Song For My Father (The far side of Jazz Guitar ; )

That is a really nice tone on the solo guitar Kenny. The intro is quite a trip!  Awesome jazz chops displayed sir!

A work in progress?  I wish I could end up with something like this.  Kenny, it's great to hear you play again.  I hope you're doing well.

Cool intro!

Nice piano playing. The bass is really great too. Did you play all the instruments?

These are only my thoughts. I am not a fan of this for a few reasons. Firstly the head of this tune is really nice and in this version it is actually not stated anywhere which is a shame. 
 
The guitar soloing sounds like scale practice over chords. Way too many notes. The soling does not actually say anything. Think how would Carlos Santanna or David Gilmour play a solo over this.  Very sparingly I would suggest. The solos could be born out of the head as well. They need to relate to it more I feel. 
 
My father died in 1989 the year I graduated from my Jazz degree. I played this tune first at my recital. (on drums) I also did a beautiful ambient synth intro but over the chord changes and I hinted at the melody.  I had a real nice ensemble for this and a very nice trumpet player played the head and took a really nice understated Miles type solo. It had a big impact emotionally.
 
But Kenny I love your playing though and would love to hear you playing like this in a different setting maybe. I am a bit particular about Song for My Father!

I dig this also. I'd respectfully disagree with the comment that the solo isn't saying anything. First off, it says, "I've got chops."  :)
 
Song for My Father is typically played slower than this, isn't it? Kind of a bossa feel, usually. So if you are going to do a speed funk version, would it make sense to "have less notes" and solo it like it's a ballad? I don't think so. So perhaps Jeff's not digging the tempo choice, which is his prerogative of course. 
 
But I think the soloing is pretty cool, given this faster tempo. My question would be, do you need the space odessy stuff at the beginning?
 
nice one Kenny! tasty bass playing as well . . .
-Tom
 
 

jamesg1213
That is a really nice tone on the solo guitar Kenny. The intro is quite a trip!  Awesome jazz chops displayed sir!

 
Thank You Sir James your kind words are much appreciated .
 

daryl1968
Hi Kenny - I hope you are well.
Nice trippy start. Great playing and the mix sounds live which has to be a good thing right?

Hi Daryl ,
 
Yes, I'm hanging in there the best I know how too...
Generally , when I record I tend to shoot for a Live type of sound and feel in most areas...
Someday I hope to get to the point where I can sound Studio Polished along the lines of the type of song productions you do .
 
Thanks for taking the time to listen + also giving me The SoundCloud like
 

Lynn
A work in progress?  I wish I could end up with something like this.  Kenny, it's great to hear you play again.  I hope you're doing well.

Hi Lynn,
 
Yes, this song version is totally a work in progress ...
I haven't been here participating  on the songs forum in a long time . I wanted to get back here ...
In the days of old here on this forum , I used to post a knarly half baked song every so often and folks would give me that extra little kick in the pants to get me back on track ....Let's see how it turns out this time 
thank you for the kind words
 

8livesleft
Cool intro!

Nice piano playing. The bass is really great too. Did you play all the instruments?

Hello 8livesleft,
 
I'm happy you enjoyed my little intro
FWIW, I tend to play close to the vest . What that means is there is a whole experimental side to my guitar playing that people don't always get to hear ....
When I can I play every instrument on my songs...that even borders on using real instruments as opposed to using sampled instruments...
In this song , I didn't play the drums ,,,
I will say Yes to the piano ...I play midi guitar and I have a certain workflow using it that I'm not at liberty to discuss at this point in time ...
Bass Part huh ? maybe later on in the thread
 

bjornpdx

kennywtelejazz
 I hope someone enjoys the guitar playing

I enjoyed it! Really nice job.
 

Thank You Bjorn I'm glad you enjoyed my guitar playing .
 
all the best,
 
Kenny
 

I just had a total of 3 posts  I have posted here that have gotten munched .....Cakewalk what is going on here?
I ask because this is getting old
 
http://forum.cakewalk.com/FindPost/3566431
 
Before I proceed any further I'm gonna see if my deleted post from 6 hours ago will show up..
thank you all for your patience 
Kenny

I do play drums but also compose music (over 300 soundtracks for film, TV and theatre so I know a thing or two about music) and also have studied a Jazz degree. (major on drums but took piano as second instrument) I understand a lot about Jazz harmony and chord progressions. I can hear any changes and substitutions.  (ever heard of the Lydian Chromatic concept. I am into that) In fact it was the reason I studied Jazz. Not to be a Jazz drummer but learn Jazz harmony and incorporate it in other music styles. 
 
I also grew up in the same town as Frank Gamble, played with him in a band and have heard him playing live with Chick Corea's Electric band many times. (and that amazing RTF gig they did too) Hung out with the guys after too. Frank has got chops. I can hear where his soloing is going all the time over much harder music than this.
 
I am just over this type of soling that is all over a tune like this. I feel the song deserves different approach but I guess everyone is entitled to do these things how they want. Your intro has no  bearing on the rest of the tune either.  I think your playing in this might suit another type of groove though. Some people may not like your music. Be prepared for it and handle it. It is how you handle it that counts.

As I said it is how you handle it that counts.. Not well it seems. Anyway good luck with it all.

I was under the impression that posting songs in the songs forum was to get some feedback on your production be it good, bad or OK.  I merely expressed an opinion of which I have heard in a similar manner by others with others songs. Others have usually taken any negative points by other members in quite well. I am not suggesting you have to completely re do it either. But you can always learn from feedback. Good and bad. It can be a very good thing.
 
I guess it is the reason I don't spend too much time listening here. Although I have listened to and made comments about other peoples songs as well that was well received. Heck I even completely remixed one song in one case for a member here in order to show them what I was on about.  (production wise) And that was very well received.  And I enjoyed doing it too.
 
You thought I was not understanding Jazz or hearing the changes. Sorry to name drop or list my credits but I was only trying to point out I actually do understand Jazz very well and like it a lot too. But maybe its a Sonar club thing and only patting on the back is permitted here.  You would have a difficult time working with a producer that is for sure. They would rip your music apart and rebuild it.  I suppose too that composing music for a long time and getting paid for it has to toughen you up. I am used to people sometimes not liking what I have done.  (Gosh wait till work for an ad agency. They are crazy!!) And either changing it or even completely starting again. That is the world of getting paid to do what you do. They have all the power and control. It can be very upsetting but I have learned  don't get emotionally involved with the music. That is the secret. You just have to let it go and move on. 
 
Interesting thing about Frank too is that I have heard him many times playing Chick Corea tunes and playing the way does in that situation but late last year he came out here with a beautiful band. I got to hear it of course. He is working with his wife now (as well as Chick still) in this real cool lounge Jazz vocal type vibe and he is really holding back and I mean holding back. Frank holding back is something to behold. He is playing these sort of Gilmour, Santanna like solos now. He has got so much time to play the notes and he is thinking it so well. Every note counts. The emotion in his playing is incredible. Hard to believe considering he is so fast etc.. I have heard him holding back many years ago and always loved it but he was never into it. But now he is doing it.  His solos build too and he does get a little quick here and there but just at the right time and only for fleeting moments.  I think I just had all that in my head when I heard your tune and thought it could go the same way.
 
I do admire your attitude though of this is the way I am going to do it and I don't care if you don't like it. (although that does not pan out in your responses so much) I have had to do that on a few ocassions especially in a theatre situation. Stand by what I have done and in the end they gave in and the music stayed the way it was. And of course on opening night the director finally realised what I was on about and agreed that it was the right choice. 
 
You did say the Far side of Jazz guitar and I did overlook that and I am also sorry for that. You did give plenty of warning! Anyway sorry to have upset you Kenny. Keep well.

I'm not sure about the intro either after hearing the complete tune, but then again I'm not one to always follow convention.   I liked that part as-is either way and could see it as its own piece...?
 
I've just listened to the typical version you posted above and your new one, and there is definitely a big difference.   But both work for me since they're at different ends of the style map.   Having grown up with RTF and the fusion genre in general I really liked your new version.   Yeah, there are a lot of notes, but I can appreciate that type of thing as long as it's not completely mechanical and I don't think yours is.   Hey... If I could physically play like that, I would.  
 

gswitz
Yeah... I noticed and appreciated the bass.

Thanks gswitz I'm glad you dug the Bass
 

Jeff Evans
I was under the impression that posting songs in the songs forum was to get some feedback on your production be it good, bad or OK.  I merely expressed an opinion of which I have heard in a similar manner by others with others songs. Others have usually taken any negative points by other members in quite well. I am not suggesting you have to completely re do it either. But you can always learn from feedback. Good and bad. It can be a very good thing.
 
I guess it is the reason I don't spend too much time listening here. Although I have listened to and made comments about other peoples songs as well that was well received. Heck I even completely remixed one song in one case for a member here in order to show them what I was on about.  (production wise) And that was very well received.  And I enjoyed doing it too.
 
You thought I was not understanding Jazz or hearing the changes. Sorry to name drop or list my credits but I was only trying to point out I actually do understand Jazz very well and like it a lot too. But maybe its a Sonar club thing and only patting on the back is permitted here.  You would have a difficult time working with a producer that is for sure. They would rip your music apart and rebuild it.  I suppose too that composing music for a long time and getting paid for it has to toughen you up. I am used to people sometimes not liking what I have done.  (Gosh wait till work for an ad agency. They are crazy!!) And either changing it or even completely starting again. That is the world of getting paid to do what you do. They have all the power and control. It can be very upsetting but I have learned  don't get emotionally involved with the music. That is the secret. You just have to let it go and move on. 
 
Interesting thing about Frank too is that I have heard him many times playing Chick Corea tunes and playing the way does in that situation but late last year he came out here with a beautiful band. I got to hear it of course. He is working with his wife now (as well as Chick still) in this real cool lounge Jazz vocal type vibe and he is really holding back and I mean holding back. Frank holding back is something to behold. He is playing these sort of Gilmour, Santanna like solos now. He has got so much time to play the notes and he is thinking it so well. Every note counts. The emotion in his playing is incredible. Hard to believe considering he is so fast etc.. I have heard him holding back many years ago and always loved it but he was never into it. But now he is doing it.  His solos build too and he does get a little quick here and there but just at the right time and only for fleeting moments.  I think I just had all that in my head when I heard your tune and thought it could go the same way.
 
I do admire your attitude though of this is the way I am going to do it and I don't care if you don't like it. (although that does not pan out in your responses so much) I have had to do that on a few ocassions especially in a theatre situation. Stand by what I have done and in the end they gave in and the music stayed the way it was. And of course on opening night the director finally realised what I was on about and agreed that it was the right choice. 
 
You did say the Far side of Jazz guitar and I did overlook that and I am also sorry for that. You did give plenty of warning! Anyway sorry to have upset you Kenny. Keep well.

I'm gonna quote the whole quote
Jeff , Thank you for sharing your opinion and thoughts ....
 
For any one that is interested Jeff and I have been talking VIA PM and we have built a new bridge
 
all is cool between us ..
 
Kenny
 
 
 

And there will be peace in the valley.
 
I admire the way Kenny and Jeff were able to find common ground.  The exchange was an example of two men working it out through conversation rather than coming to blows.
 
Excellent!
 
Screed the Q Jesse

Kenny - I tend to not listen to things put up as "work in progress" just because I'd rather listen to songs which are near finished or finished and just need tweaking on mix stuff.  just my preference, I'd rather wait until things are further along.
 
glad I didn't wait on this one!  this is just awesome guitar playing as usual from you!  wish you'd put more stuff up!  I love it!  keys add a nice touch.  mix is pretty darn good - very well balanced.
 
nice work my friend!
 
edit;  I had not read any of the previous comments before posting mine - I normally do that as well.
 
I do stand beside Jeff in his right to say what he thinks about anything that's posted, good, bad or indifferent.  the original poster, however has no obligation at all to incorporate any comments made by anyone if he/she doesn't want to or disagrees.  
 
I'm glad it's working itself out between everyone involved, tho.  that's the true spirit that I love about this songs forum!  

Jeff Evans
Actually the more I listen to this the more I like it.  It is one of those pieces.  I really like the way Kenny is playing the head in this. His solo for me after the head too takes me on a more constructed journey than I previously thought too.  These choruses get better for me now with each one like they just keep on going taking a few twists here and there.
 
The feel of this is not like the original and I especially like it for that, more now too.  There is some tasty keyboard playing at the start of this too.  If its either piano direct or guitar midi piano it really sounds like a keyboard part to me.
 
Kenny can play quite a few things really well and that is a very cool skill to have.  The more you can do the more you can embellish your own songs with your own style with the other instruments.  I try and do it with drums, keyboards and percussion and some very basic guitar and bass stuff.  You cop some flac sometimes about your playing on your other instruments but I say stick with it and state your case.
 
 

Hey Jeff , 
 
I see you finally got the check I sent you . After reading all this , I feel it was money well spent  just kidding around ...
I'm happy that after a few listens you found value in what I was playing and doing my best at the time to get across in my music
This is just a taste of what I'm looking to do in one area of my playing / music .
FWIW, I happen to feel that I have a long ways to go to get it done right ....
Working alone in SONAR all by myself , trying to learn how to do everything perfectly by last week or Yesterday at the latest doesn't seem to  make it any easier ...sound familiar folks ? can I get an Amen 
 
Had I been doing this playing / working for somebody else , I would have bent over backwards to give them what they wanted and what there were suggesting for me to play ......
 
Since I'm pretty much working by myself over here . Most of the time it's just for grins and giggles when I do my music .
I generally don't  feel the need to conform to anyone Else's expectation other than my own ...
 
Now we all know that, that approach in and of itself  can be a double edged sword ...
Simply because it can go either way .The sword itself  is sharp on both ends Right ?
 
I happen to feel that there is always an element of risk involved when a player regardless of the chosen instrument decides to incorporate what they have learned over the years subconsciously and consciously to create their own unique vocabulary of playing phrases and tones ...
 
Risk little gain little ...Risk it all and gain it all ...or in many cases Risk it all fall flat on your a$$ , get back up and Risk it all over until you get it right
 
Carlo's , BB King, D Gilmore, Jeff Beck, George Benson, Joe Pass, Stevie Ray, Grant Green , Wes Montgomery ,and about 5 dozen other Cat's that I could mention including your friend Frank G are prime examples of a few very simple principles that are very easy to describe , yet these goals in and of themselves are very hard to accomplish with out a concerted effort of reverting back to a natural state of being  being oneself that is and being true to it
                  ( Musical )    
Being a truthful ^ version of your self no matter how humble that may appear to the rest of the world always trumps being a second rate version of somebody else ...unless your getting paid to do movies as an actor .....or your in a tribute band ...
 
So What am I talking about here ? in a nutshell I feel that it is pretty simple ....
 
Each and every player I have mentioned , including the players that I have omitted have a couple of very solid  recognizable hallmarks and qualities that exude from their souls when they are playing and expressing them self's musically .
 
Breaking it down , It can be said that these fine players have a very strong foundation rooted in two very simple musical principals
 
# 1 They all played the same instrument ...they all played the guitar ...
# 2 Much more important I feel , they all decided to create their own unique recognizable playing style and vocabulary of how they play the guitar and express their emotions VIA the guitar & music ...
 
Whether that happened by chance , osmosis or a deliberate choice in each players evolution ...
.....................it doesn't matter ................
All that really matters in the end is that it "indeed happened for them "  ....
if it happened for them doesn't that also mean that" it can happen " for you ? for me ? for him and her ?
In my book it's real simple ... it's either happening or it ain't happening ...
Also when a person gives up hope and gets lazy due to being discouraged ... I know this from experience ...
It can go from  hey folks "What 's happening"  to oh $hit What Just Happened  ?  
 
 
I listen to BB and there is no mistaking him for Wes . I listen to George Benson and I know it ain't Carlo's .
Both Gilmore and Stevie Ray are very expressive players yet there is no way they sound anything alike ...
 
So what's all this Chit Chat about anyway ?
 
With out any form of contentiousness  here ... I know it may sound that way as a written words online ...
Yet, I can assure anyone that is reading this that I have already decided the fate of my own path ...
Why is this so ? because I have already surveyed the terrain and decided what is important to me ...
 
 
When a person involves them self in any creative effort , regardless of the form or personal process it may take , there is always a price to pay and there is always some form of a hoped for or anticipated reward
 
In my case I'm just gonna keep doing my own thing with the goal of playing my way out of this very restrictive  paper bag I'm trapped in called life
If during that process I may happen to touch another person with my music and if it brings them value ...
Great that is just like the icing on the cake ...often times I may never know who I may have reached ..( or pissed off LOL )
That's a big reason I record these little songs and paying examples
FWIW, I still have a foot in The Land Of Magical Expectation ...I can admit it ...
I want to go to the Ball , I want to meet my Princess , I want her to put the glass Cowboy Boot I lost when my chariot turned into a pumpkin while I was loading my guitar in the trunk back on my foot so I can know everything is gonna be OK  
 
 
 
all the best,
 
Kenny