Rodney Jones blues challenge

[Mark Kleinhaut]

[fep]

I got thru about 10 minutes, I'll be back to listen to the rest, (it's early morning and I've got to get to my day, heading to the ski slopes). This may be playing remote, but really is jazz interaction, great.

[kris]

This is a very long blues - I listened to the end.
Big challenge...nice!
Best
Kris

[Mark Kleinhaut]

This is a very long blues - I listened to the end.
Big challenge...nice!
Best
Kris

. I haven’t listened to the whole thing either. Rodney explains the whole point of this half hour blues and I can attest it does test our endurance.

[Alter]

Rodney is an all time favorite player of mine, that was fun to watch! I have asked this question, how to really get into a tune or into a groove, to numerous world class players over the years. This answer seems to be pretty much standard, they all suggested to play really long sessions of the tune. It does become meditative after a while. Drummers like Jeff Watts or Charles Haynes told me to play a day(!), or a whole morning on just a simple groove (for funk that is). Haven't done a day , but i've done hours at a time, and it is 100% worth it..

[ragman1]

Too fast for me. Even if I could chase along at that speed I'd still need time to think, especially if I'm supposed to be 'digging deep'. The faster it is the greater the tendency to slip into mechanical clichés just to keep going.

[grahambop]

I can’t make a video that long (in one go), my camera is limited to 20 minutes of videoing for each clip. Apparently a lot of digital cameras have this limit, it avoids some kind of global sales tax because it means they are not classified as ‘true’ video devices.

Although I do like the idea of this exercise. (I don’t like the bass sound on Rodney’s backing though, sounds like it’s buzzing on the fingerboard, that would really distract me).

[Mark Kleinhaut]

I can’t make a video that long (in one go), my camera is limited to 20 minutes of videoing for each clip. Apparently a lot of digital cameras have this limit, it avoids some kind of global sales tax because it means they are not classified as ‘true’ video devices.

Although I do like the idea of this exercise. (I don’t like the bass sound on Rodney’s backing though, sounds like it’s buzzing on the fingerboard, that would really distract me).

my camera also chops the file up like that, but it’s easy to stitch them back together in the editing software.

[Mark Kleinhaut]

Too fast for me. Even if I could chase along at that speed I'd still need time to think, especially if I'm supposed to be 'digging deep'. The faster it is the greater the tendency to slip into mechanical clichés just to keep going.

. It’s worth trying this even if it’s struggling to keep up. I’ve never been one to use play-alongs but this felt different for me. Rodney is a special human.

[John A.]

How did you do this?

[Mark Kleinhaut]

How did you do this?

This was technically a pain in the butt to put together though well worth the trouble.


Step 1 download rodneys video from YouTube

Step 2 load into Davinci and convert from mp4 to .mov file
Step 3 import .mov file to digital perform to strip off the audio track
Step 4. Play along with audio recording into digital performer while video recording to my camera
Step 5 mix audio tracks and transfer wave file to video workstation
Step 6 transfer camera files to video workstation
Step 7 synch all video and audio tracks
Step 8 render composite video
Step 9 upload to my YouTube channel
Step 10 share in Facebook

[grahambop]

If you can get hold of Rodney’s video (for example get it from youtube with a downloader program), you can do anything with it, i.e. open it in a DAW (to get his audio) and overdub your playing on top of his, while at the same time, videoing your own playing.

Then open his video in a video editor program, import your video and audio, sync them all up, and assign the 2 video elements to each half of the screen (most video editors should be able to do this).

I’m not sure where Rodney’s video is though, can’t see it on youtube, so maybe it is unlisted.

(edit - I see Mark has explained it).

[Alter]

Step 2 load into Davinci and convert from mp4 to .mov file
Step 3 import .mov file to digital perform to strip off the audio track
Step 4. Play along with audio recording into digital performer while video recording to my camera
Step 5 mix audio tracks and transfer wave file to video workstation
Step 6 transfer camera files to video workstation
Step 7 synch all video and audio tracks
Step 8 render composite video
Step 9 upload to my YouTube channel
Step 10 share in Facebook

On step 7 you only need to sync the second video though right? If you start your sound recording and mixing based on Rodney' video sound, all the sound is already synced to his video, so when you go to the video workstation you just sync the second video to the mixed sound. That's the way i do these type of videos at least, so it saves me the trouble to have to sync everything ..

[Mark Kleinhaut]

On step 7 you only need to sync the second video though right? If you start your sound recording and mixing based on Rodney' video sound, all the sound is already synced to his video, so when you go to the video workstation you just sync the second video to the mixed sound. That's the way i do these type of videos at least, so it saves me the trouble to have to sync everything ..

I think we’re on the same track (no pun). I’m not using audio from rodneys original video or from my camera’s audio. Only the mixed audio from the daw.

[fep]

How did you do this?

John, if I'm not mistaken, you are a Reaper user.

After you download the video file from youtube (I use an app called 4k video downloader), you can just click and drag the mp4 into Reaper, Reaper can handle the file for you. Reaper is also a video editor, so you can skip a couple of the steps that were listed and use only one software, Reaper, for audio and video. However, I haven't put the time in to learn video editing in Reaper as I'm already using a different video editor.

[John A.]

John, if I'm not mistaken, you are a Reaper user.

After you download the video file from youtube (I use an app called 4k video downloader), you can just click and drag the mp4 into Reaper, Reaper can handle the file for you. Reaper is also a video editor, so you can skip a couple of the steps that were listed and use only one software, Reaper, for audio and video. However, I haven't put the time in to learn video editing in Reaper as I'm already using a different video editor.

Sorry, I should have been more precise. I'm asking how Mark interacted with Jones. I couldn't find this in RJ's YouTube channel, so was wondering whether this is some sort of private/lesson thing or whether there's a public link one can use. I use GarageBand and iMovie and can figure out that end of it.

I see mark has explained it now (and posted a link).

[John A.]

This was technically a pain in the butt to put together though well worth the trouble.


Step 1 download rodneys video from YouTube

Step 2 load into Davinci and convert from mp4 to .mov file
Step 3 import .mov file to digital perform to strip off the audio track
Step 4. Play along with audio recording into digital performer while video recording to my camera
Step 5 mix audio tracks and transfer wave file to video workstation
Step 6 transfer camera files to video workstation
Step 7 synch all video and audio tracks
Step 8 render composite video
Step 9 upload to my YouTube channel
Step 10 share in Facebook

Thanks Mark.

[kris]

It's very simple on my video editor/Movavi/.
I upload RJ's video to one channel and record my video to the other channel, then I have to synchronize it to match one another.Easy.

[Alter]

We've sidestepped talking about the technical aspects,.. but watching the video again, it's very up to the point, demonstrating this concept!

[kris]

We've sidestepped talking about the technical aspects,.. but watching the video again, it's very up to the point, demonstrating this concept!

It's very difficult to play. Long blues solo - play it interesting and not tedious. Building tension/in 15 minutes/ in a solo is difficult.
And be content with it after listening.
The solo and accompaniment video played by Rodney Jones are brilliant.
I have listened to it several times - enormous wealth of knowledge and jazz language.
I'll try to face it, but I know it won't be easy.
In this Rodney Jones's blues challenge, you show practically everything you have learned throughout your life.
Jazz blues is like a test of possibilities.

[grahambop]

John, if I'm not mistaken, you are a Reaper user.

After you download the video file from youtube (I use an app called 4k video downloader), you can just click and drag the mp4 into Reaper, Reaper can handle the file for you. Reaper is also a video editor, so you can skip a couple of the steps that were listed and use only one software, Reaper, for audio and video. However, I haven't put the time in to learn video editing in Reaper as I'm already using a different video editor.

I’ve done simple videos in Reaper, but I didn’t realise it can do multi-screen videos as well. Looks like it can easily do 4 videos in a grid (and more than 4 if you are prepared to tweak it):

[Mark Kleinhaut]

It's very difficult to play. Long blues solo - play it interesting and not tedious. Building tension/in 15 minutes/ in a solo is difficult.
And be content with it after listening.
The solo and accompaniment video played by Rodney Jones are brilliant.
I have listened to it several times - enormous wealth of knowledge and jazz language.
I'll try to face it, but I know it won't be easy.
In this Rodney Jones's blues challenge, you show practically everything you have learned throughout your life.
Jazz blues is like a test of possibilities.

bingo! I had to accept that I don’t hate how I played and then it’s all ok to listen to.

[kris]

bingo! I had to accept that I don’t hate how I played and then it’s all ok to listen to.

Congrats Mark.
And I counted the exact number of solo choruses in this blues challenge.
There are 63 choruses for solo and more for comping.
There are also exchanges.
Whoever goes through this can say that he is a true jazz musician.

[Mark Kleinhaut]

Congrats Mark.
And I counted the exact number of solo choruses in this blues challenge.
There are 63 choruses for solo and more for comping.

wow!!!