Good night, and good luck
So, I had my second rehearsal with the band this afternoon. And it went much, much better.
We sailed through the tunes, and while we still had to work on certain things, of course, something had definitely kicked in and we were sounding much tighter and more together and more, well, like a band.
After yesterday’s experience, I came to today’s rehearsal with two things in mind. One: that I would lead the band more, and be firmer about what I wanted and didn’t want (a trick which came in useful when D suggested bringing his keyboard in to add string sounds to a lovely ballad we’d just done). And two: that it would be a good idea to put a couple of CDs together for the guys - one a compilation of songs in my repertoire which they don’t know (eg. Nancy Wilson singing ‘Save Your Love For Me’, Harry Connick Jr doing ‘This Time The Dream’s On Me’); and the other, a copy of an album which I realised embodies exactly what I’m aiming to achieve with them: Dianne Reeves’ soundtrack to the movie Good Night, And Good Luck.
This soundtrack is, for my money, the best recent recording of jazz standards by a singer and trio (although the arranger, Matt Catingub, also features on sax). And what Ms Reeves and her band (Peter Martin on piano, Jeff Hamilton on drums, Robert Hurst and Chris Luty on bass, and Alex Acuna on percussion) have achieved is, quite simply, a great collection of standards performed wonderfully in a very straightforward way.
So, not surprisingly, it’s my benchmark for a what will be, ultimately, a gig which is solely about singing jazz standards with a trio in a straightforward way… six nights a week. I’m not trying to reinvent the wheel - hell, I’m so straightforward, I don’t even scat sing - and besides, that’s not what they want me to do*. I’m also not aiming to copy Dianne Reeves in any way. But to make this gig as enjoyable as possible - for myself, the band and the audience - I need to aim for what she and her musicians proved with the Good Night, And Good Luck soundtrack. Namely, that you can perform standards in a very ’straight’ way, and provided you do so with taste, conviction and musicality, it isn’t the slightest bit boring. Indeed, hopefully, if I can even hope to aspire to Ms Reeves’ accomplishment, it’s not only not boring: it’s wonderful, sublime music-making.
(To hear what I mean, listen here).
*More on my discoveries about Malaysian musical tastes in a later post.
January 31st, 2008 at 9.32pm
“Namely, that you can perform standards in a very ’straight’ way, and provided you do so with taste, conviction and musicality, it isn’t the slightest bit boring.”
Amen to that!
It’s amazing how many musicians seem to lose sight of that fact.
I need to check that Dianne Reeves album out. A top band and Jeff Hamilton is particularly good (for some reason he always reminds me of John Goodman).
January 31st, 2008 at 9.41pm
thanks for the backing, John :-). yes - and what’s more, the production of that album seems very ‘old school’. reading up on it, it seems that they did most of the tracks as live and straight to film; but more than that, the whole *feel* is stripped-down, and about the bare bones of the recording… which just adds to the straightforwardness of the approach, of course.
it’s something which I’m having to hold on to, because there is always some underlining implication that performing standards from the Great American Songbook is, ultimately, limited and boring. And while there’s certainly something in that - I myself have looked to pop songwriters for new, interesting material - when you find yourself, as I am here, restricted to it, there comes the realisation that it isn’t that restricting at all. it’s all about *how* you do it. and you have to find the joy, and the musicianship, in that.
January 31st, 2008 at 10.56pm
I would suggest you go for the John Shuttleworth school of entertaining.
Here’s his website for a few useful tips:
http://www.shuttleworths.co.uk/html/moviesproject.html
February 1st, 2008 at 1.24am
brilliant! ‘I Can’t Go Back To Savoury Now’ is now on my list of songs to cover - a close second to ‘Come On Baby Light My Fire’.
February 1st, 2008 at 4.30am
Haven’t come across Diane Reeves - will be looking her out, if Canadian record stores stock her! Glad to hear it’s coming together; I’m sure they will love you. I remember the humidity when I was in Singapore 20 years ago - the (unheated) outdoor pool was so warm it was almost unpleasant. And I remember vividly a dinner for expatriates we attended at which they served roast pork with apple sauce, roast potatoes and the trimmings, followed by apple crumble and custard. In 90 degree heat, 100 % humidity and no air conditioning, though it was in a room with a high ceiling and a fan which helped marginally. I’ve never forgotten it!!
Hope the sleep pattern is beginning to settle down
Andrew
February 1st, 2008 at 4.41am
Good news; found it on Amazon Canada, listened to a couple of samples, ordered it!
February 1st, 2008 at 3.12pm
thanks Andrew. that’s brilliant about the dinner - fortunately I am dining on their rather spectacular hotel buffet every night :-). sleeping pattern not quite there yet (in fact, I think I’ll write about that today!). enjoy the Dianne Reeves album; it really is lovely.
February 1st, 2008 at 7.35pm
Had any local street food yet?
February 6th, 2008 at 2.04am
To Andrea - Jazz singer and acclaimed bottom model - Mmmmmm - sounds like you’ve had a touch of the Far-East flops fug - used to get it every time I was there, especially after a room-service bottle of vino (fruit platter! yuk how healthy) and Nasi Goring, or as we named it Nasty Goring - burp……. Don’t worry Andrea ‘missing all things British’ soon dissipates when you get into the groove of life there. Sorry I haven’t visited the blog before now but life is pretty hectic here in temperature fluctuating Oxfordshire. Martin & Ben send their love (we gigged last Sunday and will do again tonight and Thursday), we were chatting about our favourite singers and hey ho your name popped up. BTW, have you heard Nightmoves yet by Master Elling? Some very YOU tunes on there which I’d love to try. Anyhow, the Big Bang calls - oh ys it’s been given a sexy dark red lick of paint downstairs now - very jazz!! Have a good one tonight if you’re on and say hi to your musicians - they’re lucy having you to play with at night (ha ha….) Take care matey. PJ x
February 6th, 2008 at 2.32am
hey Karen and I went to the big bang the other night. T’was good but we stayed upstairs.
They didn’t serve Nazi Goering though.
P
February 6th, 2008 at 12.20pm
hey Paul - great to hear from you and thanks for all your lovely words :-). love to Martin and Ben too! and I shall go buy that Kurt Elling album off iTunes tout suite. btw, I’m not missing all things British, just familiar faces. in fact, when I was at the E&O the other night, and all the people around me seemed to be British, I got that feeling when you’re abroad and you want to *feel* like you’re abroad, and therefore shudder when you hear a British accent because it seems so out of place somehow. fortunately I was alone, and therefore not talking and spoiling anyone else’s night in a similar way…
June 1st, 2010 at 12.01pm
esta chida el post