September 2018 - Laura

[M-ster]

Our standard for Sep 2018 will be Laura (David Raksin, Johnny Mercer, 1945).

Background:
Jazz Standards Songs and Instrumentals (Laura)

[joe2758]

one of my top five for sure— look forward to watching this thread (i don’t think i’ll be able to submit though)

[mr. beaumont]

Let's kick this off...I just recently did it in two keys...

My favorite standard, I think...

[joe2758]

Jeff, how do you do that?

[ragman1]

I'll tell you. Some people are classical, some people are folk, others are blues, country... and some are jazz. Jeff is jazz. That's how he does it.

[kris]

I'll tell you. Some people are classical, some people are folk, others are blues, country... and some are jazz. Jeff is jazz. That's how he does it.

And I wouldn't even hope to presume...

I am classical,I am folk,I am blues... and I love jazz!!!

[mr. beaumont]

Jeff, how do you do that?

The modulation?

[ragman1]

His comment might just have been rhetorical...

[joe2758]

oh i dunno, it was probably mostly rhetorical. i guess it was regarding the apparent effortlessness that’s always in your playing

[ragman1]

i guess it was regarding the apparent effortlessness that’s always in your playing

Thank you! Oh, you meant Jeff...

Only joking. I know, he's embarrassingly good. I wouldn't mind if he did tell us 'how he did it'. He'd probably just say play the tune with some chords and fills - but it's how you do it, of course. Point is, he has a natural understanding of the jazz idiom. Personally, I think that's something one has or doesn't have. In that respect I admit to being a complete imposter. But I can do other stuff...

The grass is always greener

[joe2758]

The grass is always greener

true! in fact, i think it was the great sony rollins who said something like, and i’m just paraphrasing here, “i would trade it all in if i could peel a mango as fast as joe2758 and take ct scans.”

edit: sorry i get sarcastic when im depressed

[mr. beaumont]

Thank you! Oh, you meant Jeff...

Only joking. I know, he's embarrassingly good. I wouldn't mind if he did tell us 'how he did it'. He'd probably just say play the tune with some chords and fills - but it's how you do it, of course. Point is, he has a natural understanding of the jazz idiom. Personally, I think that's something one has or doesn't have. In that respect I admit to being a complete imposter. But I can do other stuff...

The grass is always greener

Well, now I'm blushing and all...

So really, "how I do it," is play the damn song hundreds of times...I also make it a point to learn the melody of a tune and the harmony separate, AND together...together, even if I'll never really play it like that.

I post a lot of off the cuff stuff where I look a lot less comfortable, I think

But a tune like Laura, that I like so much...It's probably not an exaggeration to say I've played it a thousand times...and I still don't feel like I completely own it...I still find new things in it, especially like here, when I did the key change...songs take on a whole new character when you change key.

But thanks for the warm fuzzies...but remember, I'm also just a dude who plays in his living room most of the time for the audience of a 4 year old and 6 year old and a dog. So to hear people are enjoying what I'm playing, well, that's just really cool. So thanks.

[joe2758]

I still find new things in it, especially like here, when I did the key change...songs take on a whole new character when you change key.

I guess to sum up what I'm envious of, Jeff, is that it seems you can come up with new stuff while you're playing through the tune in real time. I can come up with ideas, and even ideas I really like, but it's like "okay well stop everything and let me figure out how to do this. Okay now I'll practice it like a classical musician so I can physically play it in time." Your way of playing and discovering must be more enjoyable.

[ragman1]

Well, now I'm blushing and all...

Well, you have two groupies now...

But the thing is, like I said, it's the authentic jazz 'feel' that you end up with. That's the point. I know it when I hear it but I don't hear it first, if you see what I mean. It's not in the head. Don't say 'listen to lots of stuff', I already do (not in order to copy, though).

I think those guys' brains are different from mine; yours is too, probably.

I'm a great believer in brains, you know

[lawson-stone]

Let's kick this off...I just recently did it in two keys...

My favorite standard, I think...

Wow. I’m so glad to know Jim Hall is still with us. Seriously the whole first half kept making me wonder if you sound like him, or maybe he sounds like you!

Superb.


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[joe2758]

anways heres mine from around the same time jeff did that one in case anyone was intimidated to follow that haha

[kris]

My favorite take:

[dogletnoir]

i am lo fi...

[dogletnoir]

i will probably have another go at this before the month is out, but here's a slightly straighter attempt
from about 3 years ago, just for the sake of comparison:

[joe2758]

they all sound nice, black dog. good work

[John A.]

I also did this in the chord-melody study group. My take was a bit on the lugubrious side, and I think I prefer others' more uptempo approaches. I don't know the tune all that well, and feel like I should take another (different) crack at it.

John

[joe2758]

. My take was a bit on the lugubrious side

one man's lugubrious is another man's opposite of whatever that means

[kris]

Very nice version:

[ragman1]

[joe2758]

i like to reduce it to bare bones and then overcomplicate it myself

[mr. beaumont]

anways heres mine from around the same time jeff did that one in case anyone was intimidated to follow that haha

I like all the movement you're adding under the melody...cool.

My critique would be that sometimes it seems you're searching for a clever chord to harmonize things with instead of allowing the melody to do its thing.

[mr. beaumont]

i will probably have another go at this before the month is out, but here's a slightly straighter attempt
from about 3 years ago, just for the sake of comparison:

I I ike the straight rhythm...it's like smoth jazz, but actually jazz nice relaxed playing.

(I quoted the wrong part of your post, but I dig the solo version too)

[mr. beaumont]

I also did this in the chord-melody study group. My take was a bit on the lugubrious side, and I think I prefer others' more uptempo approaches. I don't know the tune all that well, and feel like I should take another (different) crack at it.

John

Nice space and pacing...and some nice crunchy choices in the harmony.

[joe2758]

I like all the movement you're adding under the melody...cool.

My critique would be that sometimes it seems you're searching for a clever chord to harmonize things with instead of allowing the melody to do its thing.

but clever harmony is all i have left! lol

yeah you’re right thanks man

[John A.]

I've been playing around with other approaches, and am liking it a bit faster. I still need to hold the tempo, stop clicking the pup with the pick, and not hide imploded endings with fade-outs, but am getting there

So is the idea behind this group (i.e., showing progress with a tune)?

John

[Hatim]

Here is mine.
I got lost in the 2nd half of the solo.
And I find it really difficult to play an arrangment on a Stratocaster, the chords are so much louder than single notes. But anyway, here's my noodling.



Hans

[ragman1]

Hatim -

I really liked that! I wasn't sure about the rhythm at first then, after about a minute, I got into it. Pretty groovy! Great playing and the very occasional hesitations in the 2nd solo don't matter one bit. It was good.

If I have one thing, can you remix it so the background's a bit louder? That's all. Apart from that it's foot-tappin' luvly

[M-ster]

Late, late, late ... sorry.

http://www.noiseinthebasement.com/mp3s/Laura%2000.mp3

[M-ster]

i am lo fi...

Ha! Laura Lofi ... loved it.