Jazz Sousaphone Fun

[TUbajohn20J]

What do yall think? Honest opinions and all feedback welcome. Enjoy

http://youtu.be/hx8a3-z2Jr0" target="_blank

[Alex C]

This recording is fun and interesting. Nice tune, well done on sousaphones.

I decided to edit out the comments that were here. Haven't read any responses, just wasn't warranted at this time. My first comment stands: well done on sousaphones.

Ah, well. Things change.

[David Richoux]

It is good, but I wouldn't exactly call it jazz (or funk) - I hear too much pop/classical stuff in the patterns of the backing parts. The harmonies are too pure (read "nice") and the syncopations are not jazzy at all to my ears. Bring out the lead line a bit and get some Nasty!

Keep at it, though!

[Bombardonier]

This recording is fun and interesting. Nice tune, well done on sousaphones.

I don't like the predictable blats that are heard on tuba recordings. One or two of the other examples related to this one are way over the top. Personally, I would walk out of performance with those sounds. Cellists don't do it, why should tubaists? Clarinets? No. etc.

Should you overblow for effect when it's called for, yes? However, I usually hear blats from a player who wants to demonstrate that he is capable of blatting. Usually in excess.

Harvey's students used to have an inside joke, "whale farts at forty fathoms." Jacobs never did it and he could play a little jazz when he wanted to but it never was overblown.

Ah, well. Things change.

The "Blatting" is a bass trombone "effect" if nothing else--and on that instrument, "edginess" is also unfortunately often overdone (especially in jazz). I like the recording, but +1 on fewer "whale farts"

[Bombardonier]

One or two of the other examples related to this one are way over the top. Personally, I would walk out of performance with those sounds. Cellists don't do it, why should tubaists? Clarinets? No. etc.

I take it back, I get a momentary wave of schadenfreude every time I hear a woodwind player squack the first note of an entry... (I know, I am mean).

[TUbajohn20J]

Just having fun. Thanks for the input everyone!

[TUbajohn20J]

Ok it's not jazz or funky. I don't know what you would call it but I just came up with a bassline and ran with it and had some fun. Thanks for all your input. As regards to "good sound quality", and "stop overblowing" and "whale farts" etc.. is a whole different ball game. I like to have fun when I play. Yes in orchestras/wind ensembles of course you wouldn't want to sound like this. There is a line you should never cross when it comes to loudness in those groups, obviously. I can play well with those groups and know the difference in tone/sound quality, and make a good transition to the sound you need for those type of groups, from the "nasty" sousaphone sound. Good musicians know the difference and can make good music with both "styles". A good tuba player should be able to sit down with the finest wind ensemble and make the most beautiful sound, powerful when needed, and also pretty, light as a feather and so delicate.. and get up, pick up a sousaphone and perform loudly with a brass band at a night club. This guy really nailed it and I couldn't agree more with his philosophy.

"Sound is nothing. Music is everything. I am SICK and tired of all the emphasis on sound quality in music auditions.
What is a beautiful tuba sound anyway? Put a damn paper clip into your mouthpiece to distort your sound, but play musically and you have won my heart. Play with the "worlds best" tuba sound but unmusically and you leave me cold. Unlike in an orchestral audition where you need a specific sound to blend with the orchestra the OPPOSITE is true in solo playing. As a soloist (and other styles of music) you need to stick out, to have a voice that is heard. You need to be able to change your sound constantly to serve the music. Sometimes beautiful and singing, sometimes ugly and harsh. Sometimes featherlight and delicate, sometimes solid as a rock. Rather than sound quality, we should be talking about sound control. To claim that one sound is better than another is as ignorant as saying that green is a better color than red. Good music requires an infinite variety of sound colors.
About 0,0001% of the worlds population plays tuba and "knows" what a good tuba sound is. If you intend to play for these guys you might be able to impress a few with your perfect sound. If you intend to reach the other 99,9999 % they don't have a clue what a tuba should sound like, and they could not care less. What these people do care about, is not getting bored. And that happens really, really quickly with the "perfect tuba sound". Now, go and kick the next guy that uses the phrase "good sound" in his butt! Quote me on it. Share the post. Ask people before you hire them for jury work: do you think that a good sound is important? If they say yes, get another guy." - Øystein Baadsvik

[Trumgottist]

I'm far from an expert of sound engineering (I'm at the stage of playing around with Garageband, starting to explore Logic), but there are some things that strike me as a bit off in that area. To begin with, try cutting back on the reverb. It sounds as if you've recorded it in a bathroom. I know it can be tempting to try and mask imperfections in the recording that way (been there, done that), but it nearly always sounds much better if you don't overdo it. Also if you plan to continue having fun with recordings (and it is fun! I haven't dared posting my attempts here though), I also recommend playing around with the mixing. That's also fun to learn (and difficult - one has to train one's ear in a whole new way!).

What equipment did you use for the recording, btw?

[TUbajohn20J]

Thanks Doc for your thoughts, and I will definitely keep posting more as I record. As far as the equipment I use a Shure PG27 condenser mic, Yamaha Audiogram 3 interface (USB), and I use Audacity only because it's free and easy to use. Yea I was just experimenting around with the reverb stuff I'm no pro at it. But here is the recording without any reverb added. Thanks everyone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnwugLX ... ata_player" target="_blank" target="_blank

[toobagrowl]

Nice job. Some of those are fun to listen to.

[Trumgottist]

That sounds a lot better.