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#385484 - 02/28/14 08:26 AM
Re: What song affected you the most?
[Re: Mark79100]
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Senior Member
Registered: 01/02/04
Posts: 7285
Loc: Lexington, Ky, USA
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Mark, GOOD TOPIC!
I've had, probably 10 benchmark songs in my life. One of them was George Benson's version of Leon Russell's "Masquerade".
I had been a Guild guitar demonstrator and met Benson as an endorser. He was playing the hell out of straight ahead jazz. Had a contract with Verve, I believe it was, and was selling about 400,000 albums with every release.
When we talked, he was making about the same as I was as a corporate director. Making it in jazz (he was at the top of his field) was rough.
He had finished his contract and was going to Hawaii to dig foundations (at least that's the story I heard).
He was called into a session and was fooling around with the lead line and scat vocal he is credited for developing. A producer walked by and the rest, as they say, is history.
Breezin', his 1976 mega album, was a 17 million hit and the first of many.
At the time, I was completely burned out...tired of playing the same material every night...working all day, teaching, trying to run a small farm and playing 1:00 AM to 4:00 AM Mon-Thursday; then 5:00 PM to 4:00 AM Friday and Saturday.
I was going to work to hand in my notice Saturday, when I turned on the radio and heard an unrecognized vocalist, singing a really innovative version of a favorite. I had enjoyed the song by the Carpenters and Leon, himself. That, of course, was the Benson recording.
This marvelous piece showed me there is NEVER a reason to be bored with having the privilege of playing, and taught me the importance of interpretation...putting your own "stamp" on material.
Benson took all kinds of flack from the purists, but, by that time, he was too rich to give a damn (LOL).
And, even now, every night, as I play those intoxicating notes to the intro of Masquerade I break out into a big, silly smile.
Russ
Edited by captain Russ (02/28/14 08:32 AM)
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#385503 - 02/28/14 01:08 PM
Re: What song affected you the most?
[Re: Mark79100]
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Senior Member
Registered: 12/08/02
Posts: 15560
Loc: Forest Hill, MD USA
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Over The Rainbow - Judy Garland - no doubt about it. When I was 5 years old I fell in love with Dorothy, the song never left my mind, and when my daughter performed it for me last year, I got so emotional I damned near couldn't play the song. Cheers, from on old softie, Gary
_________________________
PSR-S950, TC Helicon Harmony-M, Digitech VR, Samson Q7, Sennheiser E855, Custom Console, and lots of other silly stuff!
K+E=W (Knowledge Plus Experience = Wisdom.)
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#385506 - 02/28/14 01:27 PM
Re: What song affected you the most?
[Re: Mark79100]
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Senior Member
Registered: 07/27/05
Posts: 10606
Loc: Cape Breton Island, Canada
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I have to go with Gary here, and say "Somewhere Over The Rainbow"...I still get chills when I hear the original. I think I posted this here before, but here it is again... Somewhere Over The Rainbow, done on my Tyros4. http://www.4shared.com/mp3/6dIl6nqG/OverRainbow.htmlThe style (from CVP-509) consists of drums (and brushes) and mega Acoustic Bass and Mega Jazz Guitar. The solo voices were SA2 Sax, and SA Jazz Clean Guitar. Nothing fancy...just chords in the Left Hand and melody in Right. I just hit "Record" and played from memory. Another favorite is "When You Wish Upon A Star". Ian, another old softie.
_________________________
Yamaha Tyros4, Yamaha MS-60S Powered Monitors(2), Yamaha CS-01, Yamaha TQ-5, Yamaha PSR-S775.
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#385513 - 02/28/14 04:38 PM
Re: What song affected you the most?
[Re: Mark79100]
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Senior Member
Registered: 07/27/05
Posts: 10606
Loc: Cape Breton Island, Canada
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Thanks everyone...your kind comments are greatly appreciated.
Fran, I've thought about trying to put lead ins for 7th and Aug chords, especially for these slow jazz ballads...I think it can be done on Tyros4 but I'm not sure.
The thing is, I may not want a bass lead in or a walk up every time I play a 7th or Aug, so it may not be always useful unless I can find a way to have it trigger them only when I want them, perhaps if they are only activated when preceded by a certain chord type.
If I was playing the organ and bass pedals I would do it without hardly thinking about it, but in that case, I have full control over when I want it regardless of what chord I'm playing.
On the Tyros4, I tend to stick to using Style Assembly and Groove & Dynamics rather than program from scratch by playing the line in...basically, it's because it's easier and I'm rather lazy.
But, yes, I do understand what you are talking about.. and it is a valid point, to be sure.
Ian
_________________________
Yamaha Tyros4, Yamaha MS-60S Powered Monitors(2), Yamaha CS-01, Yamaha TQ-5, Yamaha PSR-S775.
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#385516 - 02/28/14 05:06 PM
Re: What song affected you the most?
[Re: Mark79100]
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Senior Member
Registered: 12/08/02
Posts: 15560
Loc: Forest Hill, MD USA
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I just dug up the rendition my daughter did one night while helping her old dad on a job. I was recovering from eye surgery in both eyes and wasn't allow to life anything heavier than 10 pounds. With just one useable arm (her left arm is paralyzed) she helped old dad for two weeks, lifting the gear out of the van and placing it on the Rock & Roller cart, then setting it up and tearing it down at the job. She was incredible. I asked her to sing a few songs, and this was her first attempt ever on stage - no rehearsals, nothing - just picked up the spare mic and the audience loved her. Needless to say this old fart was damned near in tears when they applauded at the end of the song. Over The Rainbow Cheers, Gary
_________________________
PSR-S950, TC Helicon Harmony-M, Digitech VR, Samson Q7, Sennheiser E855, Custom Console, and lots of other silly stuff!
K+E=W (Knowledge Plus Experience = Wisdom.)
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#385525 - 02/28/14 07:37 PM
Re: What song affected you the most?
[Re: Mark79100]
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Senior Member
Registered: 12/08/02
Posts: 15560
Loc: Forest Hill, MD USA
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No, I don't do Someone To Watch Over Me, and unfortunately, my daughter just doesn't want to be in this business. I've taken her with me to a dozen locations and every audience constantly asks when will I be bringing her back - I wish she would go on the road with me, but it's just not something she really wants to do. Thanks, Gary
_________________________
PSR-S950, TC Helicon Harmony-M, Digitech VR, Samson Q7, Sennheiser E855, Custom Console, and lots of other silly stuff!
K+E=W (Knowledge Plus Experience = Wisdom.)
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