Self-made song at school test performance

[Jon Tore]

OK, so the kind of tests you have in the middle of the school year (mid term tests?)
So I've finally made a song myself, that I wanted to play, and got some guys from my class to play with me on this one. They did a very good job, and the performance was alright.. it fell apart a bit in the very end, but all in all I think it was good.

The reason why I'm sharing is because this isn't a piece I've just thrown together, but worked on for very long, and creating music means pretty much everything to me. I need to work on getting evaluated and playing at the same time, because it's so annoying when you do much worse when it really matters. What do you think of this one? Supposed to be strange, jazzy, located somewhere in space.

BTW: I was sick during this performance, and not 100 % confident with the outlook of.. me, but I can't take that into account really when it comes to getting feedback on music

YouTube - Rune Wangen w/italian stallion mid term band

[royster]

I think that's awesome, Jon. It reminded me of Weather Report, and I love that kind of jazz. Yes, it takes a special talent to produce that sort of sound. Excellent.

[Jon Tore]

Originally Posted by royster

I think that's awesome, Jon. It reminded me of Weather Report, and I love that kind of jazz. Yes, it takes a special talent to produce that sort of sound. Excellent.

Ah, awesome, inspiring feedback, thank you. I've had Weather Report on my check-this-out list, and I'm a bit familiar with Pastorius.

[BillyTheAdult]

Originally Posted by Jon Tore

Ah, awesome, inspiring feedback, thank you. I've had Weather Report on my check-this-out list, and I'm a bit familiar with Pastorius.

How come no ones ever made a movie about that guy?

[Jon Tore]

Originally Posted by BillyTheAdult

How come no ones ever made a movie about that guy?

You mean like a.. documentary, like they did with John Lennon?

[royster]

I wanted to also say that all four musicians are performing very well; it is obvious their egos are not playing the instruments, and to me, this makes their stage presence more 'meaningful'. The song/music is interesting and well-performed. It is interesting to watch the drummer thoughtfully put little accents into the fray. That bass player is really doing a fabulous job.

[Jon Tore]

Originally Posted by royster

I wanted to also say that all four musicians are performing very well; it is obvious their egos are not playing the instruments, and to me, this makes their stage presence more 'meaningful'. The song/music is interesting and well-performed. It is interesting to watch the drummer thoughtfully put little accents into the fray. That bass player is really doing a fabulous job.

Yeah, I've told them that I'm really greatful for the big effort. The bass player, also my best friend, is really good at bass and he's sort of a Jaco Pastorius kid to put it that way Last year he played Teen Town. This year he played "Got a Match?" by Chick Coera. I'm very much into some of what Chick Corea has done, mainly his Return to Forever instrumentals, if you're familiar with the guy (I also saw him play here in Norway with a norwegian jazz orchestra).
The keyboard player who really is a bass player had many difficult parts as well, and the drummer who really is a guitar player learned it all within a week or so.

Before we started learning this and playing it together, I had made the entire song in a notation software, and here's a midi file (everyone can play it) with the well.. computer sounds of this song. You can hear some of the parts especially towards the end more clearly, tonalwise that is, in this file: thing.mid - Windows Live

[royster]

Wow, Jon, that's impressive. Particularly the drummer, since what he does requires a lot of restraint, and he's keeping the rythym well without beating the heck out of the drums.

A few of the riffs reminded me of the brilliant things Frank Zappa used to do...very close to it, so KUDOS!

[Jon Tore]

Originally Posted by royster

A few of the riffs reminded me of the brilliant things Frank Zappa used to do...very close to it, so KUDOS!

Haha that's interesting. Because I haven't listened to much Zappa really, I've only come across some of the well known funny stuff like Muffin Man and Don't eat the yellow snow. I don't know where to begin listening to the guy, but apparently he has been the source of inspiration for several of MY main inspiration sources, which might explain the link.

Usually at this point, I'd start linking tons of videos of crazy jazz/prog songs, but I want to keep this a bit more organized.

These guys used to be a Zappa cover band, but went on to making their own stuff. They were invited on stage and played a song with Frank Zappa once though. But if you wanna hear the soundtrack of my life, this must really be it: YouTube - Mats/Morgan band- Ta Ned Trasan (From On Air /w Guests) TRUM
Does THIS give you Zappa vibes? Cause if it does, I want to know what part of Zappa's endless discography I should check out.

Oh, and the keyboardist is blind since birth

[royster]

Mats/Morgan Band is pretty cool. I think what I'm hearing in them, you and Frank Zappa are some of the unpredictable chord changes, riffs, and 'sharp left-hand turns'.

In 1980 I joined a band as lead singer and flutist. This is where i was introduced to "Rush" and progressive rock, which really took me a bit of effort to adapt to, because the beats change "unexpectedly" and you can't follow (as a musician) by conventional chord changes. I came to really appreciate the talent...and the consequent sound...of fusion jazz and progressive rock.

That being said, I have tremendous appreciation for your work.

[Jon Tore]

Unpredictable chord changes yes

Thanks again. Whenever I feel that I want to make something, but can't find the inspiration, I'll read these, it really gives me the will to push forward. I have a neat set of instruments (including drums) and microphones here at home, so this thing is definitely getting recorded here some time soon. I hope to be able to do as much music as possible in my life.

Sounds cool that you were in such a band, and with flute and all Immediately reminds of Jethro Tull when I read the words prog and flute!

[BillyTheAdult]

Originally Posted by Jon Tore

You mean like a.. documentary, like they did with John Lennon?

Well yes like a biography/documentary or more Hollywood style like with Johnny Cash or Ray Charles. I mean I know he is not that famous, but man, talk about someone with a story worthy life.

[Jon Tore]

Originally Posted by BillyTheAdult

Well yes like a biography/documentary or more Hollywood style like with Johnny Cash or Ray Charles. I mean I know he is not that famous, but man, talk about someone with a story worthy life.

Ah yeah I see. He had a strange death though. Died in a seemingly random bar fight, and like.. that was it.

[Jon Tore]

Hey, didn't want to make a new thread for this, but recorded a short melody with two of my new christmas presents included (a bass, and a MIDI interface).

If you can listen through the horrid youtube audio quality you're welcome to do so here, and you even get to see me clumsily trying to learn my own melody on the synth afterwards YouTube - Trying out my home studio.

[AlmostGodess]

Does this song have a name?

It sounds cool

[Jon Tore]

Originally Posted by AlmostGodess

Does this song have a name?

It sounds cool

Thank you It's just the beginning of something that will become something I haven't made yet, so this little thing doesn't have a name.

[Jon Tore]

Originally Posted by AlmostGodess

Does this song have a name?

It sounds cool

Oh wait, did you refer to my first post in this thread or the one I just posted? (Neither of them have names anyway though)