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The (un)official BALLAD Thread!

43K views 291 replies 55 participants last post by  wuffysax 
#1 ·
Now while a lot of people love machine-gun 8th notes ripping over a 300+bpm tune, there's something very personal about ballads. They expose the musician and really draw the listener in to hear what the performer is feeling. I also see a lot of comments on here saying how people nowadays just sound like they're playing technical exercises and not saying anything with their playing- now that might be true for some players, but I believe great players CAN DO BOTH WELL. I've played tons of gigs that required crazy tempos on both ends (over 320 and under 50bpm). I think some people are lumped into a category (either one) by others who have only heard a handful of recordings of them.

This thread is dedicated to the lower end of the tempo spectrum- BALLADS! Please post recordings/videos of you playing ballads. Can be any style, standard, original, etc. Hopefully we'll hear some beautiful sounds in here, and I'm looking forward to hearing everyone!

To start it off, here's a recording I did in the studio a few years back on one of my favorite ballads of all time- "Stars Fell on Alabama"

 
#2 ·
Beautiful playing! I'm working on your TOTM btw! But my teacher is asking about the next tune I'm going to memorize and I want to do a ballad- what should it be? He said it's an idea to start with memorizing things people play typically at jams, etc., and I have a personal goal of getting through a set at my regular weekly gigs without the book. I've memorized some swing bossa and blues- now I want to do a ballad- so this is timely! Which would you choose to start with? At my regular gig we do several- Body and Soul comes to mind, or You Don't Know What Love Is- or maybe Willow Weep for Me-
 
#3 ·
Thanks so much! The 3 you said are awesome tunes- also "They Say It's Wonderful" is great, as is "I've Never Been in Love Before" (which I like more swingin in the pocket, but it works great as a ballad). Also- My Foolish Heart, My One and Only Love, Misty, I'm Old Fashioned...so many good choices!
 
#5 ·
Good ideas guys- except I have this weird aversion to Misty for some reason-
 
#11 ·
#16 ·
Wow, Dave and Bflateflat, that is really great playing.
I enjoy to listen to and play ballads a lot. I am totally with Dave about
the player exposing him/herself. It is about telling a story, grab the listener and
keep it interesting through the end of the tune. That skill is not given to every player.
I have played with some fantastic sax players that I heard struggling on ballads
killing the tune completely in the 3th chorus because they felt the need shift to
the fourth gear and hide behind a wall of unnecessary and uninteresting notes.
You both do not need that at all. A real pleasure to listen to.
 
#31 ·
bflateflat- why'd you delete the post? I just listened to the recording (from Sonya's reply quote) and you sounded really good! Love the tasteful bends and vibrato...beautiful ballad tone- clean as a whistle!



Thank you so much! Appreciate that.

And hats off to Johnny Hodges!

Thanks for for this post! I love playing ballads, and, like you said, there are many to choose from.

Great to hear/see you play!
HAVE to mention Hodges...I'm a dope for not! He was the man, wow what amazing control he had.

Great take on "Alabama" Dave. Also good to hear you on a decent recording. Nice band.
I did this a while ago and it's still my favorite ballad to play. Back to the Link for this one.

George
Thanks! I know what you mean- everything I post is some crappy Zoom recording from a gig, or if it's with a backing track it's not direct. Glad you dug it!

Really like your recording- great tune, and wonderful sound. Lower register is off the charts- full, dark, and rich.
 
#33 ·
Love this tune- awesome sound- you really pull everything out of each note- that's what ballads are all about!

And a version of Misty and why not, lol

One of my favorite tunes of all time (sorry Sonya!!) Once again you nailed the sound! I like the rhythmic diversity in the blowing...tell the rhythm section to interact more!!

Great idea for a thread.
Here's my version of Alfie from last year I think.
Wonderfully dark and mysterious sound! I love the space you used, really keeps the listener intrigued.

Wonderful takes.
Let's pull the high level down a bit. Recorded with just a moderate dynamic mic straight into
the computer one of my vu-vu trials.
Another beautiful dark tenor tone! Once again I feel like an outsider playing alto (one of the reasons I stick to it, hah). That vibrato- woo!
 
#27 ·
This thread is dedicated to the lower end of the tempo spectrum- BALLADS! Please post recordings/videos of you playing ballads. Can be any style, standard, original, etc. Hopefully we'll hear some beautiful sounds in here, and I'm looking forward to hearing everyone!

To start it off, here's a recording I did in the studio a few years back on one of my favorite ballads of all time- "Stars Fell on Alabama"
Dave, beautiful version of "Stars Fell on Alabama" and nice to hear some Johnny Hodges in your influences too :).

In the past I never liked playing ballads, but since I participate in the TOTM threads (since end 2010) here on SOTW (and on some other sax sites) I've played and recorded a lot of ballads and actually started to enjoy it (most of the time!). I now also like to play them free or double time instead of straight (the list below has some examples). Also often like to go for the Ben Webster approach, using a lot of sub tone.

Here are some (!) examples of the many ballads I recorded in the last 5-6 years:

01 - 'Alfie' (Florida no USA 10* - Plasticover 2): http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=13363258

02 - 'Body And Soul' (Florida no USA 10* - La Voz medium) - normal: http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=11271934

03 - 'Body And Soul' (Florida no USA 10* - Plasticover 2) - free: http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=13371212

04 - 'Body And Soul' (Florida no USA 10* - Rico Royal 2) - double time solo: http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=13510025

05 - 'Days Of Wine And Roses' (Florida no USA 10* - Plasticover 2) - bass only: http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=13096013

06 - 'I Didn't Know What Time It Was' (Florida no USA 10* - Plasticover 2): http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=13247352

07 - 'I Remember Clifford (Florida no USA 10* - La Voz medium) - solo: http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=10719667

08 - 'In A Sentimental Mood' (Florida no USA 10* - Plasticover 2): http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=13215119

09 - 'Misty' (Ponzol Super 120 - La Voz medium): http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=12600246

10 - 'Old Folks' (Florida no USA 10* - Plasticover 2): http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=13291792

11 - 'Round Midnight' (Florida no USA 10* - Plasticover 2) - free: http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=13361119

12 - 'Someone To Watch Over Me' (Tone Master 8 - La Voz medium): http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=12325863

13 - 'Stardust' (Early Babbitt 12 - Plasticover 2): http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=11626477

14 - 'Sweet Lorraine' (Four**** 8* JvW - La Voz medium): http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=12161807

15 - 'You Don't Know What Love Is' (Early Babbitt 8* - La Voz medium): http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=12461532

Sorry for the thread pollution!
 
#34 ·
Dave, beautiful version of "Stars Fell on Alabama" and nice to hear some Johnny Hodges in your influences too :).

In the past I never liked playing ballads, but since I participate in the TOTM threads (end 2010) here on SOTW and some other sax sites I've played and recorded a lot of ballads and actually started to enjoy it (most of the time!). I now also like to play them free or double time instead of straight (the list below has some examples). Also often like to go for the Ben Webster approach, using a lot of sub tone.

Here are some (!) examples of the many ballads I recorded in the last 5-6 years:

01 - 'Alfie' (Florida no USA 10* - Plasticover 2): http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=13363258

02 - 'Body And Soul' (Florida no USA 10* - La Voz medium) - normal: http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=11271934

03 - 'Body And Soul' (Florida no USA 10* - Plasticover 2) - free: http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=13371212

04 - 'Body And Soul' (Florida no USA 10* - Rico Royal 2) - double time: http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=13510025

05 - 'Days Of Wine And Roses' (Florida no USA 10* - Plasticover 2) - bass only: http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=13096013

06 - 'I Didn't Know What Time It Was' (Florida no USA 10* - Plasticover 2): http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=13247352

07 - 'I Remember Clifford (Florida no USA 10* - La Voz medium) - solo: http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=10719667

08 - 'In A Sentimental Mood' (Florida no USA 10* - Plasticover 2): http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=13215119

09 - 'Misty' (Ponzol Super 120 - La Voz medium): http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=12600246

10 - 'Old Folks' (Florida no USA 10* - Plasticover 2): http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=13291792

11 - 'Round Midnight' (Florida no USA 10* - Plasticover 2) - free: http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=13361119

12 - 'Someone To Watch Over Me' (Tone Master 8 - La Voz medium): http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=12325863

13 - 'Stardust' (Early Babbitt 12 - Plasticover 2): http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=11626477

14 - 'Sweet Lorraine' (Four**** 8* JvW - La Voz medium): http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=12161807

15 - 'You Don't Know What Love Is' (Early Babbitt 8* - La Voz medium): http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=12461532

Sorry for the thread pollution!
It's going to take me a bit to get through all of them! But I'll do it!
 
#30 ·
That is quite an impressive list Mrpeebee. I just listened to all of them and they all have your
distinctive tone, your signature sound of the huge tipped mouthpiece. For me a few stand out.
Your very amusing take on Round Midnight. Lots of humor in there. I also like Old Folks and I didn't know what time it was.
 
#50 ·
Wow JNB, that was a lot of listening! Thanks for you comments and the ones you mentioned are also for me some of the better (or less bad!) ones.

Checked your takes too, very tasteful and lovely playing as always. :)

It's going to take me a bit to get through all of them! But I'll do it!
Dave, don't feel obligated to listen too all. I know you're a busy person (and also already hosting the current TOTM).

Just found this- I recorded it back when I did the John Coltrane TOTM- here's Central Park West

https://app.box.com/s/wtlzmc4nph8gdzzkxrb32ryjf6ugnwrf
I remember that one, you're a real master of the horn and capable of playing many styles on a very high level. :)

On the topic of organizing/finding back your own sound clips: I now have about 400 recordings done since October 2010 (when I bought my USB microphone and started recording for TOTM threads) and created some time ago an Excel file with filter and search options to easily find back which tunes I've done on which equipment and a link to where I posted the sound clip on internet. In that way it's very easy to manage and find back your own stuff in a very short time.

I also posted that Excel file online on Microsoft Onedrive with a shared link here:
https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=DB1B9FCF95C4ED77!209&authkey=!AI1ThotWvmFan_8&ithint=file,xlsx

mrpeebee,,, Starting your double ballads album now, ha. Alfie as I said is a fave of mine. You done it proud. Really suited it you did.

Body and soul 1, again lovely rich tenor sound. Any of your many mps you sound very nice.
Thanks Dave :).
 
#39 ·
Okay, there have been some great takes I've had the pleasure of listening to... A little under 2 years ago I returned to playing after an almost 29 year hiatus. I've been practicing diligently and working with a great instructor. I'm definitely more in the beginner/intermediate class but the lessons are working, when I listen to my instructor ;)

My Funny Valentine, straight off of Aebersold.
 
#40 ·
mrpeebee,,, Starting your double ballads album now, ha. Alfie as I said is a fave of mine. You done it proud. Really suited it you did.

Body and soul 1, again lovely rich tenor sound. Any of your many mps you sound very nice.
 
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