Hello, forum friends

This time I would like to post a jazz vocal song.
It is a song about the feelings of a couple who have got tired of their married life.
I have prepared two versions with different arrangements.
One is a fast tempo combo jazz version using Band-in-a-box MIDI style.
The other is a slow tempo live band version with strings arrangement.
The music circle I belong to has a recording session every summer and winter, but this summer it was canceled due to the corona disturbance, so I am using the recording of the session 7 or 8 years ago.
I have strengthened the strings part for the reproduction.
Any comments encouraged.
Always welcome.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Title: 倦怠（Translation: Ennui）
Vocal: Natsuki Yoshikawa, our local female jazz vocalist

Link of MIDI version:
https://soundcloud.com/animarorecords/ennui-combo

Style is PATMFAST.STY Ev.8 Modern Jazz
Style MIDI Instruments are :
Acoustic Piano (1) played with Steinberg The Grand 3
Fretless Bass (36) played with Native Instruments Kontakt5 Jazz Bass
MIDI Drums :1 Standard Room Kit (1) played with Toontrack Superior Drummer 2

Link of Live Band Version played by YAMAHA teachers
https://soundcloud.com/animarorecords/ennui-live-band

Summary of lyrics:

As I happened to be approached by a good guy
I got out of the party with him
Because I really wanted to get drunk
In a different place other than where you were

That's it, nothing happened to us
We just drank together
You doubt it, don’t you?
Rather than that, who was that girl by your side there?

Our marriage has already collapsed
We are just saying bad things every day
And there isn't even a piece of kindness
Now I'm really sad, I can't believe we loved so much before

Our relationship can be no longer restored
Let us break up, there should be no regrets
It's too miserable to continue living together like this
I understand it so well, but I can't get started to say

Love is melancholy
I'm going back to the usual place again today
Unsteadily in the middle of the night
Ennui, Ennui

I listened to both versions of this excellent work. The productions are first-class, and I enjoyed the difference between the live and the midi versions. The song construction using a 5-note motif descending through the changes is great architecture.

Your proficiency and taste with strings is always top- notch.

Are you playing live on either version?

I see that you often say that the contributions of others inspires you in your work, but the reverse is very true… I listen to your tracks, and I gain new insights into how I can improve my skills. Great work!

Shigeki Adachi,

It is always a pleasure to hear your music.

MIDI version:
Beautiful vocals. Awesome piano. Nice bass - full and crisp.
The open hi-hat (on the left) on the drum track is distracting to my ear. Too loud (in my opinion).

Live version:
Beautiful strings. Vocal is excellent. Great bass sound. Nice drums.
Excellent mix.

fj

Shigeki,
Your productions are always top shelf; both versions are excellent examples of your composition and arranging skills.
I preferred the more sultry and romantic live band version where the bass and strings really shine.
Both are beautifully sung by Natsuki.

Robert

Tom,

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen and comment.
And many thanks for listening to the both versions.
I am really glad you like this tune.
I much appreciate your comment to the song construction.

I love playing musical instruments and often play the piano and guitar.
However, I am not good enough to play in recording, so I do not participate in live performances and concentrate exclusively on writing scores.
The piano solo of the MIDI version is also generated by BIAB MIDI soloist.
I am always very encouraged by your kind words.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Hello again, Shigeki Adachi,

This sounds like it's been inspired by French composers/arrangers Francis Lai and Paul Mauriat. It's such a delightful listen.

I love the arrangement and where you've taken the music. As always, you show your flair for chord progressions that mesh together seamlessly. I'm listening to the live version and it's a journey in sound that leads the listener along smoothly and enjoyably from start to finish.

Yet another terrific work!

Once more Natsuki Yoshikawa's vocals sparkle with competence. This is a great jazz group you work with!

All the best,
Noel

VERY cool song and performance - sumptuous vocal too.
LIVE ONE.
I think the bass could have some top end removed - it's very toppy and pokes through a bit ...there're also some extraneous noises attached to it in the intro.
I'd love to hear it with the bass tone from one of Scott Walker's 1st three albums.
Excellent

Shigecki ...

You always post some of the very best music on the forum. This song is another super production! Natsuki did a wonderful job on the vocal. Love the change to the walking bass on the chorus and instrumental portions. This is a wonderful song and true pleasure to listen to. Excellent!

Wishing you the very best.

Alan

floyd,

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen and comment.
And many thanks for listening to the both versions.
I am really glad you like this tune.

I listened to the MIDI version of the mix again with headphones carefully.
As you say, the hi-hat is very noisy.
I usually use speakers to mix, so I didn't notice it.
Thank you for your valuable feedback.
I am always very encouraged by your kind words.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Robert,

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen and comment.
And many thanks for listening to the both versions.
I am really glad you like this tune.
I much appreciate your compliments to the vocal.
I am always very encouraged by your kind words.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Hello again, Noel

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen and comment.
Yes, I wrote this song greatly inspired by French composers/arrangers.
I am really glad you like this tune.
I much appreciate your compliments to the vocal.
I am always very encouraged by your kind words.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Created intense intrigue right from the first bar.

Smooth, interesting, inviting.

I really liked this. The discordance was particularly special.

Shigecki - This is a wonderful piece - both versions. I am in agreement with the feedback in the comments. Your skill at combining the instruments into a lush, rich production is very impressive. The performances and the arrangements are top notch. The vocals by Natsuki Yoshikawa are lovely. It's always a pleasure to hear your music, again and again.

P.S. - I'm also a fan of a bit of discordance, and I think you hit it just right.

rayc,

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen and comment.
I am really glad you like this tune.
And many thanks for your valuable feedback to the bass sound.
I will try to listen to the bass tone from Scott Walker's 1st three albums.
I am always very encouraged by your kind words.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

We enjoyed them both. Natsuki always delivers an outstanding vocal. And she is fortunate to have your compositions to work with.

We see no reason to compare them as they are very different interpretations.

We both felt that the first vocal notes on the live version reminded us of Somewhere Over The Rainbow! A good thing to be reminded of But of course the song quickly went to many different places. Wonderful places.

The jazz version was excellent and well showcased your midi skills.

They both sound very nice on our monitors. Great mixes and all around production.

Enjoyed them,

J&B

Wow what an awesome song. It just filled my studio from wall to wall. Such a cool mix. Your vocalist is such a beautiful singer. Well done..

Your music is always beautiful and interesting Shigeki!! Very cool song!! Pretty free form feel for a vocal song. The vocal sounds like a great performance but I hear some harshness in it....not sure if it is the eq or something in the recording. She has a wonderful voice and can really sing! Great stuff as usual!!! Take care. Greg

Alan,

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen and comment.
I am really glad you like this tune.
And I am very happy to hear you love the change to the walking bass on the chorus and instrumental portions.
I am always very encouraged by your kind words.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Trevor,

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen and comment.
I am really glad you like this tune.
And I am very happy to hear you love the discordance of this tune.
I am always very encouraged by your kind words.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Hello Ed Z,

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen and comment.
And many thanks for listening to the both versions.
I am really glad you love this tune and the vocalist very much.
And I am very happy to hear you also a fan of a bit of discordance.
I am always very encouraged by your kind words.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Janice & Bud,

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen and comment.
I am really glad you like this tune and Natsuki's Vocal.
I much appreciate your compliments to the midi version.
I am always very encouraged by your kind words.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Scott,

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen and comment.
I am really glad you like this tune.
I much appreciate your compliments to the vocalist.
I am always very encouraged by your kind words.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Greg,

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen and comment.
I am really glad you like this tune and the vocal.
And many thanks for your valuable feedback to the vocal sound.
I will try to cancel the the harshness in the future mix.
I am always very encouraged by your kind words.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi