Autumn Leaves sung by two masters.

[Dr. Cheese]

I am going back over some old lessons so as not to forget what I have learned. In the past, I listened to the Nat King Cole version of Autumn Leaves, but not the Sinatra version. All I can say is Sinatra was a master. His baritone hits differently than Cole’s tenor. This is not a whose better post. I am just in awe of two bygone masters.

 

[JonathanPDX]

If you really want to melt your brain, pick up Ron Carter's book on Autumn Leaves. His transcriptions are incredible, and walk you through heady, advanced subs that he was playing with Miles.

 

[Michael Milner]

Who likes it in E minor and who likes it in G minor?

 

[Dr. Cheese]

If you really want to melt your brain, pick up Ron Carter's book on Autumn Leaves. His transcriptions are incredible, and walk you through heady, advanced subs that he was playing with Miles.

My reading is probably too poor to get the most out of it, but I may buy it anyway.

 

[12BitSlab]

I like this version as well.

 

[Dana R Gregory]

I agree with the OP that Sinatra has the better voice for this tune. My favorite version is by Eric Clapton. I prefer to play it as a slow Foxtrot.

 

[JRA]

i gotta go with nat: too smooth, too cool!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I agree with the OP that Sinatra has the better voice for this tune. My favorite version is by Eric Clapton. I prefer to play it as a slow Foxtrot.

I did not actually say Sinatra was better than Cole, but I thought his baritone really was a great contrast to Cole’s tenor that I had come to associate with the song.

 

[Passinwind]

I like this version as well.

Yep, a bit more my speed than the male versions. I've played it live occasionally with a baritone who does it in French, to me that just sounds a little nicer for this tune.

 

[2saddleslab]

i gotta go with nat: too smooth, too cool!

^This.

 

[logdrum]

His baritone hits differently than Cole’s tenor.

I think Nat is considered a baritone, He has lower recorded notes although he has also higher recorded notes than Frank. I always considered him baritone

You are also comparing 2 fidelities here recording wise - and the size of the orchestra -- so Frank's seems grander. But if you listen again, Nat's version speaks more to me, he is telling the story better while Frank is emphasizing the beauty of the melodic line. Meaning he could substitute any lyrics here and his melodic delivery won't change. Notice how Nat literally drifts out of time when he sings drifts around 119 and then he gets back, That was intentional and props to the band,

If you really want to melt your brain, pick up Ron Carter's book on Autumn Leaves. His transcriptions are incredible, and walk you through heady, advanced subs that he was playing with Miles.

It's not about brain hurting., it's just listening to how 2 masters interpret the song. The chord progression is not that uncommon and certainly was written as a stage tune. I am pretty sure as brilliant Ron is, they would tell him to stop doing substitutions if he was on the band with these two.

 

[FilterFunk]

You are also comparing 2 fidelities here recording wise - and the size of the orchestra -- so Frank's seems grander. But if you listen again, Nat's version speaks more to me, he is telling the story better while Frank is emphasizing the beauty of the melodic line. Meaning he could substitute any lyrics here and his melodic delivery won't change. Notice how Nat literally drifts out of time when he sings drifts around 119 and then he gets back, That was intentional and props to the band,

I agree with all of this, and I couldn't have said it better.

 

[Carl Hillman]

Check this one out.

Following along during the bass solo can be tricky if you don’t know the tune well. …but they aren’t deviating from the form of the song.

 

[Michedelic]

I am going back over some old lessons so as not to forget what I have learned. In the past, I listened to the Nat King Cole version of Autumn Leaves, but not the Sinatra version. All I can say is Sinatra was a master. His baritone hits differently than Cole’s tenor. This is not a whose better post. I am just in awe of two bygone masters.

A little OT, but if you’d like to immerse yourself in this realm via streaming, there’s a station near me that is all that:

107.3 Mod FM

www.1073modfm.com

The “mod” they’re referring to is “modernism”, a prevalent mid-century modern architectural style down in Palm Springs/Coachella Valley where they’re located. I’m 45 minutes/3000 ft in elevation away from there, so I can’t pick up the station on the airwaves, but it’s always on in the car when I’m down there. You get to hear Frank at least once an hour, and it’s always a kick(really a boot)to listen to him while driving past his old estate(located on Frank Sinatra Drive, naturally).