What is the Best Saxophone Song?

[Kevin_Axion]

I just learned this on piano:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLFVGwGQcB0

 

[ThomasT]

mbv-LcdLY-Y[/youtube] [MEDIA=youtube]wsnMFfMmV8I[/MEDIA]

 

[ThomasT]

 

[OmCheeto]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qpD75bN-n4

Something about hugging trees, snow, bright sunshine, rain, and a crazy weatherfront heading this way, made me love this old song again a few minutes ago.

 

[BobG]

I like this song by The Pretenders

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avMwkOnv6j0

Or, maybe this version better. It's a song about my old home town. In fact, I went to the same high school Chrissie Hynde went to, except she's a few years older than me:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HA56J8zlAdo

There's a funny story about Limbaugh using that song as his opening theme. He used it without permission and things were fine for years until he decided to brag about it and make fun of her being a vegetarian and a PETA supporter. She sued him for copyright violations and they eventually settled out of court with Limbaugh having to make annual donations to PETA in order to keep using the song.

 

[ThomasT]

I like this song by The Pretenders

Me too. Thanks for posting it.
...

There's a funny story about Limbaugh using that song as his opening theme. He used it without permission and things were fine for years until he decided to brag about it and make fun of her being a vegetarian and a PETA supporter. She sued him for copyright violations and they eventually settled out of court with Limbaugh having to make annual donations to PETA in order to keep using the song.

 

[turbo]

Ricky and Tony. Two of the best.



Patty Loveless, Ricky, and Vince Gill the closet bass player!

 

[rootX]

 

[lisab]

Because it's very icy on the roads in my teeny little part of the world...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_H-LY4Jb2M&feature=related

...and because I see my daughter tomorrow...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9Nj5xLuT6c&feature=related

 

[rootX]

Because it's very icy on the roads in my teeny little part of the world...

...and because I see my daughter tomorrow..

... and because it's weekend!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR8jOJZERhs

 

[Kevin_Axion]

Here are two more I just began learning on piano:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1-TrAvp_xs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuaGzzFmUKo

 

[ThomasT]

Here are two more I just began learning on piano:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuaGzzFmUKo

This is one of my favorites by Satie. Just beautiful stuff. This is a really well played version I think. But I'm no expert.

When I was much much younger I used to learn Satie, Ravel, DeBussy, Bach, Beethoven, etc. measure by measure with no formal training. Of course, even when I hit all the right notes I'm pretty sure I wasn't interpreting the music quite right.

The beauty is in the subleties of the attacks and resonances.

Anyway, I can identify with your affinity for this stuff and what I suppose to be what you're experiencing in wanting to, and trying to learn to, play it really well.

 

[ThomasT]

Here's Ravel playing his Jeaux D'eau.

 

[Kevin_Axion]

Here's Ravel playing his Jeaux D'eau.

Very beautiful.

 

[ThomasT]

A particularly nice version of Debussy's Claire de Lune. I used to, 40-45 years ago, get the Musical Heritage Society discs to the good stuff, and the sheet music, and work through it measure by measure. This was great music 100 years ago, it's great music now, and I'm guessing that it will be considered great music for as long as human beings are playing and listening to music.

 

[Kevin_Axion]

I absolutely love listening to that song and playing it, it's so soothing, like sitting lake-side with the moon and stars hanging above you and glistening on the water. It makes me happy.

 

[ThomasT]

I absolutely love listening to that song and playing it, it's so soothing, like sitting lake-side with the moon and stars hanging above you and glistening on the water. It makes me happy.

Me too. Great stuff. But when I play it I always make some little mistake that pisses me off. So, when I really want some sublime peace, I just listen to the masters. God save the internet (and the recording industry -- except for their rather high prices). (I'm an atheist, by the way.)

Anyway, your musical avocation (or is it your profession) will, I think, serve you well for the entirety of your life.

What are some more of your favorites?

 

[Kevin_Axion]

I'm an atheist too, and I just began taking lessons but I learn more advanced songs for fun. I'm also in grade 11 so this isn't my job .
Here's a list of my favourites:

Vladimir Horowitz - Chopin Polonaise in A-flat major, Op. 53:
Beethoven's Tempest Sonata mvt. 3 -- Wilhelm Kempff:
Wilhelm Kempff plays Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata mvt. 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqSulR9Fymg&feature=related
Vladimir Horowitz - Variation on a theme of Bizet's - Carmen:
Vladimir Horowitz - Chopin Piano Sonata No. 2:
Horowitz plays Chopin Ballade 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhnRIuGZ_dc&feature=related
Erik Satie - Gymnopédie No.1:
Erik Satie - Gnossienne No.1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLFVGwGQcB0&feature=related
Erik Satie - Gnossienne No. 3:
Erik Satie "Gnossienne No. 4" (1891):
Clair de Lune:
Mozart Piano Sonata in C, K. 545: (part 1), http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK4vWzQCQxU&feature=fvwrel (part 2)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Piano Concerto No. 21 - Andante: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df-eLzao63I&feature=related
Mozart - Requiem: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi8vJ_lMxQI&feature=related
Mozart - Lacrimosa: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1-TrAvp_xs&feature=related
Mozart-The Marriage of Figaro:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OZCypLcGw (for fun!)
Chopin Nocturne Op.9 No.2 (Arthur Rubinstein):

Chopin's Op.25 No.12 'Ocean' Etude:
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Symphony 40 in G min KV 550:
Beethoven Symphony 9 in D minor Op. 125:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4OMXkiPu8Y&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9tJjrxTA2I&feature=fvwrel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77sCwyjAhhU&feature=fvwrel
(Sony took down the rest of the symphony, there should be no restriction on historical pieces.

 

[ThomasT]

I'm an atheist too, and I just began taking lessons but I learn more advanced songs for fun. I'm also in grade 11 so this isn't my job .

I thought you might be a bit older. I got into the classical stuff after high school. Still young though.

Here's a list of my favourites:

Vladimir Horowitz - Chopin Polonaise in A-flat major, Op. 53:
Beethoven's Tempest Sonata mvt. 3 -- Wilhelm Kempff:
Wilhelm Kempff plays Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata mvt. 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqSulR9Fymg&feature=related
Vladimir Horowitz - Variation on a theme of Bizet's - Carmen:
Vladimir Horowitz - Chopin Piano Sonata No. 2:
Horowitz plays Chopin Ballade 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhnRIuGZ_dc&feature=related
Erik Satie - Gymnopédie No.1:
Erik Satie - Gnossienne No.1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLFVGwGQcB0&feature=related
Erik Satie - Gnossienne No. 3:
Erik Satie "Gnossienne No. 4" (1891):
Clair de Lune:
Mozart Piano Sonata in C, K. 545: (part 1), http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK4vWzQCQxU&feature=fvwrel (part 2)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Piano Concerto No. 21 - Andante: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df-eLzao63I&feature=related
Mozart - Requiem: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi8vJ_lMxQI&feature=related
Mozart - Lacrimosa: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1-TrAvp_xs&feature=related
Mozart-The Marriage of Figaro:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OZCypLcGw&feature=related (for fun!)
Chopin Nocturne Op.9 No.2 (Arthur Rubinstein):

Chopin's Op.25 No.12 'Ocean' Etude:
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Symphony 40 in G min KV 550:
Beethoven Symphony 9 in D minor Op. 125:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4OMXkiPu8Y&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9tJjrxTA2I&feature=fvwrel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77sCwyjAhhU&feature=fvwrel
(Sony took down the rest of the symphony, there should be no restriction on historical pieces.

Thanks for the list. Mozart hasn't been one of my favorites. However it's almost a certainty that I might be missing something and still have a lot to learn. No doubt he was supremely talented. Maybe I'm just jealous. Anyway, though I've heard some (most?) of the stuff here, there are probably links to music that I've either not listened to yet, or not listened to closely enough.

I notice you've listed some Chopin. A particular favorite of mine, after the French Impressionists -- and Bach. The 'Revolutionary' Etude was somewhat difficult to learn to play well. All of the compositions present particular technical hurdles (little 'Everests' in a manner of speaking -- sort of like solving integrals in the early days, but more difficult).

Anyway, thanks again for the list. It will keep me in great music for the foreseeable future (I'm 64 so I don't project too far ahead).
And keep practicing! You'll be glad that you did when you get to be my age.
Cheers

 

[Kevin_Axion]

Mozart like most composers is either deeply enjoyed or disliked. I very much enjoy his music but there are some songs that I don't.

 

[ThomasT]

Mozart like most composers is either deeply enjoyed or disliked. I very much enjoy his music but there are some songs that I don't.

Good point. But I can't say that there's anything by Mozart that I don't like. Just that his stuff isn't my favorite. This might be due to a predisposition toward other sorts of music that I was exposed to before listening to Mozart. I've heard some of his stuff performed live on piano and it's absolutely wonderful music. Just not my favorite music. There's no accounting for taste, right?

 

[ThomasT]

For example Kevin, I would say that I like this stuff more than Mozart (but not necessarily more than, say, Handel, or Neil Young -- in any case, I think one has to admit that this is cool stuff, and fun, as in joyous, to play):

 

[ThomasT]

Here's something by a guy, Carl Eichman, that I did a couple of tunes with (not including this one). He's a very gifted and accomplished guitarist, composer and arranger.

 

[lisab]

Love that freaky banjo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmy113gMds0

 

[mugaliens]

Love that freaky banjo.

Me, too, but he's really missing some freaky bongos.

 

[BobG]

Mean Mary


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QX-SeEf2P-o

 

[DevilsAvocado]

A particularly nice version of Debussy's Claire de Lune.

Absolutely wonderful. :!)

I don’t know if you guys dig jazz?? Anyway, this ballad "Too Young to Go Steady" performed by John Coltrane (recorded in 1962) puts me in the same mode as Claire. Turn down the light, pour a glass of wine, light a candle, smoke if you smoke, and enter the parallel "Coltrane universe"...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07WYPIX8Nuw

I’m sucker for jazz ballads/standards... I just can’t help it... started out as "nuttyheavy metal guitarist", and then it all went down the jazzy hill!

By chance I bumped into this guy; http://www.podiatrysoftware.com/jazzpiano/" . He uses computer MIDI backing tracks with a real groove. Some might groan "LOUNGE music!", but he’s really good! And it’s also fun if you want to learn...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKepagIwljg

 

[ThomasT]

I don’t know if you guys dig jazz?? Anyway, this ballad "Too Young to Go Steady" performed by John Coltrane (recorded in 1962) puts me in the same mode as Claire. Turn down the light, pour a glass of wine, light a candle, smoke if you smoke, and enter the parallel "Coltrane universe"...

I’m sucker for jazz ballads/standards... I just can’t help it... started out as "nuttyheavy metal guitarist", and then it all went down the jazzy hill!

By chance I bumped into this guy; http://www.podiatrysoftware.com/jazzpiano/" . He uses computer MIDI backing tracks with a real groove. Some might groan "LOUNGE music!", but he’s really good! And it’s also fun if you want to learn...

Hi DA, sure I like all kinds of jazz. Great tune by Coltrane. And, yeah, that's the way to listen to good jazz done really well (low light, preferably candle, and some wine) -- the smooth/mellow stuff anyway. So you're a musician, eh? Glad to hear it.

Friedman can play. Maybe I'll use his videos to learn some of the stuff he does.

I found the following at soundclick.com -- the guy, calls himself Gatormon, has a nice fluid style. All his own stuff I think.
http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=6529307&q=hi

 

[lisab]

Dave Brubeck - Strange Meadowlark

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HUEiUOCLeI

:!)

 

[DevilsAvocado]

Hi DA, sure I like all kinds of jazz. Great tune by Coltrane. And, yeah, that's the way to listen to good jazz done really well (low light, preferably candle, and some wine) -- the smooth/mellow stuff anyway. So you're a musician, eh? Glad to hear it.

Friedman can play. Maybe I'll use his videos to learn some of the stuff he does.

I found the following at soundclick.com -- the guy, calls himself Gatormon, has a nice fluid style. All his own stuff I think.
http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=6529307&q=hi

Cool! Now I know you love this stuff...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMN4U-Alqfc

... amazing improvisation ...


P.S.
Me = happy amateur, Keith Jarrett = real musician

PS2
Is Friedman an 'established' musician over there? (I’ve never heard of him before)

 

[DevilsAvocado]

Dave Brubeck - Strange Meadowlark
:!)

Cool cat! High five, Take Five! :!)

 

[ThomasT]

Cool! Now I know you love this stuff...

I posted some Bill Evans a bunch of pages back.

... amazing improvisation ...

Yes it's really hard to solo improvise and be fluid and musically interesting and making somewhat emotionally moving music at the same time.

P.S.
Me = happy amateur, Keith Jarrett = real musician

Me too = happy amateur.

PS2
Is Friedman an 'established' musician over there? (I’ve never heard of him before)

I have no idea if he's an 'established' musician here. But from the video it's apparent that he can play. When I checked out his website that you linked to a cool tune automatically played. Good stuff. But, no, I've never heard of him before either -- at least I don't think so.

And of course any Dave Brubeck (recently linked to by lisab) is good listening .

But I like that banjo stuff a few posts back at least as much. Let the music (any kind of music played well by accomplished musicians) flow!

 

[Andre]

Related to "time is what life is made of"

 

[DevilsAvocado]

I posted some Bill Evans a bunch of pages back.

Great! He’s one of "My Favorite Things"! :!)

Yes it's really hard to solo improvise and be fluid and musically interesting and making somewhat emotionally moving music at the same time.

That’s what differ a "happy amateur" from a pro.

But I like that banjo stuff a few posts back at least as much. Let the music (any kind of music played well by accomplished musicians) flow!

Absolutely! My love #2 is blues. Nothing better than a real fat guitar!

Who said Swedes can’t play the blues...??

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYqtQxlWYvU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hN2QQ0I8Wj8&feature=BF&list=ULl9KPro6rETo&index=1

... gives me 'goose skin' ...Same guy and his Fat Guitar:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDOPPbnLeIk

(amateur capture = bad mixing )

 

[turbo]

I have seen Bonnie several times in concert - she is a fantastic live performer.