Body and Soul for 2 steel guitars (Jazz standard)

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 4 Jul 2012 8:21 pm

I was playing around with Body and Soul for the last 2 evenings and this is what I recorded this evening.

I played this with my thumb pick and fingers, going for a real easy kind of sound. The improv is just something simple and melodic.

Guitar is my Clinesmith and the tuning is C6/A7.

Hope you enjoy.

http://soundcloud.com/ionahoopii/body-and-soul

Steve Cunningham · Post by **Steve Cunningham** » 4 Jul 2012 8:47 pm

Wow Mike, that's gorgeous! My favorite of yours to date, and I like everything you've done. I don't hear the steel guitar, I hear the music... I mean that as a high compliment. Great improv section, nothing but taste.

No fingerpicks, who'da thunk
it?

Jerry Gleason · Post by **Jerry Gleason** » 4 Jul 2012 11:14 pm

Nice jazz tone, Mike. Great voicings. I like your backing tracks, too.

Don McGregor · Post by **Don McGregor** » 5 Jul 2012 2:36 am

WOW!!!

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 5 Jul 2012 4:45 am

wonderful!!!

Jerome Hawkes · Post by **Jerome Hawkes** » 5 Jul 2012 5:08 am

i think you could fool a lot of guitarist on some of the single line work, not realizing that was a steel - that tone fits your style well.
great arrangement. this is the kind of stuff i like to listen to late night to unwind.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 5 Jul 2012 5:43 am

Jerome Hawkes wrote:i think you could fool a lot of guitarist on some of the single line work, not realizing that was a steel - that tone fits your style well.
great arrangement. this is the kind of stuff i like to listen to late night to unwind.

I work hard at trying to find a balance between my guitar playing sensibilities and the steel. I want to have chops, but I don't want to lose what's best about the steel. I very rarely ever play guitar anymore--that's one way to do it!

Thanks, everyone!

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 5 Jul 2012 6:24 am

Nice! great job, Mike.

Dan Simard · Post by **Dan Simard** » 5 Jul 2012 6:40 am

Incredible! This is why I chose to play lap steel, because it can be used in many context and styles.

I would like to know where you got your backing track? Could you share it with us? I have a small project in which we will play jazz standards and I will be on lap steel, it would help me get in the mood...

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 5 Jul 2012 6:44 am

Dan Simard wrote:Incredible! This is why I chose to play lap steel, because it can be used in many context and styles.

I would like to know where you got your backing track? Could you share it with us? I have a small project in which we will play jazz standards and I will be on lap steel, it would help me get in the mood...

I have some Jamey Aebersold Play-A-Longs and this was one of them. I just remove the piano track by deleting that channel. Normally, I would record my own rhythm track using my bass and my drum loop library, but this saved me some time.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 5 Jul 2012 8:07 am

Mike, that was beautiful - both in concept and execution. You thought like a sax player in the improv section which unfolded very naturally and organically from the head.

A new level of expression you have found.
- Yoda

John Mulligan · Post by **John Mulligan** » 5 Jul 2012 3:21 pm

Very nice.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 5 Jul 2012 3:49 pm

Lovely, Mike. Sweet.

Bob Stone · Post by **Bob Stone** » 6 Jul 2012 8:22 am

Beautifully done Mike. And one of my favorite tunes. Hard to play well at that slow tempo, but that's the speed at which most jazz players do it.

In Stardust Melodies, a book which explores the story behind the creation of several classic melodies, the composer was asked if he knew he was creating a classic. He was writing it for a Broadway play. His response was: "All I knew was that it had to be done by Tuesday." Also, as I recall he wrote the bridge to be used in some other tune years earlier, but it was rejected.

Again, great job. Thanks for posting. Keep 'em coming.

All the best,

Bob

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 6 Jul 2012 2:35 pm

Thanks for listening, Andy, Bob, Jim, John.

It is a great song. So many wonderful versions recorded through the years--you can't argue with Coleman Hawkins' version, but John Coltrane's version is one of my favorites, though he changed the harmony considerably and picked up the tempo.

I have a lot of reharm ideas, but my rhythm section (Aebersold) wasn't having it.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 6 Jul 2012 2:38 pm

Mike Neer wrote: I have a lot of reharm ideas, but my rhythm section (Aebersold) wasn't having it.

That's why they invented Band in a Box. (But you knew that...

)

Paul Sutherland · Post by **Paul Sutherland** » 6 Jul 2012 2:49 pm

I really enjoyed hear this tune, and so well executed. Great job Mike.

James Nottage · Post by **James Nottage** » 7 Jul 2012 6:17 am

Beautifully done, Mike.

Nate Hofer · Post by **Nate Hofer** » 7 Jul 2012 6:26 am

I could listen to a whole album of this. And it motivates me to Spotify these standards.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 7 Jul 2012 2:53 pm

Many thanks for listening.

I'm sure I'll be playing this one differently in a few weeks--at least I hope to make it evolve.

Larry Lorows · Post by **Larry Lorows** » 7 Jul 2012 5:40 pm

Great playing MIke. I bet you could really swing this one if you wanted to. It sure sounds like you have the chops. Again, super playing. Larry

Stephen Watson · Post by **Stephen Watson** » 8 Jul 2012 3:19 pm

gave me visions of Julie London

thnx

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 8 Jul 2012 3:26 pm

Stephen Watson wrote:gave me visions of Julie London

Anything that gives me visions of Julie London is a good thing in my book!

Bob Stone · Post by **Bob Stone** » 10 Jul 2012 12:48 pm

Yo Jim,

Ditto on Julie London!

Best,

Bob

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 14 Jul 2012 8:30 am

Julie London With Body and Soul

Next up: On Green Dolphin Street