Wynton Marsalis - Donna Lee

[sevildrib]

Fantastic live Wynton M at his fluent best>>>great tone, swinging lines, overall a wonderful joyfull exploration of Parker's tongue twisting theme>> Wynton I luv ya

[nadav20000]

nice and slow...

[decus69]

damn

[wesley5383]

@decus69

[Augustinemelecio]

It won't let me post the video. Search: Donna Lee all star cast Joe Pass Terry Clark Oscar Peterson N.Pederson R.Scott

[Augustinemelecio]

@paulcakebreadable @geekflaglue6345789 THIS is how you play Donna Lee. Not this mechanical lesson in licks. Wynton is a great trumpet player but jazz is about playing what you feel and knowing when to stop. He has a lot to say but nothing at all.

[SaxNinj]

oh boy, what an ending!

[joensab]

My below comment was aimed at the ignorant "clifford crap comment only and doesn't reflect on the genius of Mr. Marsalis.

[LoongChicken]

i always thought that a trumpet couldn't sound good when it's played fast...this song prooved the opposite

[karitea]

@LoongChicken

Fast and clean. High vurtuosity with sensitiveness. Wynton defenitlly kicks asses.

[UncleFester77]

Can I say to so many stone deaf members, that this version way better, than Clifford Brown play...

Anyway If you want to hear some false melody let's play that Clifford crap...

[joensab]

@UncleFester77 Sure, you've said it anyhow. As to that "Clifford crap..." Wynton goes to a different Church than Chris did. Different interpretations. Which has more humaness in the trumpet's voice...who's the better technician...? There are none so "stone deaf" as those who can not hear.

[NicholasFruneaux]

*Ignoring all of the useless and unfriendly youtube posts*

Really like this, Marsalis sounds good to me.

[atadsatirical]

Oright all of you pretentious sluts out there. this man is definatel the boss, and in my opinion the best trumpeter alive atm. so all u complete and utter morons that are going on and on about this not sounding enough like clifford brown or saying that he's failing at trying to emulate....just shut up! the man has gone through enough with all you havin a go at his playing being not original and now ur saying its not as good as clifford's. It's called interrpretation. any real jazzcat can tell ya

[tpstrat14]

that is the fastest quarter note I'VE ever heard.... don't know about yall.... shiiiiit

[wetdog158]

@tpstrat14 check out Coltrane's "Soultrane." They play the old standard "Russian Lullaby" at a tempo close to, if not faster than this. THAT'S the fastest quarter note I'VE ever heard haha.

[imanoob]

@wetdog158 Some of Brecker's live performances took Some Skunk Funk faster than it ever had to be. Much faster than this or Russian Lullaby. Check it out

[nunchuckification]

sounds like clifford man



[Sunderlanding]

I don't have anything against fast playing, but this just sucks the melody right out of the song.

[IsaacDarcheMusic]

Clifford Brown's lines are a bit smoother and hit the changes a little better. Sometimes it sounds like Wynton is trying to overcome the changes through virtuosity instead of play through them- he plays some lines that I don't like. Then again, it's hard to do what Clifford does without sounding exactly like him.

[gleekflaglue6345789]

@IsaacDarcheMusic its not clifford

[bartsoco]

I JUST JIzZED IN MY panTZ

[ladytrumpet010]

My opinion stands :)

[guitarhero343]

6 people had a seizure because of this song

[Blokeio]

I went to Berklee too :)

[gleekflaglue6345789]

@Blokeio oh  shit

[mrjazzydude]

:O

[rsalvucc1]

Nakariakov's chops, Brownie's ideas.....



[mpotters1]

Personally, I'd say the Clifford Brown take (that this is in response to) is superior to this one, and that Brown is a far superior player than Wynton to begin with. It sounds like Wynton is just trying to rip Brown's solo and it's just not working as well for him.

[polymath7]

@mpotters1 Agreed, but this is still exceptional. I mean you're holing Wynton to a pretty high standard; Clifford Brown is probably the greatest trumpet player who ever lived.

[polymath7]

@kumanalex  Nonsense. Sorry.

[polymath7]

@kumanalex *chuckle*

Fuck off. Pick a language, and learn to use it competently, before you go telling me for what "kind of evaluation" I am permitted to use the net.

[MrRemiCormier]

Come on guys, why cant you just all enjoy an amazing recording from Wynton. Definitely not my favorite version because there's the Clifford Brown version, but man Wynton is insane!

[steelpeach100]

~~~lol~~~ help im drowining in the stupidity of the conversation that took place in the comments.

Its music listen to it dont gripe and grown about it. Besides none of you are the quality of musician to say that he is not great, that includes myself.

Just remeber he can outplay any of us any day.

[HitzvilleTV]

I love his tone and articulations! Amazing! I also love Wes Anderson!

[HitzvilleTV]

Jazz fans follow on twitter at @IAmHitzville 

[USMChiLD]

Wish I had some Space Jam skill stealing capabilities.

[slowduck123]

what's his articulation on this piece?

[Jazzman303]

@slowduck123 What does that even mean?

[slowduck123]

Jazzman, I'm sorry I should have been more clear. What I meant was in the melody at the beginning, is he doodle tonguing? or double or triple tonguing?

and I didn't mean to vote down this post, I was trying to click reply.

[Jazzman303]

@slowduck123 It's articulated in the Style of Charlie Parker. Pretty much each eighth note is articulated. But the the eighth note triplets are all slurred. Just listen to a slower recording of it done by the master who wrote it. Charlie Parker. It;ll make sense. I don't think hes doing any sort of extended technique like triple tonguing. He's simply just tonguing his ass off. And thats even harder on the alto saxophone.

[jaimepaullamb]

technically awesome, but i can't respect wynton. he's a member of the jazz police. he is not cool. he dissed don cherry. and he attempted to cut miles on miles' own bandstand (and we're talking LATE miles - not late 50's miles).

[edub82]

wynton is killin

[bbaker90]

this just fucked my shit up.

[Mesmer54]

this is aboslute rape<3

[blackbear40269]

well done Wynton keeping bebop alive and soundin' cool

[neilorourke71]

bit too cerebral for me.. not saying its bad!!

[Teusnobel]

2:56 ->  "ooh, play that again..." :D

[Roboctopus]

Is he doodle tounging? That would be nuts.

[austinlee168]

lol i love the cute ending

[mrstrings65]

Why does'nt Wynton play like this anymore?

[ktrumpet67]

@mrstrings65 dunno, maybe he's doin the Miles thing and stretching out into new places.

[kaseyWtrumpet]

I'm sure he does during random gigs but it's just not in his mainstream right now. He's really digging into that Neo-Classical style that he is most famous for.

[thavault]

@ladytrumpet010 hes better than lee morgan in my opinion

[nwtrucker38]

@ladytrumpet010 Complete bollocks!

[sandy6968]

@ladytrumpet010 Sorry lady trumpet. Wynton is the boss on jazz trumpet. He does things on that thing that are incredible. He swings like a champ. I'm not a trumpet player, but recently heard him at Jazz in Lincoln Center, and mercy mercy, that cat can play. no slight to Lee Morgan, but wynton is the boss.

[sandy6968]

@ladytrumpet010 Sorry lady trumpet but Wynton is the Boss. recently heard him at Lincoln Center, and he's better now than he was on this recording at blues alley. I'm no trumpet player, but I'm a huge jazz fan and I know a badass when I hear one. no slight to Lee Morgan, but Wyton is the Boss.

[sandy6968]

@ladytrumpet010 

[sandy6968]

@ladytrumpet010 Sorry ladytrumpet but Wyton Is the Boss. I heard him at Lincoln Center and the cat is incredible. he's better now than he was on that recording at blues alley. No slight to Lee Morgan, but Wynton can flat out swing.

[sandy6968]

@ladytrumpet010 my bad I'm sure you swing harder than wynton.

[sonotera]

@ladytrumpet010

well if you go to berklee you MUST know what you are talking about

[GAshoneybear]

@ladytrumpet010 But you put out there you went to Berklee as if it makes your opinion more credible than anyone else. That's not the case, no more than David Bowie is less credible because he was a self taught musician. But I know what you mean, Wynton's niche is classical, he is a PHENOM, though I do enjoy the jazz he does.

[LouisKeys]

@sonotera lol

[sonotera]

@ladytrumpet010

"he is not a good jazz player dont get me wrong hes good" nice one genius

[gleekflaglue6345789]

@sonotera  sure - your are right - not

[blasticore]

@ladytrumpet010 I'm a functional jazz soloist. No, I'm not the next big thing, but I recognize Wynton's facility and vocabulary on the instrument. He's VERY obviously put in the time, and built upon his talent. Wynton has stated on numerous occasions, by the way, that he respects the playing of those who were there before him (Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, etc). Are you sure you go to Berklee?

[womb0womb0]

Has his playing really changed that much in the past 5 years?

[mrstrings65]

I just usually hear him in a kind of Miles bag.

[enakrium]

@mrstrings65 Cause most times less is more.

[copedogg888]

@mrstrings65 in 2006, he had an ingrown hair above his top lip that he had to get surgically removed. afterward, he essentially had to "relearn" the horn. he says his chops have been pretty good since since then, but it doesn't feel the same. He's one of the best (or arguably the best) technical trumpet player alive today, although he doesn't have the flexibility he used to have pre-surgery.

[yohannes80]

@copedogg888

so..... he`s like some boobies now? ;-)

[IhaveaCstring]

@mrstrings65 he has never stayed in one setting,,, which is nice in itself, you hear the different tunes in different styles. i like it

[conorJones]

@mrstrings65 because it's ridiculously easy for him!! lol love this playing I wish he'd do it more too.

[Shawnieboy33]

@mrstrings65 I think he finally realized how much of an unmusical piece of shit this is. his recent recordings have been getting better.

[trane1959]

@mrstrings65 your an asshole. This CD is five years old.

[vytautanious]

@mrstrings65 Because he plays even better:)

[SwingtoBop]

Miles isn't about that.

[Bluesnswing]

He was sometimes. Heard "Four & More"? He's out for blood on that one.

[randomisnotgood]

holy cow...he plays this twice as fast as Miles Davis

[Protozoo79]

I suggest everyone to get the album "Live at The House Of Tribes" because is one of the best live I've ever heard! The sound is amazing!!

[liveintheglory]

This starts out at 320bpm, is 340 after the drum solo, and 320 again by the last 16 of the head out.

[BAJJMiller]

Nice and slow.

[glimb393]

@BAJJMiller

LMAO!

[Augustinemelecio]

@BAJJMiller Fast is not the goal. Being in the pocket is.

[paulcakebreadable]

@Augustinemelecio Wynton is both! lol

[gleekflaglue6345789]

@Augustinemelecio not understanding is you

[DustinGuitar]

great observation, man

thanks for the input

[runeskyler]

One of the best compositions of Donna Lee yet. Wynton is a god!

[adawg1789]

Ive heard more compelling renditions at slower tempos

[HendrixcommaMartin]

Like Bill Charlap's

[Jazzfreak251]

This is were classical trumpet comes into play.

[cormier0007]

I think people should stop giving so much credits to ''classical trumpet technique'' ... In my opinion, it's only trumpet technique... a player could never play classic in all his life but play as well as wynton marsalis... and since hes playing jazz right now, i would say he has a amazing a monstruous trumpet technique... and not ''classical''... but thats only my opinion. Anyways, i think we can both aprove that hes a genius anyway :) (sorry for my english, frenchie here :P )

[martinplayer4u]

Brownie did it first, Wynton put his spin on it. Learn something......move on.....Damn.. this is one of the fastest tempos on this composition I have heard.

[mwljazzguitar]

Check out Stefano di Battista's cut too. It's sick. I'd estimate it around 370 bpm.

[LukieWukie]

that album is awesome,love the version of NiT aswell

[stillavril]

You may want to check Arturo Sandoval too.

[mrbird00]

damn, this is the fastest one.

[zxcvmook]

Amazing. Constant idiocy at such a high level takes subhuman thought(and speech)patterns.

it takes more practice at this tempo to be efficient than it does to become a commercial airline pilot. why dont all you uberinspectors just shut up, and listen to the fucking music instead of trying to put it to words. you cant put music into words....its music...you dumb asshole.

[kevinherbert]

u CAN put music in rythmn (words).......

[bobilleg74]

Amazing. Constant invention at such a high tempo takes immense mental (and physical) stamina.

[jazzbo123]

Nobody has mentioned it but Donna Lee is based on the wonderful chord sequence of "Back home in Indiana"

[Ianmc26]

i have a live bird album with chet baker and bird heavily quotes 'donna lee' while playing indiana, it's great

[jazzernamedworm]

i think they are the same changes, not sure but i think so.

[MacAddict107]

Yeah, good stuff, this. Still prefer Clifford's style to Wynton's, but this particular recording is in my top 50 songs for sure. I like how the sax/drums trade 8's, then 4's, then 2's, then 1's.

Also, I think this is the fastest recording of Donna Lee I have. If anyone has anything faster...Please contact me!!! I must have it!!

[HendrixcommaMartin]

Check out Joe Pass doing this tune on youtube. It might be a little faster, I'm not quite sure.

[Balz2thewall]

Hey MacAddict, I dunno if you've heard the Tito Puente version of this song but I'm pretty sure its faster.

[PAF149]

i love Cliffords' and Lee Morgans' over Wynton but the dude is 'up' there with the best that's 4 sure!

[deanasimms]

I saw Wynton and his horn quartet play Donna Lee at Gilly's in Dayton, Ohio back in the early nineties. They literally blew me away!

After the concert, I invited them via by Limo over to the Nite Owl Club down the street for an unforgettable evening Jam session with my band The Dean Simms Quintet.

They held back nothing! Talking about "Raising the roof" for 3 more hours.

This is a gift I will always cherish. Ultimate Class and gracious they are.

[BRazor78]

Oh my goodness! That was incredible! I'm so glad I was able to meet a musician of this level. The solo... the trading fours. Wynton had a little of every great trumpet player going into those choruses. Thank you koolpaw for this post!