Need jazz drums for Autumn leaves

  • Thread starter Thread starter killthepixelnow
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killthepixelnow

killthepixelnow

Do it right or dont do it
Hey there, some time ago I recorded a nice jazz standard called Autumn Leaves. It's only piano, upright bass and guitar. I tried to put some drums on it but failed miserably :( Here's the video of the song:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=RiTiiyvPeWw

I was wondering if someone here is able to put some drums so I can complete the tune. It will be great if you record a real kit but MIDI drum files also work for me since I can assign a drum library from BFD2.

So, what do you say? :p I'll upload a track without MIDI drums tonight. Thanks in advance!
 
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geeeeezz.... i sure hope you didn't use that vid as the basis for your cover... that was some of the worst "jazz" i've ever heard... serious suckage...
 
I don't think that song will ever work with the comping on one & three. Jazz is not about the 1 and 3s. It could work on 2s or 4s or what ever but it is not ever going to swing with that square comping on ones and/or 3s. Take a listen to somebody good playing Autumn Leaves. Everyone has recorded it so you have a few hundred recordings to listen too. Try Cedar Walton, or Miles, or Oscar Peterson, or Wayne Shorter or Coltrane.

Listen to how they do the rhythm behind the melody. There is a whole world back there and that world is jazz.

Also, in the video it sounds like you are playing to an eighth note click. That kills the swing. Put the click on all fours or better on two and four. The only thing you could do with that piece in a jazz vein would be like a bossa nova or samba type thing because it doesnt swing yet. Right now it sounds like a march.

Also, alot of times in music of this genre a guitarist is emulating a horn. So the really fast vibrato you are using on this sounds a little weak. Flatten it out and use slow vibrato.

Now hopefully all of that did not piss you off. You play the notes from the head of that song just fine. So keep at it. You are not playing jazz yet though. So... keep at it.

I would slow the tune down and learn to "get" the swing.

I have seen a few dozen rockers and hard rockers, metal heads approach jazz in a similiar way to you over the years. And they adjust and many become great jazzers.

Regards.
 
Thanks for the advices. It's a good idea to slow down the tune to get the feeling of the song. I can do that and give another try.

About the bass... err... I'm not sure how to do the "walking" lines used by the big bosses (Parker, Stitt, Powell) I have found some information about that scale but if you have some good advice I'd like to hear it. I can post the score too if you want.

The good thing about all this is that I came looking for drums and ended challenged to make a better guitar performance.
 
killthepixelnow said:
Thanks for the advices.
The good thing about all this is that I came looking for drums and ended challenged to make a better guitar performance.
Click to expand...

I'm not a guitar player, so I can't criticize your performance. But I wish more people would react to criticism the way you just did.:cool:
 
I agree with Rami,
A very mature and pleasant response.

Slow it and swing it, and I'd like to try my hand at the drums myself.
I've played it many times.
 
I'm not really sure how to open and listen to that format.(.gp5)
 
Probably best to offer up just audio files rather than product specific files.
 
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