All Blues

I was able to upload the file from home. Let's see some constructive comments!

All Blues

Sorry, but the network has prevented me from uploading the recording we made of all blues. I sent in a request to get the site unblocked. Check back later. Until then, how about a discussion about a new name for our group? Thanks. Mr. Rabuse

The Marketplace gig

Sorry i was only able to record the second set. I present all of those recordings here. The second set was the most fun. I think you all were relaxed and out of the music- much more right-brained than the first set. That said, the first set was more precise in the melody sections (Groovin' High for example). I just don't think the solos opened up as much (Groovin' High for example). Your opener (Nutville) was outstanding, but you were all a little nervous, and still a little rattled from just arriving 10 minutes before the downbeat. Don't forget, even if you personally arrive on time, a band member arriving late might make the other band members who arrived on time nervous, and no one wants to start a show feeling nervous. West Coast Blues I'm Gonna Find Another you: Sweet Pea: Sunny: A Night In Tunisia: Shuffle In F

Marketplace Lessons

Good gig everyone. Playing out live is tough, and you all pulled through. However, I am your teacher, and I feel as if I need to point out a few things that could be improved: #1. Get to the gig an hour early. I still do this and I'm 40 years old. The reasons for this abound. Mostly, they are centered around the unpredictable chaos that erupts in live situations. An extra hour before showtime gives you time to resolve these little issues. One time, I arrived at a gig that was at an outside arena- a park. We were supposed to play in a gazebo and they assured me they had power. Of course they did, but the power source was 50 feet away from the gazebo. Since I was an hour early, I had time to find a hardware store, buy an extension cord and have a successful gig. Even if you arrive early and everything is perfect, you now have the opportunity to relax- and what's wrong with that? Won't you play better if you're relaxed? You owe it to yourself, your audience and whoever is paying you to be relaxed when you begin. There is another reason to arrive early. If you noticed what I was doing when I got there, I was hanging out in front of the cafe chatting. This creates a scene. Scenes are good. People are driving by looking at a growing group of people in front of the venue and take interest. (Also note, as nice as it is to park in front of the gig to unload, you probably should move your car after you unload to make room for paying customers. Don't worry, they'll leave before you and you can have your parking space back to reload. It's just a professional courtesy to the owner of the venue.) Anyway, on the topic of the owner, when you arrive early make sure you talk to the owner when you arrive. It's good to make face to face contact so that the owner puts a face with your name after the inevitable email and phone call exchange that took place before your face to face meeting. Ask yourself- did you meet Kim? Did you learn the names of the folks working there? Would you recognize them if you ran into them elsewhere in the Berkshires? Introduce yourself. Be professional. #2. Bring back up gear. This is a tricky one because I realize you are high school students and (a.) don't own a lot of gear and (b.) May not even drive. However, since we have reached this level of achievement where you are out playing live music, it's time you learned the ropes of gear. Never assume that there will be equipment for you to use. Even if the club owner says so. 100% of the time the amp that he or she will provide will disappoint you. That said, if you know the venue and are happy with their P.A. system then fine. First time playing there? bring your own just in case. In the trunk of my car I have a power strip a ground lift plug and a spare instrument cable. I wish I had a spare XLR to 1/4 jack plug, and the next time I'm at the music store, I'm buying one. Also, if you will be using school equipment in the future, do not assume that I will bring it for you. If you need some piece of gear then it is your responsibility to physically put it into a vehicle that will be going to the gig. I realize I didn't tell you this before. Consider it a new rule. #3 Print the set list. This sounds obvious, but the leader of the group is responsible for printing the set list. I'll take responsibility for this one, but I did provide the list on Google docs and edits to my original were made. A final draft should have been printed. A few things were spot on: #1. You looked awesome. I lost count of the number of people (many of whom I didn't know) commented on your appearance and the way you presented yourselves onstage. #2.Being out of the sheet music was huge. Bravo! There was minimal usage, and it didn't detract at all from your performance. There's nothing worse to look at than a bunch of people on stage reading music at a jazz/blues/rock gig. Granted, some arrangements are very complex and require sheet music (big bands, etc) but we don't play arrangements that are that complicated. If you have to read it, then you don't know the tune, and I'm not paying good money to hear you play a song you don't know. Nice job on committing the tunes to memory. #3 Communication within the band members during the performance. Once again- spot on. Case in point- A Night In Tunisia. When Joe left the stage because he felt sick, you guys launched into a trading 4's thing that was great. Be like that all the time. Last comment: The best tunes of the night were Nutville and Summertime. Part of the reason for this was you had performed them live before when you were already comfortable with them. This allows you to relax with the tunes and be more expressive. You decided to cut I'll Remember April probably because you aren't comfortable with it. I'll back this up by adding that you replaced it with Calliente Blues- a tune that you had successfully executed in a live situation at the Milltown. My advice is to get ALL of your music to the comfort level of Nutville. Understand the way the tune works. Get inside the chord changes. Memorize the melody. Don't use "I don't like the tune" as an excuse. Most of the time (remember) I give you a new piece you hate it (Tunisia) or can't play it (I'm gonna find another you). In the end, once you study the piece, you end up liking it. You don't know what you like- you like what you know. I'm proud of all of you and looking forward to next year, and the wedding gig this summer. See you in class this week! Mr. Rabuse

Set List

Hey band, Here's a Google docs link to a proposed set list for Friday. Please feel free to edit, add or subtract songs. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MZMX61LVXFG8vlx91ekglm6ZjfHeaPUTLN9cxJcNkvY/edit You can add: Basie's Blues Duke's Convoy Caliente Blues Bossa at Night Shufflin' in F if you like, but I think we have enough in the proposed list if everyone solos, and takes a few choruses on tunes that they feel comfortable on.

Nutville

The whole form twice for practice:


A complete take (BTW nice interplay between bass and drums).

Summertime Chords

Voila!

Sweet Pea

One time through the form. let's try to keep this one slow. Check out the origial my Amos Lee when you can.

A Night In Tunisa Practice Files

The A section:


The B section:

West Coast Blues Practice Files

The 1st section:

Starting at Bar 11

The whole tune at a slow tempo:

West Coast Blues 2

Compare away!

west Coast Blues

The Melody is a little weak.



Hopefully, we can compare this one with an improved version.

A Night In Tunisia

The memory ran out of the SD card near the end, but we got all of the solos on here.

Misterioso Take 2

Our second take of Misterioso. I want to smooth out the transition of melody to solo section. The double time needs to maintain the same tempo. I worked with Chris right after class, and I think he's got it. Comment away!

Misterioso

Improvisation

You should all watch this wideo. Sometimes, it's really effective to hear someone other than me talk about jazz improvisation.
http://tedxtalks.ted.com/video/TEDxRochester-Christopher-Azzar

Introductions and Shuffle in F

Great job last night everyone. I'm very proud of all of you. There are many lessons to be learned in the files that follow and from the whole experience of performing live without a net. Comment away!

The introductions go from 0:00 to 1:12

Bossa at Night

Take The A Train

Duke's Caravan

All The Things You Are

Cantaloupe Island

Summertime

Nutville

Groovin' High

Basie's Blues

I'm Gonna Find Another You

Mist and Grits

Sunny

Caliente Blues

A Train

With intro:

Monday 2/13

Please please please review all of your melody parts! Just because we haven't played a tune in a while doesn't mean you get to forget how it goes. We can't possibly play every song in it's entirety in class every class session so the burden of keeping these songs fresh falls on your own shoulders. That's what set lists are for- review the songs on the list on your own.

That said, we'll do a set up for the gig and some rehearsal at the First Congregational Church at 3:00. It's the big stone church across from the St. Agnes School at 415 Main Street in Dalton.

Take The A Train

We did two recordings of Take the A Train today.

Set list for Saturday, February 18

Our rehearsal went well today. Here are my observations:
1. New ending to Nutville is good. We need to bring Dom and Chris up to speed on how we are ending it, and Catherine needs to work on the bridge.
2. Steady the tempo in Shuffle in F
3. Review the melody to Caliente Blues
4. Put Prince Charming back into the set.

Please review all of these songs:

Set 1
Shuffle in F
Bossa at Night
Take the A Train
Duke's Convoy
All The Things You Are
Cantaloupe Island

Set 2
Nutville
Groovin' High
Basie's Blues
Mist and Grits
I'm Gonna Find Another You
Sunny


Encore(s)
Caliente Blues
Prince Charming

I'm Gonna Find Another You 3

This is sounding much better. Good drumming and guitar fills. I like the balance in the horns- you guys could play out a little more in the third verse.

Cantaloupe Island

From our set list. It's been a while, so It was good to refresh it.

I'm Gonna Find Another You- take 2

Duke's Convoy Friday 1/27

Overall, this sounded okay. I would like to hear some work done on the auxilliary percussion though.

I'm Gonna Find Another You

And you didn't think I hit the record button...

Groovin' High

The A section and 1st ending:


A section and 2nd ending:

All The Things Rehearsal Files

The last 12 bars:

The Bridge:

The 2nd 8 bars:

The first 8 bars:

All The Things You Are

Our first attempt...

Groovin' High

Not a bad run through for your first recording. keep in mind that these are tough chord changes to solo on.