| Author |
Topic: Blue Monk demo New Orleans style |
Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 20 Nov 2015 3:46 pm |
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I recorded a little demo of Blue Monk set to a funeral march. I have been having some fun playing this one. I'd really like to pull out a dixieland style chorus where all the horns are soloing at the same time, except it's steel guitar. Gotta work on that concept--Brian May of Queen did it exceptionally well.
How about that tone? Pure aluminum Clinesmith tone straight through my Sano amp, no pedals whatsoever, just some amp reverb. All my life I liked a dirty little tone, but now this is my default sound.
https://soundcloud.com/mneer/blue-monk-drag-demo
There's a nice little trick I do in the melody on the descending part of the line where, instead of doing a forward slant on adjacent strings, I skip a string and do a reverse slant, like this:
| Tab: |
E----------------------------
C----------------------------
A--------10-------------------
G----10------10--9--8--------
E----10--11--10--9--8--------
C----------------------------
Bb---------------------------
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Not only is it easier to play it in tune, but it has a nicer articulation because of the palm blocking that is necessary to play it.
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Paul DiMaggio
From:
Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada
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Posted 20 Nov 2015 6:38 pm
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| My only complaint is that the recording is too short. The Clinesmith and your playing are exquisite! |
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Russell Davis
From:
Fort Worth Texas, USA
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Posted 20 Nov 2015 7:06 pm
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I second what Paul said! 
Sounds great Mike. I love your playing and this project you're working on. Now if I can get my dumb fingers to make my Clinesmith sound as good as yours I'll be all set lol. |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 21 Nov 2015 4:46 am
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That is awesomely good, Mike and geez - it's a demo, can't wait for the final. Love the New Orleans groove tied to Monk. By coincidence, I've been immersed in this sound this week listening to Allen Toussaint's 2009 CD, The Bright Mississippi which has fabulous playing and arranging. Marc Ribot plays some seriously cool acoustic guitar throughout but all the piano and horn work is equally sublime.
_________________
Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com
Last edited by Andy Volk on 21 Nov 2015 5:32 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Charlie McDonald
From:
out of the blue
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Posted 21 Nov 2015 5:05 am
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Awesome is right; your demos shame many albums. The tone can't be beat,
and fine playing on a familiar Monk tune, a good addition to the other tracks. |
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Derek Quinn
From:
California, USA
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Posted 21 Nov 2015 8:52 am
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Very cool, Mike. If that's a demo I imagine the finished version will be incredible. It almost sounds like an outtake from the late Allen Toussaint's The Bright Mississippi album.
_________________
Ebony and Ivory
live together in perfect harmony.
Side by side on my Bakelite,
pre-war,
oh Lord,
why don't we? |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 21 Nov 2015 9:34 am
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Funny, Monk had a tune called Bright Mississippi which was a Sweet Georgia Brown contrafact.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 21 Nov 2015 10:22 am
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Yes! As soon as I heard I recognized the SGB changes but didn't know it was associated with Monk.
Like Charlie Parker said ...
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| ‘It’s Just music. It’s playing clean and looking for the pretty notes.’ |
_________________
Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com |
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Derek Quinn
From:
California, USA
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Posted 21 Nov 2015 8:29 pm
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Mike, the title track of Allen Toussaint's album is indeed a version of Monk's Bright Mississippi. It was done in a similar style arrangement. That's why your really interesting take on Blue Monk brought that album to my mind.
_________________
Ebony and Ivory
live together in perfect harmony.
Side by side on my Bakelite,
pre-war,
oh Lord,
why don't we? |
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Stefan Robertson
From:
Hertfordshire, UK
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Posted 21 Nov 2015 10:08 pm
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Awesome job Mike. Very tasteful indeed.
_________________
Stefan
Bill Hatcher custom 12 string Lap Steel Guitar
E13#9/F secrets: https://thelapsteelguitarist.wordpress.com
"Give it up for The Lap Steel Guitarist" |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 26 Nov 2015 7:01 pm
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Thanks for all the nice comments on my recording.
I really believe a lot of playing jazz boils down to a deep understanding of playing the blues. I don't think one can really play jazz without it.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 29 Nov 2015 6:02 pm
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My favorite part of this recording is that I left my studio door open and my wife was doing laundry right outside the door and I can hear the squeak of the dryer door at 1:23.
Andy, that list is always fun to read. Points 1 and 2 are like scripture to me.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Mikiya Matsuda
From:
San Francisco, California, USA
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Posted 29 Nov 2015 6:26 pm
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Great work, Mike. I can hear references to other steel players and older styles, but it’s your voice throughout.
Also, I need a Clinesmith!
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www.mikiyamatsuda.com
www.alcatrazislanders.com |
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