[Michael Ward]

http://tvtotal.prosieben.de/tvtotal...ntId=123850&initialTab=sendung&showId=1672-00

Here is my composition " Now's the Time" being played live 4 days ago on a German TV show. The studio band are pretty good I think and the excellent horns are faithful to my arrangement except no bari ( played by me on the record) replaced by bone. I like the tenor ad libs and trumpet screamer at the end replacing my tenor.

Tony's singing some crazy lyrics I don't remember writing though he gets it together later!

Maybe only available to download in Europe I don't know.

 

[DD]

Nice work Michael. Sounds very Tom Jones-ish, which isn't at all a bad thing!

 

[Michael Ward]

Thankyou for the kind words. I tried to write a 1960's Sammy Davis type tune but I like Tom's early music too.
I've never been to Vegas or seen Sammy live but I was trying to imagine Sammy Davis in Vegas circa the mid 60's..that swinging soulful vibe.Tony loves Sammy Davis so I got hold of some music he did and immersed myself in it. Bobby Darren was another influence on the album.

 

[Kritavi]

That was great Mike. It brought to mind two of the swingingest cats of all.

 

[saxphil]

That was great Mike. It brought to mind two of the swingingest cats of all.

You betcha!

Tony's more Neil Diamond, Tom Jones is kinda special.

The band's really cookin'.

 

[Michael Ward]

That was great Mike. It brought to mind two of the swingingest cats of all.

I really enjoyed that...like a scene from a great Scorsese film. Wonderful , surreal..I wish I'd been there. I wish Tony still dressed like that..he used to..and the band were suited and booted instead of dressed down...times have changed.

 

[Michael Ward]

You betcha!

Tony's more Neil Diamond, Tom Jones is kinda special.

The band's really cookin'.

Yes Tom is great . I respect Tony a lot though. He's 66 or 67 and he's still touring and making credible records that sell and will be for a long time. I had a lot of fun making this album and we've had excellent reviews and plaudits from the critics. This music is my background too and it was just great recreating the " Sound" I ended up doing the majority of the record with Jarvis Cocker writing a track that fits in beautifully.
I worked on his previous album too that was more string led and produced by Richard Hawley.
I wrote the " hit" on that album. " Every Word She Said" It did really well in Europe and on the radio here. Here he's doing it live on some European TV show to a very appreciative audience.

 

[ismail]

One thing though...did anything strike you as unusual about the drummer's counting in?

 

[Michael Ward]

Yes something's going on there but the intro is pretty good. I like the bass player a lot...he's really driving it.

 

[Kritavi]

Tony had that kind of pizazz that is really old school and its own kind of authentic. I watched it again and really enjoyed his style as well as the bigness of the production on your tune.Great work Mike!

 

[Dr_sax]

Great song Michael. I love this style of music. By the way the sax player is Thorsten Skringer, a friend of mine.

 

[Michael Ward]

Thanks Jim. Man you're up early or in late! Tony is from my hometown and has done everything. Had number one hits, owned glitzy nightclubs been on TV regularly since the early 70's...he's old school and a trooper. Very modest and quite shy too with a great sense of humour..not too PC... I like that because I work with a lot of younger people too and it's different. Tony came up through the ranks and paid his dues big time. I can't quite put my finger on it but I like craft myself and it's not always evident.

 

[Michael Ward]

Great song Michael. I love this style of music. By the way the sax player is Thorsten Skringer, a friend of mine.

Thanks Doc. I thought you would know the players. I like his tenor ad libs at the end and the section is tight.