Piano trio recording - Speak No Evil

[Drummer Karl]

Hi!

I thought I`d share a song we recorded last weekend. It`s our interpretation of Wayne Shorter`s classic "Speak No Evil". No swing but a kind of DnB version...
The sound is unmixed and unedited, next week all seven songs should be finished. We`re going to sell the CD, maybe also over CDBaby etc. so if you`re interested, just let me know. ;-)

We recorded the songs on two days, actually this was just the second studio situation for us so I hoep that more sessions will follow. We`d be looking forward to really produce an album in a professional studio...but first we have to practice. =)

Let me know what you think!

Karl

[brittc89]

Very very nice Karl. Im really enjoying it. Id say the only thing thats really jumping out at me is I would like the hear some more work with dynamics, its all heavy rim shot stuff, which sounds really nice, but I rally wanna hear some more subtlety and hear you really building this past the bass solo. Also, really take some more chances and lay some stuff out there, it doesnt have to be flashy, but I just wanna hear some risk taking, jumping and not knowing what youll land on till your feet hit the ground. One more thing, just personal taste, but I feel like that B section is begging for a big open swing, but thats just me. SOunds great Karl, I love hearing you play, youve come such an infinitely long way from those first recordings I heard.

[aydee]

This is jazz week on DW. First Britt, then Stan, then you! : )... very nice , as always Karl. I specially enjoyed the 2nd half of the tune tune where I thought you opened up more from the tight DnB thing.. thats what I always want to hear more of from your playing! more expression, more Karl!

I hope the CD thing works out and when its out, you can count on at least sale on this forum.

Thanks for sharing.

[Drummer Karl]

Very very nice Karl. Im really enjoying it. Id say the only thing thats really jumping out at me is I would like the hear some more work with dynamics, its all heavy rim shot stuff, which sounds really nice, but I rally wanna hear some more subtlety and hear you really building this past the bass solo. Also, really take some more chances and lay some stuff out there, it doesnt have to be flashy, but I just wanna hear some risk taking, jumping and not knowing what youll land on till your feet hit the ground. One more thing, just personal taste, but I feel like that B section is begging for a big open swing, but thats just me. SOunds great Karl, I love hearing you play, youve come such an infinitely long way from those first recordings I heard.

Britt,
thanks A LOT for your honest opinion about the song. I appreciate it buddy!
Well, my personal intention for the song was to deliver either nothing or the whole cake. Especially in the beginning I was trying to get myself to a very very clean musical point. I wanted to play a straight thing, without many ghost notes here and there.
Yet it`s supposed to become free after some time.
To conclude: I wanted to keep it straight with the rimshots, I thought about suddenly giving the whole thing fuel, like a Galardo would get to 80 mph within a few seconds. This could be a silly intention though.

And I agree with your second point. Playing more risky is hard for me in a recording situation, moreover I`m still trying to "learn" how to escape from "dangerous" situations where you`re almost falling....er...to paraphrase Billy Ward at this point.

Thanks again for your thoughts man, I`ll consider and work on this!

This is jazz week on DW. First Britt, then Stan, then you! : )... very nice , as always Karl. I specially enjoyed the 2nd half of the tune tune where I thought you opened up more from the tight DnB thing.. thats what I always want to hear more of from your playing! more expression, more Karl!

I hope the CD thing works out and when its out, you can count on at least sale on this forum.

Thanks for sharing.

Hehe, yes, it is!! Glad you like it...as Britt said, it could be riskier! Indeed, I`m going out of the straight thing in the second half, maybe like a soccer team which gets more aggressive in the second half. =)
Anyway, I`ll keep up working on this.

PS: Well, I think we`re not going to pay another big buck for a professional cover etc. I guess when visiting the near professional studio with a perfectly tuned grand piano we`ll spend more money for the look and CD presentation.

Thanks very much!

Karl

[Steamer]

I don't make a point of offering comments much on others playing since I like to let people figure out their musical path as time goes on especially the younger players. When I teach one on one professionally that's a different story altogether Karl :}

Having said that i'll offer a few personal observations since you asked for some feedback. You can loosen up the time feel a bit and fill in the figures and melody using the whole kit. Think Jack Dejohnette, more color and chances over the bar lines. Also you could give it more frontward floating motion by setting up and placing even more emphasis on the anticipations in the head/melody. You are doing that already to a degree just make them even more syncopated sounding and flowing.

Hope this helps but remember its just my ears talking which is why I usually reserve making comments.... oh and yes I liked it buddy :}

[larryace]

I think you played very tastefully and profesionally. I think one of the hallmarks of a good drum part is when it inspires others to think...."If I were you I would have played this here..." In other words sometimes it's what you don't give them that actually adds a lot. I would be proud of this. I liked the whole feel you gave it.

[Deltadrummer]

I love this tune. It's so Zen. it's not what you say, it's . . .

You guys have an interesting arrangement. You guys are good. I am going into the studio at the end of the month with my band. Listening a lot has really caused me to re-think our approach to some of the material. The arranging can make the difference between a good tack and a great track, and you guys really made that happen here. I think Stan offered some excellent advice about making the song breath. That Stan. Where would we be without him?

[KCDrummer]

Man, I LOVE the D&B feel for this tune! I don't think a lot of Shorter's stuff works with anything other than the original feel (a credit to Shorter's vision IMO) but this really grooves. Definitely a "Bad Plus" kinda vibe.

Nice work man, keep it up.

[KCDrummer]

BTW, I'm probably gonna steal this idea and do it with my trio :P

[The Colonel]

take some more chances and lay some stuff out there, it doesnt have to be flashy, but I just wanna hear some risk taking, jumping and not knowing what youll land on till your feet hit the ground.



My lawyers will be contacting you shortly, Britt.


Karl - darling - baby - there's so much high end on this recording! the snare and rim clicks and ...everything: My ears hurt (and I have really nice headphones). it sounds okay really quiet - but when I turn it to the "if it were live" area, it's really really high end...at least here at my computer.

Playing:

Like the idea- and like hearing you with some electric keys/bass - nice change of pace.

But if you're gonna go for a real DnB thing, what Britt [copied from me verbatim] - gotta take some more risks or put out a stronger drum-part altogether. It's good. But it could be much more interesting - more "go for the throat".

Bass solo...meh - again "if you're gonna go for a real DnB thing" - I wouldn't have this kind of bass solo, at all - sounds like a college bassist's recital. I would stick with a very "part"-sounding bass solo - rather than a "jazz improvisational" solo...or just do without it at all. (am I alone here? not a fan of 90% of all bass solos, and while I'm on it, trading 4's) And give me something drum-wise behind that bass solo. The keys seem to be on autopilot too - nothing really interesting going on in the bass solo - what can you guys do to make that a really great part of a song? Or are you all being democratic with people all getting to solo? I dunno...

In regards to *taking more chances* - the last [syncopated] phrase of the head, going back to the top - after you've played it once (*maybe* twice) straight-laced, I would maybe do something *very* subtle the 2nd time and then, getting ahead of myself chronologically here, maybe do some sort of fill/solo over it the last time - some fireworks to end the song - rather than play it how you've been playing it every time. Or loop part of that phrase with a chunk of it chopped off at the end so you play the first 6 1/2 beats - break up the 4/4 with a half bar in there and loop it and go nuts (think "Mew" in terms of some broken 1/2 beats in there) ...just an idea (that I'm not fully stating well) (...and if you don't know Mew, get their two albums - 3rd coming soon! they're from the Denmark, I think, so you guys are probably roommates, right?)

The drumming is tight throughout and there's some nice little things time-wise that you always do that always enhances my thought that you're one of the people here that mention something in the Technique section and can back it up with your playing. Everything is solid, and *nice* and *good* - I want more from you, cuz I know you can deliver it, and the piano trio setting is the perfect place to give more.

If you're worried about the recording atmosphere of it all - are the mics all in your grill or are they around the room? does the recording room not feel comfortable? What can you do to make it comfortable? and if it's not your place, can you bring in some stuff to make it feel like where you all play normally? Have some friends come over while you're playing - a fake "live" recording - or something...everyone gets worried about messing up one note or playing one lick that's not good and needing to scrap the take...you don't worry about that kind of stuff when you're just playing to play - so try to do something to create that atmosphere or mentality with everyone. (Coltrane would fart on McCoy's leg to loosen him up before a take)



(....that last part isn't true... but it *could* be!)

You guys just need to fart on each other's legs and loosen up before you play. But everything sounds good - I want more than "good" from you, Karl.

[brittc89]

My lawyers will be contacting you shortly, Britt.


Hahahaha, im waiting colonel, that copyrighted phrase just seems to make tooooo much sense.

[The Colonel]

Britt, you're awake to make that post and you don't pick up your phone? I am shocked. That is shocking. No call back? Boo, sir. Boo.

[MaxG]

Very nice Karl, I like it!

cheers
max

[lochday]

I'm late but just discovered. It's litle gem and I did like it. BRAVO.

[Freddie Freeloader]

hey karl, i'm happy to hear you sound so good. your groove is so solid. it's sometimes hard to let loose in the studio, but you definitely held it together. i'm excited to hear what else you've been upto.

[The Colonel]

Man, I LOVE the D&B feel for this tune! I don't think a lot of Shorter's stuff works with anything other than the original feel (a credit to Shorter's vision IMO) but this really grooves. Definitely a "Bad Plus" kinda vibe.

Nice work man, keep it up.



Didn't see this the first time...

Have you tried playing all of Wayne's tunes differently? or is this just something you'd decided on in the moment?

I just rocked a sweet version of Witch-Hunt in my brain...and now I'm going through some Soothsayer tracks, (again, in my brain) and they're sounding like good ideas to me.

I'm surrounded by terrible ranchero music out here - I would love to hear some Shorter songs as accordian polka.

[Drummer Karl]

Hi!

Thanks a bunch for the constructive criticism everybody!! I really appreciate your support Colonel. Thanks for your honest opinion and the tips man!

Well, we`re acutally doing this song by Wayne in this kind of way regularly. I dunno, at the moment, the influences of ourselves run over us...every day, every night. "Ah Max, listen to these, and these...and those..." Well, and I listen to a lot of Electronic stuff, Nu-Jazz etc. lately. To a lot of Avishai Cohen Trio...with Mark Guiliana on drums. Especially "Gently Disturbed" is doing it for me right now. Then again, there`s the swing. Pure swing. Adam Arruda, Cory Cox, still the Bill Stewart thing...up to Art Blakey.

This ends up to get mixed and trust me when I`m saying that it feels like mixing diamond and milk. At the moment I can`t imagine this synthesis well...well, we three (especially the pianist and myself) are going through a musical process of diverse new influences at the moment.

Okay, something else: All the tunes are mixed finally, the CD will be available soon! You can listen to some of the songs here:

www.myspace.com/karldegenhardt

or here:

www.myspace.com/bluebreaktrio

Karl

[brittc89]

Man, I LOVE the D&B feel for this tune! I don't think a lot of Shorter's stuff works with anything other than the original feel (a credit to Shorter's vision IMO) but this really grooves. Definitely a "Bad Plus" kinda vibe.

Nice work man, keep it up.

What about Footprints Live? He changes the feel on plenty of tunes and they sound great.