My congratulations to all the musicologists and other experts who apparently hear the notes but miss the music-a la woods and trees.This is certainly immeasurably better than that terrible piece,When the East is Red played by the Eastern 8th Army band which dinned into our ears,day and night in 1960s in China.
No matter what style of music being played, stability of time is of the highest priority, but in jazz it is mandated that time remains constant. I don't care if they're Chinese or Martian, disciplined rehearsal with the original recording, combined with the use of a METRONOME would have produced a better, more accurate performance. Plus, the chinese have not embraced jazz, considering it to be too vulgar. Their loss..............
It's true that constant time is high priority, although using the word mandate and jazz seems to be a bit of an oxymoron. It was a year ago, and the band is much more consistent now.
And the Chinese have embraced Jazz, they love it. They just have a very limited concept of what it is, and it is fairly hard to break them out of it. Arrangement is very rare, as most jazz here consists of playing solos out of the Real Book ad nausea. The few of us with experience do what we can to fix it.
@JimBites I have followed Basie and his music for over 50 years, and he would have loved this band. Wonderful that Basie music is now being played in Beijing
Jazz is the most highly imitative of art forms, and it is painfully apparent in this performance that the band either never heard the original, or weren't listening when it was played. Tenor solo was written out, but at least the concept of sound was okay. The time kept picking up, and that lack of discipline made the overall performance the antithesis of the original. If you are going to attempt to play music that requires style, then you must LISTEN to the original over and over.
You're right. There are flaws in this performance, but you have to understand that the majority of these performers are Chinese, which means they didn't grow up with a jazz tradition, and aren't experienced with the laid back feel of blues. Having heard the original many many many times I know how it is supposed to feel, and how this one isn't exactly on. That being said, I'd like to see you perform Chinese music with exactly the right feel with only 6 months of practice.
Hmm... The piano intro is...off.... its 1 measure of 2 halves on the right hand. Then the next measure is a dotted quarter followed by a half... but other than that, it was 很好
well, it basically sounded like some very good musicians, who never in their live played jazz before. With a nice solo :) It never had that "swing feel", and the piano intro was absolutely horibble.
very good! They have the notes but they need the bottom beat. The notes sound like they are running together. Do not rush through the riffs! Swing it smooth and feel it in your soul. I enjoyed it! THose dancers knew that Lindy hop!
Very well played, but the first trumpet part was very quiet, if there even was one. I'm playing this song with my school band and I'm on first trumpet. You have to really make sure it's heard. Also, the end was sort of weak. THat ending has to be the strongest part of the song other than the D.C. section. Also, I'm not sure why you guys had started and the mari sax player was just setting up. I dunno if you were even playing in or even if you were anywhere near this band when they played.
I am the bandleader and Bari sax player. We just came off a tune with 3 altos no bari so that is why I was changing instruments, maybe you noticed me counting off the band at the beginning.
You're right about the trumpet part, I'm having a hard time finding a trumpet player who can handle the lead parts in these tunes. Also, most of the guys are Chinese and didn't grow up with this music like we did. They do well if you keep that in mind.
My congratulations to all the musicologists and other experts who apparently hear the notes but miss the music-a la woods and trees.This is certainly immeasurably better than that terrible piece,When the East is Red played by the Eastern 8th Army band which dinned into our ears,day and night in 1960s in China.
Squarerig 1 year ago
hi big-band lovers
Thouveninpascal 2 years ago
AMAZING!
omenalaatikko 3 years ago
No matter what style of music being played, stability of time is of the highest priority, but in jazz it is mandated that time remains constant. I don't care if they're Chinese or Martian, disciplined rehearsal with the original recording, combined with the use of a METRONOME would have produced a better, more accurate performance. Plus, the chinese have not embraced jazz, considering it to be too vulgar. Their loss..............
JimBites 3 years ago
It's true that constant time is high priority, although using the word mandate and jazz seems to be a bit of an oxymoron. It was a year ago, and the band is much more consistent now.
And the Chinese have embraced Jazz, they love it. They just have a very limited concept of what it is, and it is fairly hard to break them out of it. Arrangement is very rare, as most jazz here consists of playing solos out of the Real Book ad nausea. The few of us with experience do what we can to fix it.
BeijingAdam 3 years ago
@JimBites I have followed Basie and his music for over 50 years, and he would have loved this band. Wonderful that Basie music is now being played in Beijing
hommefriday 1 year ago
Jazz is the most highly imitative of art forms, and it is painfully apparent in this performance that the band either never heard the original, or weren't listening when it was played. Tenor solo was written out, but at least the concept of sound was okay. The time kept picking up, and that lack of discipline made the overall performance the antithesis of the original. If you are going to attempt to play music that requires style, then you must LISTEN to the original over and over.
JimBites 3 years ago
You're right. There are flaws in this performance, but you have to understand that the majority of these performers are Chinese, which means they didn't grow up with a jazz tradition, and aren't experienced with the laid back feel of blues. Having heard the original many many many times I know how it is supposed to feel, and how this one isn't exactly on. That being said, I'd like to see you perform Chinese music with exactly the right feel with only 6 months of practice.
BeijingAdam 3 years ago
Hmm... The piano intro is...off.... its 1 measure of 2 halves on the right hand. Then the next measure is a dotted quarter followed by a half... but other than that, it was 很好
killstealer4 3 years ago
Neal Hefti Died last week. RIP Neal.
bimmerfun 3 years ago
The solo was good. I'm playing that solo on Thursday and hope mine goes as well as that one did!
chainworm 3 years ago
well, it basically sounded like some very good musicians, who never in their live played jazz before. With a nice solo :) It never had that "swing feel", and the piano intro was absolutely horibble.
ilikemusicverymuch 3 years ago
very good! They have the notes but they need the bottom beat. The notes sound like they are running together. Do not rush through the riffs! Swing it smooth and feel it in your soul. I enjoyed it! THose dancers knew that Lindy hop!
theorganloft 4 years ago
Very well played, but the first trumpet part was very quiet, if there even was one. I'm playing this song with my school band and I'm on first trumpet. You have to really make sure it's heard. Also, the end was sort of weak. THat ending has to be the strongest part of the song other than the D.C. section. Also, I'm not sure why you guys had started and the mari sax player was just setting up. I dunno if you were even playing in or even if you were anywhere near this band when they played.
Seberry654 4 years ago
I am the bandleader and Bari sax player. We just came off a tune with 3 altos no bari so that is why I was changing instruments, maybe you noticed me counting off the band at the beginning.
You're right about the trumpet part, I'm having a hard time finding a trumpet player who can handle the lead parts in these tunes. Also, most of the guys are Chinese and didn't grow up with this music like we did. They do well if you keep that in mind.
Also, the digital camera mic isn't the best...
BeijingAdam 3 years ago
yah seriously in the middle part the first trumpet is simply not there~ and it doesnt really swing to be honest
Maybe you guys should advertise more, I know many people in China that can swing... and play a band instrument
OscarLiu24 3 years ago