Want to make a cover of the Nat King Coles Autumn Leaves version for tenor sax. The rubato string part is no problem to record myself, but I've spent quite some time searching for the right bass/piano/drums realtracks - so far without getting what I want.
The speed is apx. 65 bpm. On the recording the bass seems to be playing almost a pop-ballad ___ _ ____ rythm per bar. The swing ballads I've checked "swings" too much compared to the original.
Does someone have a suggestion on what to use?
Thanks!
I can't imagine that song that slow.
That said I looked up mine and I've slowed it to 85 bpm to give me room to doodle.
I'm using jbaladg sw 8 with Piano, Melody and Strings muted at 85 bpm. Because I play piano and then horn for verse 2. So it's actually displayed in b or 3 sharps not g so my keyboard is set to transpose at -2 and that gives me the horn in Bflat actually playing in G. The sneakier way to do it is to put it in F so the horn is in G.
Options options.
Nat King Cole's version is more of a slow ballad type version. He also has a lot of String & Orchestra movement going on his as well. Cool Jazz Ballad (Real Track Style) seems to work at that tempo, even though it recommends 80 bpm.
You will definitely need to pick a Bass RT, instead of the Cool Jazz style one.
In fact, you would be better suited hand-picking the Real Tracks for that song. You can load the 4/4 blank.sty and insert your style parts via the Real Track insertion method. Piano & Bass Ballad Sw Real Tracks work very well for Nat's version.
Trax
Thanks for your replies
John - What I want is kind of a meditation. Checked out your style suggestion - too much swing, I'm afraid :-(
I will be playing the melody on an Akai EWI with Samplemodellings Mr.Sax.T software, working in Logic Studio on a Mac. (Biab is an important reason for me to keep the PC :-)
Since the EWI also transpose well - the key is actually no issue. I stick to the original :-)
Jazzmadan - I really liked your version, but it's not the way I want to do it :-)
Trax - Your suggestion is closest to what I want - however, I feel that the style of the Nat King Cole recording is even - not swing.
I've not been able to find an even slow ballad style with acoustic bass :-(
I haven't bought the 2010.05 upgrade, so I don't know if there is one there - or if we can hope for something in the 2011 version.
Again - thanks a lot all 3 of you - and a very nice version Jazzmadan!
By the way - should this have been posted in the Off-Topic section, rather than here???
Ok, now I see what you are looking for:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IDUxk9sSXITruely a vocal arrangement. I assume you are singing. No swing here. This will be a challenge due to the timing with the extended intro and the very stylized arrangement - suited to Nat's performance.
Good Luck, we'd love to hear what you finally capture.
Thanks again folks!
Jazzmandan - This is the version I'm trying to make something similar of:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kP8jPa1wCgJazzmammal - I'm doing my gigs alone. I already have worked out a reasonably good midifile, I just thought it would be so much better if I replaced at least the bass and drums with realtracks - and maybe the piano too. My SoundCanvas sounds nothing like those realtracks :-(
Maybe I should go for the Yves Montand version instead?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLlBOmDpn1s&feature=related
Be sure to check out the New Age / Soundtrack styles. As mentioned you can always try substituting any of the parts for Real Instruments.
Some of them even use 'meditative' in the description. Don't be shy to try stuff that does not fit the idea. Often a style in an outrageously crazy way works well.
Take just the first 10 bars, save it and use that to demo the styles. Works faster and better.
Thank's John. I will try to use "meditative" in the search.
You might try here-
http://www.karaoke-version.com/mp3-backingtrack/karaoke_2.htmltype in autumn leaves and get several versions including Nat King Cole.
or here, where you get the an custom arrangement that you where you can adjust the parts..
http://www.karaoke-version.com/custombackingtrack/nat-king-cole/autumn-leaves.html
Thanks Jazzsax.
I may be a little weird, but I never really liked mp3 backing tracks although the ones you suggest sounds good.
Until I upgraded to Logic 8 and a Mac, I always used a SoundCanvas 88 for my backing and was happy with that.
When the Biab realtracks came I started considering audio tracks for my backing - and now I don't even bring the SC88 along when I play a gig :-)
I have been busy replacing midi tracks with realtracks whereever I can and have recorded the midi tracks to audio tracks.
But all these years one Logic feature have been more important to me than anything. I have some problems with my shortterm memory and can never be 100% to remember a lyric or a score when performing. Because of this (after having dragged along huge binders with lyrics for years) I started recording the vocal or instrumental solo part in order to get the score on screen - with lyrics. A great system! no more searching for lyrics :-)
In addition - with rubato melodies like Autumn Leaves, I also display the pianoroll - and know exactly when to start or stop a tone. I can even start songs without audible count ins. On the Westlife version of "You raise me up" I play the tinwhistle part for several bars before the backing kicks in!