's just Tenor and Soprano however I've used a filter pedal on the Soprano in the solo during the 4 repeat sections.

Thank for listening if you have time.

Best, Alex

Alex, you captured the Brecker vibe very well in your recording. Only difference (in my tubby ears) is that you sound more mellow (less bright/piercing!) compared to MB.

Did you have a chance to see/meet Michael Brecker?

I've seen him several times at concerts at the North Sea Jazz Festival here in NL (1980's and 90;s), but don't have much stories. I actually always left those concerts after one or two numbers to go to other (for me more interesting) concerts. I'm not a fan of Michael Brecker at all, but recognize the man's greatness!. This festival is also huge, having parallel sessions at about ten stages in the same building at the same time, so there is always something happening in every style somewhere!

You can easily find some live registrations of Mike's concerts at North Sea Jazz Festivals on YouTube if you're interested (often with his brother Randy).

 

[Alex Nyman]

Although this is the B/I TOTM thread I offer my take on this Brecker track that I hope doesn';t offend anyone as I';m not exactly a beginner but I know there is a lot of cross posting from various players but if this doesn';t fit within the parameters of this thread then maybe Peter can move it or delete it.

Here is my take https://soundcloud.com/alex-nyman-759436259%2Fafrican-skies-brecker
Just by way of explanation it';s just Tenor and Soprano however I';ve used a filter pedal on the Soprano in the solo during the 4 repeat sections.

Thank for listening if you have time.

Best, Alex

Alex, you captured the Brecker vibe very well in your recording. Only difference (in my tubby ears) is that you sound more mellow (less bright/piercing!) compared to MB.

Did you have a chance to see/meet Michael Brecker?

I've seen him several times at concerts at the North Sea Jazz Festival here in NL (1980's and 90;s), but don't have much stories. I actually always left those concerts after one or two numbers to go to other (for me more interesting) concerts. I'm not a fan of Michael Brecker at all, but recognize the man's greatness!. This festival is also huge, having parallel sessions at about ten stages in the same building at the same time, so there is always something happening in every style somewhere!

You can easily find some live registrations of Mike's concerts at North Sea Jazz Festivals on YouTube if you're interested (often with his brother Randy).

Thanks Peter. As they say in German "Alles Geschmachsache"" and that (for me at least) sums up all art forms. I'm looking forward to other players interpretations of this composition. Thanks for listening.

 

[mrpeebee]

Thanks Peter. As they say in German "Alles Geschmachsache"" and that (for me at least) sums up all art forms.

"Jawohl" Alex!

 

[Taragot]

Ok, Alex did it again - FANTASTIC VERSION! The Tenor sound great and the the soprano through the pedal is a very attractive option. Great singing lines, as always.

Now something different - I try to get into split screen videos, and as you can see I'm a beginner in this artform. I'm glad when everything is more or less in sync and if one sees several pictures. I want to do some arrangements with only flutes and percussion - so this is a rather free version of african skies with bassflute and some african percussion instruments (there is a log drum on the recording, but I lost the video somehow).

PS: Alles Geschmackssache - I love the swedish saying: "Smaken derlig some baken - delat" (without any spelling). It means: Taste is like the butt - divided.
PSS: Thank you for preparing such an inspiring TOTM, Jonny!

 

[Alex Nyman]

Ok, Alex did it again - FANTASTIC VERSION! The Tenor sound great and the the soprano through the pedal is a very attractive option. Great singing lines, as always.

Now something different - I try to get into split screen videos, and as you can see I'm a beginner in this artform. I'm glad when everything is more or less in sync and if one sees several pictures. I want to do some arrangements with only flutes and percussion - so this is a rather free version of african skies with bassflute and some african percussion instruments (there is a log drum on the recording, but I lost the video somehow).

PS: Alles Geschmackssache - I love the swedish saying: "Smaken derlig some baken - delat" (without any spelling). It means: Taste is like the butt - divided.
PSS: Thank you for preparing such an inspiring TOTM, Jonny!

That's a great track and video Taragot. I love your interpretation. Great percussion work to set up a very cool vibe and some very nice Bass flute work. The overblown and lip buzz works very well. Highly imaginative and very well executed. And the Swedish saying is going to the top of my list. Apologies for the spelling of the German words. My opportunities to speak German are few and to write even less so. Thank you for sharing such an excellent video. Best, Alex

 

[Johnny Padilla]

Taragot,
Wow, that is beautiful, so soulful and organic. SOTW has so many talented people, Bravo. Bass flute is a great choice.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mrpeebee]

Now something different - I try to get into split screen videos, and as you can see I'm a beginner in this artform. I'm glad when everything is more or less in sync and if one sees several pictures. I want to do some arrangements with only flutes and percussion - so this is a rather free version of african skies with bassflute and some african percussion instruments (there is a log drum on the recording, but I lost the video somehow).

Very nice Taragot, well done!