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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!

Last edited by SyrinxGC; 10/19/10 11:02 AM.

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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.


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Quote:

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 play this as part of my regular routine. You can hear it over on my website if you care to

Straight from the Song Summary:

**** Song Summary *************
Title: AUTUMN LEAVES
File:A - Autumn Leaves.MGU
Key=Em , Tempo 140, Length (m:s)=4:46
4 bar intro, 32 bar chorus, from bar 5 to bar 36. Repeat x5 choruses
Melody has 361 notes, Melody harmony is < no harmony >(0)
Soloist track has 635 notes, Soloist harmony is < no harmony >(0)
Song is saved with Volume, Pan, Reverb, Chorus, Bank0,
Song is saved with bar changes for Volume Changes,
Soloist is saved with the song : J Henderson. Tenor Sax (3)
Style is _JSTM_B.STY (Modern Jazz Swing Quartet (140 R)
Style MIDI Instruments are :
RealTracks in song: 397:Bass, Acoustic, Jazz Paul Sw 140
RealTracks in style: ~449:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm Jazz Sw 140
RealTracks in style: ~447:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm Jazz Sw 140 ('A' only)
RealTracks in song: 454:Piano, Acoustic, Soloist Jazz Sw 140
RealTracks in song: ~462:Trumpet, Jazz Sw 140
RealDrums in Style: JazzTerryClarke^01-Sticks
*******************


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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

Last edited by Muzic Trax; 10/19/10 07:39 PM.
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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???


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Ok, now I see what you are looking for:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IDUxk9sSXI

Truely 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.


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Quote:

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!




As soon as someone uses the phrase "make a cover", that's not Biab. You can waste hours and hours trying to get Biab to copy an arrangement like that one. It usually involves going into the Stylemaker and creating a custom style. Time for a midi file, you should do a web search you may find a good one that's already been created otherwise, go to Real Band and work it up.
I have a friend who's a good balladeer sax player and we do a lot of duo gigs and if the budget allows, with a guitarist. He does Autumn Leaves at that tempo. I use an arranger keyboard with him and I gave up trying to give him a full backing arrangement and just started playing it rubato on keys. Sometimes on piano, other times using organ/bass, no drums or anything. We do Embraceable You like that too. Doing it that way gives him the freedom to play what he feels and audiences seem to really like it. Automatic arrangements just don't work that slow whether Biab or my keyboard.
When I play in different jazz bands, that tune tends to be a burner. I even did it as a reggae once.

Bob


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Thanks again folks!

Jazzmandan - This is the version I'm trying to make something similar of: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kP8jPa1wCg

Jazzmammal - 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


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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.


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Thank's John. I will try to use "meditative" in the search.


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You might try here-

http://www.karaoke-version.com/mp3-backingtrack/karaoke_2.html
type 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

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Quote:

You might try here-

http://www.karaoke-version.com/mp3-backingtrack/karaoke_2.html
type 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




Great suggestion, This is a great site. Have my own account over there.


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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!


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