[Michael_A]

Great choice, Bill!

 

[Michael_A]

Here is my old quick and dirty version of September 2017:

Peter, let me say one word... impressive. Killing vbrato at start (instantly noted). Then... simply crazy drive from the bottom of the player's gut. What else we need?

 

[Michael_A]

Ok - to get the ball rolling here is my first effort.

https://soundcloud.com/user-826011730%2Fmood-indigo

Bill, very good. Nice development toward the end. I have no doubt, that if you'll spend more time on this tune, something like jam on it for an hour for 5 days, you'll come with something absolutely NICE.
Don't take it as advice if it looks too much/crazy... I just know that there are some tunes that I can spend a lot of time without realizing how long I play it and have fun.

Why I am saying that because I remember your different works here on TOTM and different results.
Best.

 

[Michael_A]

Thanks Bill.

My recording actually has an example of using wrong notes because of ear playing, but correcting it by landing on the correct chord directly after that. Check the lick starting at 2:02, at 2:04-2:05 you hear the wrong notes, but the lick starting at 2:06 makes all fit again!

"When you hit a wrong note it's the next note that makes it good or bad". Miles Davis

 

[Michael_A]

Just a note: if you are playing along with Duke, it's up a whole step from the key of the provided backing track. That is, it's in Bb concert (C for tenor/sop and G for alto/bari). I think the Sinatra version is in Ab maybe, but the Duke versions (including with Louis Armstrong) are in Bb. I might dig around for a backing track that has it in Duke's key.

you can easily change the pitch using Audacity...

 

[Michael_A]

Small ball ... here we have a 10 or 12 y.o. girl playing the lead, and for me .... it's as good as it gets ... just a great version ...

so... we can close our TOTM?

 

[Michael_A]

here is my mood...

 

[Michael_A]

Wonderful Michael. I really enjoyed your note choice and embellishment of the melody. It really does feel like you have a great connection with this song and that brought a beautiful flow to your playing that made it all the more enjoyable to listen to. I will digress - I didn't enjoy the tone as much as your usual - but this is a personal opinion .

THANKS Jared! Tone ... it's not me . It's reed/mouthpiece combo . Changing, trying, like, not so... but love to play.

 

[Michael_A]

OMG Michael - that is absolutely gorgeous!

What a sound - it was like listening to Ben Webster on alto! I loved everything about it, especially the way you kept the melody front and centre, but still managed to tell your story. And what a story! Very sensual, full of beauty and happiness, but also in parts wistful and melancholy. In other words, all the feelings that this tune should inspire in us. A great version! Thank you so much for sharing it with us!

Bill

Bill, really appreciate your feedback! And it's good for me if you feel what I feel . One thing is common - we love JAZZ and SAX.

 

[Michael_A]

Here is my Take 2. Still needs work, but a definite improvement on Take 1!

Bill

https://soundcloud.com/user-826011730%2Fmood-indigo-take-2

Bill, I agree with Peter's detailed review. Nicely played tune!

 

[Michael_A]

This is more of a recording tester than a serious take (caviat !!).
My new (old) computer that I bought is too slow to run windows 10 .. and I can't get audacity to work properly .. grrr .. I need Jared the computer wiz !!
Anyway just a lot of blues licks and some altissimo attempts, none of which are in time or all that musical.

Mood Indignant :

https://soundcloud.com/brendan-sax%2Fmood-indigo

Brendan, you r back and it is already the plus. I can understand your frustration and concentration on comp probs - it's heavily reduce the result.
Check your "tester" track and identify not good points. Sure you did. Then try again to improve.
I don't provide the details because you r "big boy" and will come with a better stuff. As a little "what to drop" - packs of 16th for example...

 

[Michael_A]

Many years ago I read Mezz Mezzrow's biography 'Really the Blues'.

Bill

Bill, thanks for mentionning Mezz Mezzrow...

 

[Michael_A]

Nice Sunday day... Mood Indigo
Decided to add quick "fantasies" on EWI to my previous sax track.
Don't think it made the initial one worst than it is

 

[Michael_A]

Love the addition! The full tone added a lot to the take! They do step on each other at points though - which I am always guilty of too. Wonderful take

Thanks Jared...
no guilt it's simply a quick jam session with myself. One time "ideas" . Impossible to do exact things. If I would target to make something "exact", I would write thing and apply more logic (what you did on your recording).

I didn't jam with REAL jazz musicians. But did it often with random wedding bands (until switched to cocktails as one-man band). Was a fun time too.

 

[Michael_A]

Great addition Michael!

It created a very interesting contrast between two sounds that seemed to come from entirely seperate universes. The tone of your alto evoked a sense of the era of classic early jazz, while the EWI sounded like something from outer space. As if some hip Martian cat had arrived via flying saucer to sit in on a New Orleans cutting session!

It sounded to me like you were having a lot of fun. I thought it was fantastic, in every sense of the word!

Bill

Ha ha... I appreciate Bill, your kind words and editor's capacity - serious and humoristic one.