New topic: Songs we love to play along with

[Scotty]

Here's my latest on repeat. Gregory Porter - a recent find for me singing 'If Love is Overrated':



It has everything which works for my ears. A great voice (suiting my taste), background instruments, mood-evoking,
and something which sparks emotion.

scotty

[Grizzly]

One of my failings in listening to this kind of performance is that I mentally try to figure out how it would be transcribed into standard musical notation. This not a criticism of the singer's obvious talent; he's very good. But for me, it would take several sessions just listening to even approximate his nuances to play along with him. So kudos to anyone who can intuitively feel the pulse and join in. I'm afraid I'd make a mess of it.

Tom

[Gerundino]

Nice one Scotty,

Rhythmic  it is a challenge I think.

[Scotty]

Grizz: I hadn't remotely imagined that it would be difficult! Honestly. I fall asleep at night with 'Impressions' (a Dish
music channel playing) - primarily because it soothes Luka and literally puts a smile on his face, believe it or not.
They play a lot of Peter White's songs and he's long been my favourite artist - in fact right now his 'Bueno Funk'
which is played at every one of his concerts is on. BUT, it's morning and they put on 'up' music, whether I'm ready
for that or not, lol.
I'm a late-night person - so when Luka and I are finally dozing off, it's reeeeally late-night. That's when I first heard
Gregory Porter and was immediately in love with this song and his voice. Have heard it umpteen times since then -
along with another of his 'Concorde', but rarely had a chance to open my eyes, put on my glasses to read (onscreen)
as to just who was the artist (tv's across the room and behind me). Took a few weeks of just catching bits and pieces
of his voice to finally have it all come together.
By then (now), I feel I do 'know' the song pretty well. Not ALL of the lyrics, but a sufficient grasp of them to be able to
play, so that's what I did when I looked him up on youtube. I thought he was 'new', but no. There's also an amazing
jazz concert I'll post at some point for those who love jazz here. This one didn't seem overly 'jazzy' to my ears. You're
not a hard-core jazz aficionado - but into classical and church music, so that's probably why it wouldn't work for you.
That's ok: I was hoping to begin a new topic (trying to give us all something 'new' to participate in here: do you have
anything perhaps a bit light-hearted which would be far more suited for you to play along with? Here's your opportunity,
and thanks for the input. 
scotty

[brorat]

So ... I would thoroughly enjoy listening to this song on a rainy, chilly night sitting by the fireplace with the love of my life.  It evokes the quiet, gentle type of love that we all need to feel from time to time. 
Playing along with it, however, would be REALLY tough for me!  Like some others who have posted, I'm not sure I have the musical skills required to "feel" the rhythm and play along.
It's a really nice song!

[Laina]

Thanks for sharing. It's a lovely song, performed with sensitivity. I knew little about Gregory Porter until more recently listening to jazz and found he features quite a lot on Jazz FM in the UK. Apart from the sax solo, one for the pros perhaps - the main melody has quite a few repeats, not too bad in D,  but i'd still be tempted to try it in Eb, one of my favorite keys.

[Grizzly]

[Scotty to Tom (Grizz)]: do you have anything perhaps a bit light-hearted which would be far more suited for you to play along with?

Sorry, I probably shouldn't have put my oar in. I don't "play along" with much, never have, preferring to play what's in my memory banks or what's in print. However, I have been playing along on Christmas tunes that play on my internal channel while I walk around Santa's Land, just to see what comes out, then sometimes playing them for patrons: "Chestnuts Roasting," "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," "Rudolf," "Winter Wonderland," "Silent Night," "O Holy Night," "Winter Wonderland" (a toughy)—you get the idea. I even put some jazzy rhythms in on occasion.

"Earworms" all.

Tom

[Scotty]

That's Ok, Grixx. I remember your attempts to have me play duets with you and thought perhaps there was 'something'.

Christmas music is perfectly valid, since you're a bonafide Santa Claus now.

scotty

[Scotty]

Thanks, Brorat --that's the 'mood' it evokes for me as well.

Laina! I'm SO GLAD you already know about Gregory Porter...how exciting. I'm now searching for more of his music. I adore
this particular song so just had to play it. Since I use my A for almost everything it didn't dawn on me that I was in that 'sweet'
spot' with his voice primarily due to my cx-12 in A. Hadn't tried it on a C. Also hadn't tried the sax solo, just dreamed along.
Now, I grabbed my C (cx-12) to try playing with the sax player - and 'nearly' got up to his/her high notes, but it could have
been because I was just a beat behind and hadn't played it before. I have no idea what 'key' I'm playing in, though since I
follow the sound instead. I'm so grateful for you- who knows so much more than I do!

scotty
Ok - now I'd love to see some of YOUR (and others') choices of 'Songs we love to play along with'?