Leonard Smalls

When I first discovered jazz I thought it was an incredibly broad church ranging from the Dixie type 20s stuff all the way to the free improv of Peter Brotzmann and Derek Bailey... That it was about both innovation, huge skill [I]and[/I] tradition. How wrong could I be! It seems that jazz is only about playing other people's music (or variations of) using the legally-allowed instrumentation. If it doesn't fit into those exact parameters it's no longer "real" jazz, it's some sort of bastardisation, like it's been diluted by rock or funk and become (spits) [I]fusion[/I]. It's as if all the folks who wrote the standards did so in isolation, without having heard any of the melodies or other musical genres of the time. And here's some Prime Time: [MEDIA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQmOv3TCUsM[/MEDIA]

I play loudly - often at full gig volume, especially if the Mrs is out. The neighbours can swivel! However,as they're a least 100m away and my walls are 3' stone rubble-filled I'd need to be playing through Motorhead's PA for them to hear me. Living in the middle of nowhere is excellent for playing loud music...

[quote name='Woodinblack' timestamp='1436998386' post='2822781'] That is a track I always loved. I never really liked that much else they did. But I am going through the 80s and 90s at the moment, looking for other covers for a 3 piece! [/quote] Twas 1979, but I always wanted to cover this: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jSqLJsDJgw[/media]

And Bauhaus. And the Cramps. Later (85ish), the Chilli Peppers appeared before they were a pop band...

That's cos he's round my house. This time he's brought Omar Hakim, James Carter and David Fiuczynski along with a case of Woodford Reserve and 2 cases of Newton's Unfiltered Merlot... Which reminds me, must get Rentokil round. I've been infested with [i]musicians[/i]!

I normally just give him a ring and he pops round with Dennis Chambers and Maceo Parker.

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1436355176' post='2817362'] T Hope this helps [/quote] I'm afraid it doesn't, as now I might have to spend money! I had no idea things like this existed - I'd been laboriously building midi parts or splicing loops in new and strange ways when I could have had Herbie Hancock to play it at the push of a button!

The Nescafe wave is often appropriate in cases of excessive crooning.... Shoobedoobiewah!

Full noise removal isn't cheap... You'd need to buy Cedar or Sonic Solutions No Noise - both of which are £000s! However, you might find that a combination of Audacity's noise removal tool, plus notch filtering, with perhaps a noise gate done in a few passes (little bites often sounds better than few big bites!) might sort-of sort it!

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1436343750' post='2817195'] All good now. Like it, I'm listening whilst enjoying my first very lovely coffee of the day. Enjoying the smoothness of both the coffee and your tune. [/quote] Cheers! Not often one of my choonz gets called smooth!

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1436340021' post='2817136'] I can't have a listen to your work as the link won't work for me [/quote] Oops.. I'd just deleted it as I wasn't happy with some levels. Hopefully it's all fixed now!

'Ere's mine: [url="http://soundcloud.com/dredd-and-the-badass-weed/superman-dont-need-no-seatbelt"]Superman Don't Need No Seatbelt[/url] There's no bagpipes or chickens but be warned - it's got me singing....

Mine's got a title, and vocals... Just a liberal smear of reverb, and the too-loud stench of an electric bass guitar and we're away!

Handsome!

About once a year for me - for our annual gig! However, I make lots of music home alone...

Very nice though there may be complaints about the length Talking of which, in an effort to reduce the level of fiddling I've slipped in some horn.

[quote name='the boy' timestamp='1435870387' post='2813286'] Lol.... Whatever works. Your entry is getting one of my votes for that post alone. Fookin pi$$ed myself. [/quote] Why thank you! You may change your mind after having a listen! However, I've been fiddling with it (the "song", that is!) over breakfast and it's growing on me. But it could be similar to how over-exposure to violence on TV desensitises you...

There's a tune! [size=2]of sorts[/size]

To paraphrase Sally Webster in Coronation Street (she was talking to Kevin): I don't know what I've been doing all day but I've come home stupid... Somehow I've managed to do crooning vocals on top of a big beat backing complete with an Indian chant. This one's definitely going to need rolling in glitter, plus 3 coats of varnish and a hand-carved presentation box!

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1435830016' post='2812752'] Once again, it's not going to get any better if I mess around with it any more, and so I offer you ... [url="https://soundcloud.com/dad3353/concrete-jungle-solid-air"]Concrete Jungle, Solid Air ...[/url] Enjoy. [/quote] Nice! Yea verily 'tis an Advanced Groove Engine!

Talking of rubbish, I may also be onto something. Perhaps with a bit of a vocal melody!

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1435756207' post='2812145'] Freeform jazz..? I need to reflect over a cup of tea and a biscuit or three..."[/i]) [/quote] Freeform is always the answer. And once you've come to that conclusion you deserve cake, not just biscuits! [quote name='fingers211' timestamp='1435758806' post='2812181'] Interesting photo, she obviously has a matching set at home....... [/quote] I was thinking of calling my compo "Washday, got no clothes" after one of Arnie's early lines in The Terminator!

I've already got a working title: "Krapp's Last Tapeworm".

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1435744744' post='2811960'] So you're retired too, huh..? [/quote] Frayed knot! As it's my day off I'm just looking for excuses not to have to weed the Lonicera, plant a clematis, clean dog poo from the lawn (and usually off the raised beds, the little scamps) and rake out the old cement mortar in the back wall ready to replace with lime. It's driving me round the bend!

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1435737556' post='2811867'] This, too, is true. [/quote] Perhaps being billed as "Leonard Smalls' No. 2" didn't help... And where's the next photo? I could have written, recorded and produced yet another smash hit by now!