Practical Standards Group -- "Round Midnight"

[wizard3739]

This is my version of "Round Midnight". I alway struggle with melody line for this song. The backing track is BIAB Bill Evans trio style with a 2 bar intro, 4 choruses and a standard 2 bar ending. Although I played this one by ear, I hear mostly Eb minor sounds for it. The first chorus is me comping the other 3 are improv. Sorry for the noisy background, my video approach isn't ready yet. All comments are helpful to me, please review this and give me your thoughts.

wiz

round midnight improv..mp3 - File Shared from Box.net - Free Online File Storage

[Kman]

Here's my attempt:


http://www.box.net/shared/dmo4ecreks0apa9104jr

[wizard3739]

very nice, Kman! I love your tone and the octaves added a lot at just the right time. I must listen to your good improv again to pick up some of your nice lines. Thanks very much for posting.

wiz

[jayx123]

here is my attempt at this done a while back:
roundmidnight.mp3 - File Shared from Box.net - Free Online File Storage

[jayx123]

Wiz nice job it gets better as the improv progresses
Kman - I couldn't access the link :-(

[wizard3739]

Thanks Jay, I'm still not real comfortable with my improv on the song. You have submitted a very nice uptempo version. I especially like the chord melody from the first chorus. Thanks for posting.

wiz

[brwnhornet59]

Good job guys. K-man I could not access you link either.

[morroben]

Wow...I'm starting to second guess the idea of posting a version. I really enjoyed these.
Wiz...yours really picked up steam along the way. The improv was great. The stuff around the 6:30+ mark especially. You mentioned struggling with the melody to this song, and I do too. I've only had a small chance to play with it, but the melody isn't coming easy.
K-man, I'm having trouble accessing yours, too.
Jay, that was great. You move between single notes and chords really well. I almost wish the backing track wasn't there at the beginning. The improv was great too, but chord melody is what I'm focusing on, so that beginning really grabbed my attention.
Really good stuff guys. I spent some time on this song last night, and I must admit, it's not coming easy. Hopefully I'll be able to get something together in a timely manner...and hopefully it won't suck too bad.

[the*doctor]

Awesome! These are great. I was especially impressed by Kman's version. It was so smooth

[Kman]

This is my version of "Round Midnight". I alway struggle with melody line for this song. The backing track is BIAB Bill Evans trio style with a 2 bar intro, 4 choruses and a standard 2 bar ending. Although I played this one by ear, I hear mostly Eb minor sounds for it. The first chorus is me comping the other 3 are improv. Sorry for the noisy background, my video approach isn't ready yet. All comments are helpful to me, please review this and give me your thoughts.

wiz

round midnight improv..mp3 - File Shared from Box.net - Free Online File Storage

Wiz, I listened to yours and there are some really nice moments in it, especially when you played off the melody. You're on the verge. I would keep practicing the song. You have a nice sound and touch.

[Kman]

here is my attempt at this done a while back:
roundmidnight.mp3 - File Shared from Box.net - Free Online File Storage

Nice job Jay. I enjoyed the up tempo version and you play the melody perfectly.

[jayx123]

10x guys
Kman I finally could hear you take, I really like your minimalistic approach.

[mr. beaumont]

Here's mine...

+

Hope you all enjoy.

Really enjoyed what I heard so far...Howie, I love that tone...I also like the way you record these with the comping then the solo or melody...very informative...

Kman, what can I say? great feel...really captures what this tune is all about.

Jay, I missed yours, I'm gonna go back and check it out now.

[mr. beaumont]

AH, jay that was great...all kinds of cool chords going on...really liked when the single note line kicked in too, good strong entrance, fat, fat, tone...

[brwnhornet59]

Very nice Mr B!

[jayx123]

Mr B! that was beautiful.
What guitar are you playing on?

[Kman]

That was very nice Jeff. Good dynamics. You brought it up nicely and then back down. A lot of variety, very interesting. I'll be listening to that again.

[wizard3739]

very nice chord melody Mr. B! I really like how your bass lines always seem to be in the right place to augment the sound of your nice chord voicings. That is a nice looking Kay, and you give the sound it deserves. Sounds like it would great to use behind a singer.

wiz

[mr. beaumont]

Thanks gents.

Yeah Jay, that's my Kay "Master Cutaway," whith a DeArmond "Guitar Mike" pickup, which I actually bought from a forum member a year or so ago (who also had a Hofner New Pres. I should have bought that day too, but I digress..)

It's a really cool guitar...fattest neck I've ever seen (but narrow nutwidth) and tiny little frets...it's not the easiest guitar to play that I own, but it's sound is worth it--plug it into a tube amp (I used a princeton in this recording) and it's an instant classic jazz tone...I felt like it was a perfect guitar to play this tune on...

And yeah Howie, it's killer for backing up a singer...makes me feel all Barney Kessel.

[ESCC]

[quote=mr. beaumont;155867]Here's mine...

+

Hope you all enjoy.

Jeff,

Loved it! Very ascertive in your approach, just great.

[the*doctor]

Mr Beaumont, FLAWLESS! That was so nice man

[M-ster]

Nice, Jeff.

[mr. beaumont]

Thanks again you guys...

Hopefully we'll get a few more and then we can discuss this one...there's so many ways to harmonize this tune...I know "my way" is different than the real book, which is different from howie's chart which is different from other charts I've seen...

Just one of the best tunes ever written, imho...

[morroben]

You guys are fast! And good! I'm still trying to get this song together.
Really nice, Jeff....great playing and great tone. I like the way I can hear the separate movements of the bass and melody...doesn't just sound like chords rolling by. I'm hoping you'll make a chord melody lesson for your website someday.
KMan, I was able to get yours to play today. Great playing, and the tone and feel added even more. I think it's the most "smokey bar room" version so far. That's how I always think of this song, so I enjoyed it a lot.

[fep]

Sorry guys, I haven't listened to your takes on this tune... yet. I want to try to do my own first and I don't want to be influenced - yet. I'm not going to listen to Monks version either... yet. (I'm still trying to get a recording set-up going at the Hospital, on my wifes old laptop, with a Squier Strat, and I have be to fairly quiet, I'm in the hospital grounds studio apartments now)

In the meantime I thought I'd post my analysis hoping this might start a discussion. Underneath the systems, I wrote in the way I like to think of things when the standard jazz analysis doesn't do it for me. It's really about how I'm hearing where the progressions are going.

Oops forgot the obvious... This is an A A B A, each section being 8 measures long.

Edit: Made some corrections




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[Kman]

Sorry to hear your are in the hostpital Fep. Get well soon. At least you have your guitar with you.

[23skidoo]

fep-

Thanks for the chart. Each tune you guys tackle I download the sheet or find it in the fake book and hack my way through it..... just starting out, might eventually get to something worth posting, but I always enjoy these threads. It's especially nice when there is a more in depth discussion of some of the choices made and the theory behind the different styles. This sheet is invaluable for a newbie like me on a more complicated piece like this. It's genuinely appreciated.

Great job, guys, I've really enjoyed everyone's take so far. Keep the recordings coming (as he retreats back to lurking distance....)

[wizard3739]

Good job Frank, your analysis looks spot on to me. I think mostly in terms of eb minor with many opportunities to slip outside briefly and also use some interesting chord subs. The melody line is so strong that my ear tells me to play around with it or harmonize lines around it.

wiz

[fep]

Sorry to hear your are in the hostpital Fep. Get well soon. At least you have your guitar with you.

Hey Kman, just got back from the Dr appointment and just got good news. It seems my bone marrow transplant is started to kick in and producing blood and no cancer, I'm approaching six months at the hospital and it looks like I may finally be going home soon. Fingers are crossed.

[mr. beaumont]

Damn, frank that would be great news...positive (swingin') vibes sent your way.