Double Bass Take The A Train.

[ErikP.Bass]

This week for my bass lesson I am going be creating a lead sheet from and old recording of Take The A Train....the older the better. I was wondering if anyone has any favorite versions. Please post a YouTube link if it's available or the date and artist / group if it's not. Thanks in advance for your help / recommendations!!!

 

[Michael Eisenman]

Have a look on jazz-on-line.com. I'm sure there are several versions on that site. It's a great source of old recordings.

 

[TroyK]

Duke Ellington Orchestra, of course, will be the oldest and most iconic, though the song has been recorded about a billion times and there are lots of good versions mixed among more bad ones.

There is a Ray Brown Trio recording on I think the Concord label that really slow and very cool. Would be good contrast to Duke.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Mingus' version, which is on his "Pre-Bird" album, is a scorcher.

 

[ErikP.Bass]

Thanks guys....score is 4 vs. 0......UB vs. EB.....not that that was the point of my question! Appreciate the recommendations.

 

[TroyK]

Thanks guys....score is 4 vs. 0......UB vs. EB...

huh?

 

[Michael Eisenman]

I'm thinking he got no reply to the question on the EB side.

 

[TroyK]

Yeah, that makes sense.

We have a reputation of being unresponsive and perhaps even hostile at times, but a good question (want to build a leadsheet by transcribing from the best recordings of a standard) usually gets very good responses.

It's the same tired old, mal-conceived questions that on a good day we ignore and on a bad day we flame. Ironically those probably get a lot more uptake with the BGists.

Another thought, learn the lyrics if you don't know them. Ella is great, but I don't know if she's the best source of lyrical accuracy on this particular tune. Still, check her and others out for the lyrics. It'll help you when you play the head.

 

[ErikP.Bass]

I'm thinking he got no reply to the question on the EB side.

Correct....again not that it was my intent to compare or keep score. Looking forward to getting started on the chart when I get home! Thanks again.

 

[TroyK]

Here's the keys to the kingdom, right here:

 

[ErikP.Bass]

Here's the keys to the kingdom, right here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRaL7A1n4F0

Wow. That is phenomenal!!!

This was the Duke Ellington version I found.

 

[Marty Forrer]

Here's the keys to the kingdom, right here:

Ha ha!!! Ray Brown's low notes blew out the built-in speaker in my computer!

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

Here's a nice version of Duke Ellington playing this song in a trio format with John Lamb on bass. John still plays around the Tampa Bay area and I see him quite often. He still sounds great!

- Steve

 

[ErikP.Bass]

Here's a nice version of Duke Ellington playing this song in a trio format with John Lamb on bass. John still plays around the Tampa Bay area and I see him quite often. He still sounds great!

- Steve

Excellent! Thanks for posting.

 

[iiipopes]

This week for my bass lesson I am going be creating a lead sheet from and old recording of Take The A Train....the older the better.

Make sure the 3rd & 4th measures have the appropriate altered chords to get the proper effect going to the resolution of the melody in the 5th & 6th measures to set up the turnaround in the 7th and 8th measures.

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

The original version features the great Jimmy Blanton on bass. He doesn't do anything soloistic on this recording but I recall that his walking line is very effective and he uses the whole tone scale over measures 3 & 4 of the A section.

- Steve

 

[JGoldberg]

Mingus' version, which is on his "Pre-Bird" album, is a scorcher.

+1

That is some great stuff. Haven't heard it since my car was stolen along with my CD collection (pre-Ipod) hehehe.

 

[Michael Eisenman]

Just came across the "Ellington At Newport 1956" version. Good one.

 

[iiipopes]

The original version features the great Jimmy Blanton on bass. He doesn't do anything soloistic on this recording but I recall that his walking line is very effective and he uses the whole tone scale over measures 3 & 4 of the A section.
- Steve

Indeed. That's what I do when playing a head chart.
The Wolpe arrangement for full band:
http://leadsheetmusic.com/multifake...rrangements_Band/Take_the_A_Train_(Wolpe).pdf

 

[ErikP.Bass]

Make sure the 3rd & 4th measures have the appropriate altered chords to get the proper effect going to the resolution of the melody in the 5th & 6th measures to set up the turnaround in the 7th and 8th measures.

Thanks for the tip! Conceptually I understand what you mean but I'm not sure my ears are there yet.