Stella Solo Version

m78w · #1 01-09-2012, 07:01 PM

Hey Everyone,
Was just messing around with my camera today and laid down a solo version of Stella by Starlight. Need to get a better mic but just wanted to pass it along.

YouTube Video

Thanks!

augusjazz · #2 01-09-2012, 07:42 PM

Awesome version.
You have wonderful talent.
Thank you for sharing this recording.
Greetings!

m78w · #3 01-09-2012, 07:43 PM

Thanks man, I'm going to work out that arrangement and record it for my upcoming solo album. Fun tune to play!

Ken Olmstead · #4 01-09-2012, 08:58 PM

Beautiful! Very soothing!

m78w · #5 01-09-2012, 08:58 PM

Thank Ken, appreciate that kind words.

Jazzpunk · #6 01-10-2012, 01:30 AM

Very nice Matt. Looking forward to the solo album!

jayx123 · #7 01-10-2012, 03:05 AM

beautiful, thanks for posting

Franklin52 · #8 01-10-2012, 03:18 AM

Nice Matt!

m78w · #9 01-10-2012, 08:26 AM

Thanks for checking out the video guys, glad you dug it!

Kman · #10 01-10-2012, 08:48 AM

Excellent !!

m78w · #11 01-10-2012, 08:49 AM

Thanks man!

wizard3739 · #12 01-10-2012, 09:36 AM

very nice Matt! nice Tele and a really nice arrangement. I love the way you harmonized the tune and played it with a good "feel".

wiz

m78w · #13 01-10-2012, 09:44 AM

thanks Wiz. I'm borrowing that guitar right now, a 72 Tele, from a friend. Great guitar, all original. I've played other Tele's, I have a 66 and a custom Tele from Dan Koentopp, and this one ranks as one of my favorites to play.

Glad you dug the tune, thanks for checking it out!

Jake Hanlon · #14 01-10-2012, 10:12 AM

keep us posted for that solo album man!

m78w · #15 01-10-2012, 10:44 AM

Thanks Jake! I've got 5 tunes ready to record once I get to the UK. Looking forward to recording in Manchester with all it's musical history.

Double 07 · #16 01-10-2012, 10:56 AM

That's beautiful Matt great job

Yes keep us posted on that studio album.

NSJ · #17 01-10-2012, 10:58 AM

What I love about it is that while it is an amazing arrangement in terms of degree of difficulty and all that, but the irrelevance of all that and the beauty of the tune comes out. (I almost said "piece" and not tune, sorry--I've been hearing radio ads for Russell Malone "performing works for trio" at the Chicago Symphony Center--"works for trio???"

I've become convinced that less is more is more meaningful path, if one seeks beauty and elegance in music. Even the technical difficulty of your arrangement becomes irrelevant when the beauty of the notes are allowed their proper place in the sun and truly given time and space to fully radiate, glow and ripen, as they do here. There was a great quote by Fred Hamilton on youtube that I watched and am absorbing--he was speaking of the particular issue of comping, but it seems it could almost become a sort of general principle: he said--"you can never be faulted for playing too little, but you can always be faulted for playing too much".

I feel that the "more is more" approach can be approached-but only with some initial fear and trepidation. There was a funny quote I read recently by the drummer Neil Peart, who was speaking of the recording of their new album--the producer wanted them to be more "Rush" than "Rush", and consequently, asked him to do a tom-fill using ALL of the toms in his set up. Neil quipped afterwards, "I felt so ashamed. We are not that this brash, we are humble. We are Canadians".

m78w · #18 01-10-2012, 11:06 AM

For sure NSJ. I actually sat down with that in mind, I wanted to develop an arrangement of Stella that was just the melody once through, any improv would be done within those 32 bars as well as an intro and outro, so not a typical jazz blowing idea. Then I wanted to really focus on having contrasting sections, so moments where I take detours with the chords before bringing it back to the melody.

I really enjoyed that process and appraoch, the older I get the less I care about chops, there are plenty of guys that can rip through changes, but I love just finding the right voicing and especially diggining on on rhythmic ideas right now rather than going for the chops approach.

Nothing wrong with chops, just where my head is at these days.

m78w · #19 01-10-2012, 11:15 AM

I've had a number of people email me about getting a copy of the arrangement. What I'm going to do, when I release the album I'll have a version to buy with just the audio, and one for guitarists where I'll have pdf's of the arrangements included as well. I just to check out copyright issues, but the originals will definitely be included. If I find I can't release the pdf of the Standards for whatever reason, because it's for sale, I'll just post the standard arrangements on my site with a video lesson that walks people through each tune.

Foulds Jazz Guitars · #20 01-10-2012, 12:59 PM

Some really nice changes and twists on an old favourite there. Look forward to hearing the final cut when released.

Double 07 · #21 01-10-2012, 01:23 PM

That's beautiful Matt great job

Yes keep us posted on that studio album.

m78w · #22 01-10-2012, 01:54 PM

Thanks 007 and Dan, going to be a fun record. Dan, I'll be recording it in Blue Print Studio in Manchester, I recorded a few tracks there in November, loved the room, very cool sound for guitar records.