"Besame Mucho" -- Cuban Bolero on my Clinesmith

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 1 Oct 2012 6:02 pm

I've been working on trying to interpret melodies with a little more feeling, which I think is one of my shortcomings. I think this sounds pretty nice on my Clinesmith in C13 tuning through my Sano amp (loaded with Altec 417s). What do you think?

http://soundcloud.com/ionahoopii/besame ... -mike-neer

Probably the most over-recorded song in the world and I am always loathe to sing it when asked, but for some reason it felt good today.

John Rosett · Post by **John Rosett** » 1 Oct 2012 8:10 pm

Great playing and great tone! I really like the way you played the bridge.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 2 Oct 2012 4:03 am

Muchos gracias, John.

Nate Hofer · Post by **Nate Hofer** » 2 Oct 2012 4:31 am

Fun! Love the momentary right hand flurry strumming. Wish I could see that technique.

Bob Stone · Post by **Bob Stone** » 2 Oct 2012 5:58 am

Yo Mike,

Very nice--as usual. Lots of great ideas, and played very well.

I play this in our group Montage, which is fronted by a female singer, so everything we do is a vocal. I seldom get a solo longer than one time through the tune.

This is one tune where I usually stick pretty close to the melody. Harmonics and octaves seem to work with this one, as well as other tunes in minor keys.

I always identified it with Cuban music--probably a Florida-centric viewpoint--but it was written by a 15 year old Mexican girl. You may have seen this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%A9same_Mucho

Over the years, it has come into wide use by virtually all Latin American cultures.

Anyhow, great job. Keep 'em coming.

I am working on your Bebop book. Thanks for making this knowledge available to us. And at a great price. Such a deal!

Best,

Bob

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 2 Oct 2012 6:14 am

Thanks, Bob. Cuban Bolero refers to the beat I used. Hope I didn't confuse anyone.

I've always found Mexican song lyrics to be incredibly deep and romantic and to think that a 15-year old wrote the line:

Quiero mirarme en tus ojos,
Tenerte muy cerca, verte junto a mi.

Beautiful.

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 2 Oct 2012 6:37 am

great playing and a great song. songs like these have become overplayed etc because they are indeed great songs!! when you play them and make something happen, its always nice to hear. separates the real players from the bored ones!!

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 2 Oct 2012 6:40 am

I still have a sound clip somewhere of you & Gerald Ross jamming on Besame Mucho at Rick Aiello's Shenandoah Festival.....

Wonderful technique interwoven with much feeling....and it works very well at the slower tempo as I'm used to hearing this tune played at a faster pace....

Now I'm just waiting for your solo cd "Neerer To You".......

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 2 Oct 2012 6:42 am

I'd agree with Howard. The slower tempo is nice to hear, and of course you make it your own.

If you don't name your next CD "Neerer to You", there's no justice in the world.

Hal Braun · Post by **Hal Braun** » 2 Oct 2012 7:36 am

Add my post to the "great tone" list..

Just wondering, you mentioned playing more without finger picks.. did you go "naked" on this track? It kind of sounded at least like you were using a thumbpick.. just curious...

thanks! nicely done!!

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 2 Oct 2012 8:09 am

Lovely Mike. I've long thought about recording this with a little Middle-Eastern twist and calling it "Sesame Muncho"

Bob Stone · Post by **Bob Stone** » 2 Oct 2012 9:18 am

Hi Mike,

No confusion here about the Cuban bolero rhythm.

I have been around quite a bit of Mexican music here in Florida, but have never heard any of them play Besame--only Cubans and South Americans.

I always enjoy your audio posts. Keep 'em coming..

Best,

Bob

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 2 Oct 2012 12:53 pm

Jim Cohen wrote:Lovely Mike. I've long thought about recording this with a little Middle-Eastern twist and calling it "Sesame Muncho"

Jim Cohen = the Tahini Cowboy.

Karl Fehrenbach · Post by **Karl Fehrenbach** » 2 Oct 2012 3:38 pm

Tasty!-as is everything you present here. What a treat. Thanks for opening my ears to this.

Tom Keller · Post by **Tom Keller** » 2 Oct 2012 6:31 pm

I loved it Mike, thanks for sharing.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 2 Oct 2012 6:56 pm

Great job, Mike

Dan Simard · Post by **Dan Simard** » 2 Oct 2012 7:12 pm

Hal Braun wrote:Just wondering, you mentioned playing more without finger picks.. did you go "naked" on this track? It kind of sounded at least like you were using a thumbpick.. just curious...

I have the same question!

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 2 Oct 2012 7:18 pm

Hal Braun wrote:...Just wondering, you mentioned playing more without finger picks.. did you go "naked" on this track? It kind of sounded at least like you were using a thumbpick.. just curious...

I casually play without fingerpicks, but when I start getting serious about something, I tend to reach for the fingerpicks. I used picks for this recording--I couldn't have done it without them.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 2 Oct 2012 7:18 pm

Really enjoyed that, Mike. Beautiful example of singing the song on the steel.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 2 Oct 2012 7:25 pm

Very nice. Who's playing the guitar?

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 3 Oct 2012 1:10 am

b0b wrote:Very nice. Who's playing the guitar?

I played all of the instruments except for the congas.

Steve Cunningham · Post by **Steve Cunningham** » 3 Oct 2012 7:29 am

Very cool Mike.

Chuck S. Lettes · Post by **Chuck S. Lettes** » 3 Oct 2012 8:53 am

Nice job, Mike. Always good to hear your interpretations.
Chuck

David Matzenik · Post by **David Matzenik** » 3 Oct 2012 1:28 pm

I'm running out of superlatives for your playing, Mike. But I don't dish out a "Top Stuff" unless its deserved. What kind of amplification did you use?

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 3 Oct 2012 2:34 pm

David, that's a Sano 250R (made here in NJ in the 60s) with 2 Altec speakers that I put in, just a little amp reverb and miked with a Shure SM57, nothing else. The bass and guitar were recorded with the same mic direct into the el cheapo Boss BR-8, no other editing.

Thanks!

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"Besame Mucho" -- Cuban Bolero on my Clinesmith

"Besame Mucho" -- Cuban Bolero on my Clinesmith

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