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Ray Charles - really, who knew?


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1 minute ago, DroptopBroham said:

This AI has to stop

 

That was my first reaction, too…

 

local: Korg Nautilus 61 AT | Yamaha MODX8

away: GigPerformer | 16" MBP M1 Max

home: Kawai RX-2 | Korg D1 | Roland Fantom X7

 

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IIRC, he picked up the alto in his teens, around the same time he was shedding bop and more on the piano. I believe the school for the blind he attended in Jacksonville had a small jazz group with which he was able to play lots, eventually getting paying gigs in the city.

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I had seen a video (with audio) of him playing an alto sax several years back.

My impression at the time was that it really sounded like Ray, from a rhythm and style point of view.

I don't have any direct knowledge if this particular video is real or not, but based on the memory of the other video I watched a few years back my guess would be that it's real.

 

As unmistakedly Ray as his playing sounds in this video, the playing does not sound like a pro sax player as far as the tone goes, and I consider the transcription a bit generous at times for some of those triplets up in the palm keys (D and higher). Alto sax is my primary instrument, and I have a good idea of what the upper part of an alto sax ends up sounding like when someone does not have full mastery of the horn. Of course he sounds pretty good for someone who does not play the sax regularly, and who probably spent only a few days getting ready for this session. 

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1 hour ago, harmonizer said:

As unmistakedly Ray as his playing sounds in this video, the playing does not sound like a pro sax player as far as the tone goes

This. Impressive as a "second study" instrument, though.

 

Cheers, Mike.

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2 hours ago, marino said:

The original video is taken from this wonderful Brasilian concert from 1963... at 47:02

 

 


I stand corrected!

 

local: Korg Nautilus 61 AT | Yamaha MODX8

away: GigPerformer | 16" MBP M1 Max

home: Kawai RX-2 | Korg D1 | Roland Fantom X7

 

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No surprise that the alto sounds better thru the U87 than the SM58.

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Yamaha CP73; 145 gig Leslie; Nord Electro 61; Oberheim OB3^2; Wurlitzer 200A; Ampeg Gemini I amp; Speakeasy Leslie preamp; QSC K-10

(dearly departed, '58 B3, Bob Schleicher 50C Leslie now serving the Lord in Bryant AR)

 

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Slightly off topic but the video inspired me to listen again to the album Ray Charles Presents David 'Fathead' Newman (1960, avilable on Spotify under title Fathead).

 

a) Ray on alto sounds a lot like Newman on alto. I bet after a couple of weeks on the road as a full time saxophonist, Ray woul be killing it.

 

b) I am not sying Ray is another Bobby Timmons byt his comping on this record is pretty agressive and brief solos sound really nice for the soul jazz/hard bop idiom. 

 

Really enjoyable record overall. It even found its way into The Penguin Guide to Jazz.

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1 hour ago, Stefan011 said:

Slightly off topic but the video inspired me to listen again to the album Ray Charles Presents David 'Fathead' Newman (1960, avilable on Spotify under title Fathead).

...

Really enjoyable record overall. It even found its way into The Penguin Guide to Jazz.

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These are only my opinions, not supported by any actual knowledge, experience, or expertise.
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