Gang-

1) A little while ago one of our members posted a video of him playing soprano sax to some tune which was very nice.

Anybody remember what the thread was titled?

2) I've posted a song on my website I would like a critique of the sax playing. Give a listen please: http://www.billcorfield.com/pf.wma

I hear a Sidney Bechet style but I personally prefer players like Branford Marsalis or even Kenny G over the Bechet style. I'm focusing on pleasantness of tone...

Feedback please...

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Bill in Dayton

[This message has been edited by Bill in Dayton (edited 05-15-2009).]

If Im beong honest it sounds like a kazoo....& its obviously too slow for a Tango. sorry.

I have to agree with Donny about the sound...it's a bit "pinched"; sort of a cross between a kazoo and an oboe...perhaps that was the effect that was intended.

The playing is actually quite good, but there are a few places where the notes sound a bit flat.

Hi Bill – You might have been referring to a couple clips I put out here. I got a curvie soprano for Xmas and have been breaking it in – I posted two links to videos I made w/that horn. Here is the link to Rio De Janeiro Blue
http://www.saxyguy.com/uploads/Rio_Movie_Small.wmv

And here’s the link to Besame Mucho:
http://www.saxyguy.com/uploads/besame_Mucho.wmv

From my experience, the soprano is one of the most challenging saxes with respect to controlling the tone. The straight horns definitely play in tune much better (the bend in the curvie’s bell separates the keys and results in lower register always playing out of tune). Sounds like the guy who played the clip you posted may have been using a metal mouthpiece. If I use a metal mouthpiece on my straight soprano, I get a bit thinner and edgier sound. I’m using a hard rubber mouthpiece and a harder reed to try to get more of a mellow sound. But for all sax players, it is always a work in progress! The guy on your clip did a good job and you’re right – his sound reminds me of Sidney Bechet who is one of the forefathers of soprano playing. Grover Washington turned it all around and put the soprano in the R&B and smooth jazz mainstream.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Randy

Bill - for FWIW, I wouldn't say it sounds like a kazoo, but it is definitely tinny. I had a sax man who had a soprano sax he could never get comfortable with and this sounds like the same sax - lol. Also, unless this was for demo purposes, I would suggest a different horn, as this sounds very oboe-like and I feel the solo deserves a little more body. I know nothing about style and have no critique regarding the playing- it was OK for me.

I expect you to be honest Donny.

As far as the tempo goes, Donny, your understanding of ballroom tempos must be different than mine. Fact of the matter is this tune was requested by a group of dancers from the Dayton Ballroom Association years ago at the exact tempo you hear on the recording. Every time we perform it the floor is packed. You also made mention of my tempo on Tennessee Waltz a few months ago, that it was too slow. It wasn't.

There are, I think regional differences in preferred dance tempos. The tempo of choice in NY metro may very likely be different than the one in Shreveport. Or the one in Pasadena or the one in Spider Breath, Utah.

Don't forget, Dayton is in the Midwest, so Country music here is huge and apparently these older ballroomers prefer an slower approach to tempos. I'm not playing for competitive ballroom dancers, who have their own set of tempos.

So, its not OBVIOUSLY too slow for anything. There's more than one right tempo for most dance styles...

BTW, Patty thought it sounded like a kazoo as well, lol...

Cheers,

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Bill in Dayton

Thank you there is not enough of it here on the SZ. NOT being honest actually makes things worse not better. There are tempo standards in professional ballroom dancing & they must be adhered to.
http://www.dancemetonight.com/dc_tempos1.htm



[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 05-16-2009).]

You just can't help yourself, can you?

Do you not read what I write? I'm not playing for professional ballroom dancers. I'm not hired for ballroom competitions. I'm playing for mostly dances that cater to crowds aged 50+, where the older attendees often just gently, slowly stroll around the floor with each other. Its sweet. Its romantic. Its great...

The local ballroom groups do have desired tempos, which when communicated to us, we provide. Are these groups professional? I doubt they're sponsored or competing in competitions, but I don't really know.

Honest to god, man...stop it with the "THIS is how XXXX must be...ANYTHING else is wrong!" crap...

You have a high knowledge level, you've got gobs of experience and plenty of talent. NO one, least of all me, questions that.

All due respect, do you have a clue how you come across to others who aren't from your neck of the woods?

Let me add this. So help me if you respond with something like, "Well, its clear to me some people really don't want honesty" or delete your posts in this thread, so help me I will drive to your house and hit you with my L1...(Just kidding!)

Jeez!

(I've hijacked my own thread, unreal!)

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Bill in Dayton

[This message has been edited by Bill in Dayton (edited 05-16-2009).]

Bill sorry to get all your feathers ruffled...your way to sensitive to criticism. There is just to much BS on the SZ regarding critique & many times people will say things just to be nice instead of saying what they really feel which in turn benefits everyone even if it hurts a bit. Or on the other hand they will listen and wont post anything which sometimes is worse.
Right or wrong you sound like you enjoy what your doing musically & you can't ask for more then that. I'm really a very nice guy but I just have to say it like it is.
Take care I'm off to a BBQ gig & then a Dinner & dance tonight...

l8tr

I don't think I'm too sensitive to criticism. When I put up my new website and directed people to my demo page, there were comments across the spectrum from loving it to disliking it. I don't recall any hissy fits on my part. I just appreciated the feedback...

I did not ask for any comments on the tempo did I? Yet you felt compelled to go off topic and post a criticism. You do this alot and its rude. It diverts attention away from what I wanted this thread to be about.

Its amazing to me that you've designated yourself as the official truth-teller on this forum.

Yes, I do love what I do. I'm incredibly fortunate to be making the living I have been, have a waiting list for clients and honestly love to go to work...

We really need to have a beer someday, pal...

Enjoy your Saturday-Sounds like a fun day...

Cheers...


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Bill in Dayton

Hi Bill

Here's a recording of Sidney Bechet doing Petite Fleur, a song he composed which was a hit in France in it's day.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1pLQNhBLmA

BTW, did you do it as a Tango?




[This message has been edited by Scott Langholff (edited 05-17-2009).]

Hey Scott-

I listened to that last night after I got home...Talented guy although I just don't care for his tone...

Yes, we do it as a tango...click on the link in the original post and you can hear it...

Thanks-

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Bill in Dayton

Is this a recording of your band?

LOL, It depends...if you liked it, then yes...

Yes, its the quartet...

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Bill in Dayton

Woops,
entered this post full of expectations, thought the topic was "Sex questions"!
Got to clean my glasses....

"Petite Fleur" always make me think of Acker Bilk.
The way that man play clarinet, wow.
"Stranger on the Shore" is one of my favourites.

Cheers
GJ

Btw,
some clips here, top right corner http://www.last.fm/music/Acker+Bilk

Bill, at my best guess I would say that the sax was not recorded properly losing a lot of the full sound/tone. When there is a problem identifying the instrument it is normally the recording.

Having said that, the rest is good. It’s good for the times it was created. Here in Florida, the home of seniors, I have heard many successful small bands playing with this type of sound catering to the people of that time. And I might add getting paid very well.

I had a conversation with another Bill of the jet set of Palm Beach years back, and he said that the older jet set will pay dearly to keep the kind of music that they are use to hearing – the kind of music they grew up with. Very little bottom and lots of treble, very much like the old 78 records.

My music had a drive to it – it took me a while to understand what they wanted. Turn the bass down and play gentle slow songs and I must agree with some of what’s being said – in general, not the song that you were playing, a snappy up tempo is desired. That might be another way of keeping them alive. (Grin) No remarks here -- I am one of them.

Good job Bill, brush up a bit on your recording skills.

IMHO John C.

Another thought on this subject.
Back in the early 90’s I met a great One Man Band. He used several keyboards to get the effect we get out of our present keyboards. He programmed his instruments – sax and clarinet, with a lot of vibrato, put them slightly out of tune and cut a good part of the bass. He repeated that thought with the rest of his keyboard.

He sounded authentic – he captured the time. A true pro.

John C.

Hi Guys - The soprano sax definitely has a very unique sound. I find that it fits nicely with lots of styles.

For Gunner Jonny - here's my version of "Stranger on the Shore".
http://www.4shared.com/file/105974637/3a2f3ba9/Stranger_on_the_Shore_-_Randy_Sherwood.html


Played this one on the straight Selmer soprano. I created the arrangement using rhythms from Band in a Box. Added my own electronic piano part as well as the pads in the background (T2). There is a some very nice guitar work in the background and a very nice guitar solo on this cut that was added by a friend of mine in Nashville. His name is David Martin. Great player!

Hope y'all like my take on Acker's great song!

Randy



[This message has been edited by saxxman (edited 05-17-2009).]

Nice job, Randy. That's a tasty guitar player, too..

Diki - thanks man! I actually did the sax part of this recording in Nashville a couple years ago at my friend's home and today I added just the pad sounds.

For those who would like to listen to this cut in "Acker Multimedia" style... I went ahead and and put together a slide show and put this song on my YouTube page:
http://www.youtube.com/user/SaxyGuyDestin

Thanks to all who give a listen and thanks again Diki! I hope your Spring is going great!

PS - David Martin is indeed a great guitar man!

Randy



[This message has been edited by saxxman (edited 05-17-2009).]

Randy,

Terrific piece,not only musically but also graphically, Nice slide show.

Stephen - thanks so much - So many "strangers" so little time.. HA HA! It was fun pulling down some images and putting the video together.

Donny - Yes, the T3 has been calling me and I have fought off responding. HA HA. That's the reason I bought the T2 (SA sax). Yammie has a great sax on the new beast. Of course, some girls would say that the T3 is not quite as cute as I am (and I'm sure it could never be truly as sweet)!!!! HA HA HA HA! Seriously, if I could get the $$$ I need out of my T2, I'd jump to move to T3 just so my saxes would have some modern day company.

Randy

T3? ah yes Randy go for it......
life is too short!!

good luck!

It isn't the dave Martin who is also a bass player? Married to Carolyn Martin? If so, I didn't know he played guitar. I've only worked with him and Carolyn while he was playing bass. Unless of course it's a different Dave Martin.

Very smooth and a lovely arrangement. Sounds good in my ears.
Yes, I like it, specially because it's not a direct Acker Bilk "wannabe" copy, but
done in a way that gives your (a bit "warm and jazzy") signature on it.
Very nice guitar as well.

Thanks for sharing.
GJ

I don't particularly like Soprano and never was too hot on Stranger on the Shore, but I'm a big "Randy" fan.

Goes to show the value of interpretation. I particularly liked the tasteful variations on the lead line.

The guitar was superb and mixed in a superior fashion....particularly the octive playing.

Randy, this is certainly national quality work.

From you, that wasn't a surprise.


Great

Russ

Guys – thanks so much for the kind words. I have a call in to my buddy Dave Chambliss in Nashville to find out if this Dave Martin is a mutual acquaintance. He works in a music store and I met him originally when Dave C arranged a great deal for me on a Clavinova – that was the bug that started the whole arranger thing for me.

GJ and Russ – I am elated that you guys like the song that much! I’m also elated that the tools we have today can allow us to put tracks together and come up with a nice sound at a fraction of what it would have cost a dozen years ago. Dave Chambliss was the wizard behind the mixing and he did a great job (a couple years ago). I hadn’t played the track in a while and after GJ’s comment yesterday I located the track and added the Yammie “Glass Pad” for a little “haunting” effect.

Again, thanks guys for the words of encouragement. Although I’m far from being a kid anymore, my excitement about the sound of the sax still keeps me grabbing for it.

Randy


[This message has been edited by saxxman (edited 05-18-2009).]

Sounds like a different Dave Martin. The dave Martin I work with owns and operates JavaJive studio.