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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"

 
#156 ·
Didn't play for three weeks, but finally found some time to play this month (after lots of travel) and did record some quick and dirty takes for several TOTM/BOTM threads. Here is a ballad I did of the UK sax forum of Pete Thomas.

Back on my old Florida no USA 10* Otto Link with a soft (and dark sounding) Rico Royal 2 reed. Used a slightly faster backing from YouTube. Never played this song before but didn't have much time to practice, so it's just a one time hit and record take.

- 'Here's That Rainy Day' (Florida no USA 10* - Rico Royal 2):
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=13576767
 
#165 ·
#167 ·
very very nice (and lush) :bluewink::bluewink:
 
#169 ·
#170 ·
I recorded this week for a UK sax forum a very nice Ballad which I never played before called "This Is All I Ask (Beautiful Girls Walk a Little Slower)".

My timing is a bit straight just reading the sheet music without really knowing the tune, but I share my quick and dirty recording anyhow!

- 'This Is All I Ask' (Florida no USA 10* - Rico Royal 2):
https://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=13646612
 
#172 ·
Thanks JNB. :)

I also didn't know this song and was glad I found it last month as "Ballad Of The Month" on the UK sax forum of Pete Thomas. You can find a very nice (faster) version of Scott Hamilton and the backing and scores >here<.
 
#174 ·
Nice and open feel Alan and I like that ukulele backing. Can also here you didn't play much lately and for my taste a bit too much reverb on the sax track, but still an enjoyable take.
 
#186 ·
Here's an original:

https://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-30622.php

If you'd like to give this a go here's a link to the track without sax.
https://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-29418.php

There's also another version I've done on this site without piano and you can go all all the way back up the thread to the original template. The first link I think is interesting as the pianist and I had both recorded this and the challenge was made and accepted to try and fit as co-soloists. We both step out occasionally, yet the effort is to share and support each other. It's something rarely heard here with the emphasis almost always on a sax solo.
 
#189 ·
Here is a quick and dirty ballad style version of 'Tangerine', which I just recorded for another saxophone forum.

- 'Tangerine' (Florida no USA 10* - Rico Royal 2) ballad:
https://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=13678515
 
#190 ·
A quick blow through an old favourite, for a cold and rainy January evening recovering from flu!

 
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