Impro Lesson 30th Nov

Friday Morning! the last day of Movember, good bye tash this weekend! sad times till next year.

Started off the morning with just a few off us, missing two members, not the best start. We really need everyone here to make sure we make ground on the songs that have chosen, im sure they have valid reasons, but who knows.

Its always tough singing first thing in the morning, its so important that i warm up correctly, especially with class being on a friday morning and having gigs through the week. I tend to have a really gritty sounding voice where my larynx is really low so i find the best thing to do is a siren. The siren lets me stretch my vocal folds right out as im humming a note from the bottom of my range to the top. I also do a NG sound that lets me take care of those nasal qualities.

Started off practicing Freddy Freeloader, no singing in this but its good to observe and watch what everyone is soloing. This is perfect for me coz i can see what the key is and commit it to memory. This gives me some chops to do when i scat over the music. Always amazed at Donal, he is the first bass player I've seen that  can solo, what i mean is solo well, he knows his modes.

Next we did Summertime. Chatted over a few versions to do. decided first to speed it up a little, then we decided to do it with a 6/8 feel. started with the singing then into a Sax solo, then back to the head again.

Robin listened and helped us change it round to a more softer feel. Its clear that we all need to prep before we come in a play. The challenge we are having is we havnt moved fast enough. Last week we picked the songs, this week we are picking the feel, This will help me go away and practice my parts and know what im gonna scat. Robin said to try a line, do half a scat the rest.... i did this when he went away... i admit it feels daft but it shows my weakness, this is what i work on for next week.

What i feel i have done well this week is making the words cleaer and using different techniques for each words to create more feeling, example, when singing the words dont cry, upon the word cry i use a more nasal sob technique, this worked well, tho no one said anything ha ha... my opinion!

It will be really interesting to see who pulls the finger out for next week? i wonder if i should go to paddy power and put a bet on to see who puts in the effort! 

Scatting is not in my comfort zone, the best example i have seen so far is George Benson, he does it well as he plays the guitar, maube thats the secret, play it on the guitar and copy it... lots of ideas to try this week coming.