"Perfect" time can easily sound rushed in relation to a song. I didn't say it sounded like you sped up, or wavered in time... I felt that certain parts of the song sounded rushed, especially where the snare was concerned. There really is a reason people generally prefer human time in Jazz. It's part of the expression and the color in the song.
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First off, thanks. And I wouldn't disagree on the human feel , but since I also played bass, there was no other way. Also, jazz usually isn't recorded like this because there's no need to do so. Then again, a lot of stuff can sound stiff even when played in real time! Just listen to Neil Peart play swing! lol
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There were a few points where it stood out to me in your example here. I think, a lot of times, when you lock to un-naturally perfect click-time you lose (for the most part) real objectivity in those aspects.
I should also note that I have always been very sensitive to machine-like timing in music.(another bias of mine) It often puts me off even in music where most people would prefer metronome accuracy.
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Again, I agree though it's very subjective. Sometimes when playing things that I've been used to doing without perfect time, once it's put to perfect time, it feels stiff. But to the listener, I think perfect time always feels better. Of course, it can't be machine-like precision -- it still has to breath. I always felt Steely Dan sounded a little too "machine like to me. Again, just a perspective.
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The actual playing in this example was stellar... Some amazing ride work, and great musicianship all around... It just felt slightly odd to me, and even that was only at certain times when it was more obvious.
Maybe check on another forum, and don't tell them about your use of a click? If you don't mind, I would be interested to see if others hear it as well.
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It's funny -- at first I was promoting the fact that it was done this way but it put a prejudice in some people's mind -- so I stopped and just let the music speak for itself. I've had some reviews of the CD and they've been pretty positive.
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The performance itself nearly makes up for any time-rigidity I hear... And might negate it for others who aren't thinking from the same way as I.
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Here's another track -- much looser in approach, I believe. If you get a chance, check it out and let me know what you think.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQHomzf8JUg
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