One man/woman band recordings

[Mike Schwartz]

I'm in the midst of a first listen of a CD from a musician I like who has put this new one out where she plays every instrument; piano/keys, guitar, bass, drums, vocals.
(it's an advance actually, about a month from release, so I'll not mention the artist at this point)[/I]

Question is:
Jazz or not, what recordings do you know and have heard that have a single musician playing all the parts?
The good.....the bad.....the ugly

I suppose the Bill Evans playing as a duo is a decent start.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Historically, the first was Sidney Bechet's "Sheik of Araby" (clarinet, soprano and tenor sax, piano, bass, and drums), and later Lennie Tristano's "Requiem" and "Turkish Mambo" -- technologically primitive by today's standards but three bitching recordings!

But the best is the GREAT Teiji Ito, who made several wonderful soundtracks and recordings in which he played all the parts (many recently rereleased by John Zorn's Tzadik label). The best of them is Tenno, in which Ito plays Wooden Flutes, Ryuteki, Hichiriki, Shakuhachi, Koto, Shamisen, Taiko, Tsutsumi, Frame Drums, Tom Toms, Bass Drum, Ki, Woodblocks, Bells, Rattles, Gongs, Steel Drums, Thumb Piano, Marimbula, Log Drums, Timpani, Cymbals, Prayer Bells, Glass Bowls, Temple Blocks, Glass Bottles, Clapping, Tambourine, Maracas, Shakers, Sticks, Percussion, Drum Set, Trumpet, Horns, Conch Shells, Sho, Voice, Sound Effects, Turntable, and Electronics.

[Jazzooo]

A few of my own to start with, though no one would be able to tell if they didn't know first. I like interaction with myself.

Others--outside of jazz, many. Some of Stevie Wonder's stuff, Adrian Belew, McCartney, early Prince--some great tracks there. Marc Beacco, a weird and wonderful vocalist, did a couple of albums where he sang enormous ensembles and rhythm parts, and then brought in a soloist like Mike Stern or Dennis Chambers or Toots to play on top of them.

[Joe Carter]

from the southern hemishphere, Hermeto Pascoal's Eu e Eles, where he plays 12 original compositons and plays over 60 overdubed instruments. Some of them:

Organ, Bass, Flute, Percussion, Piano, Tuba, Bongos, Flugelhorn, Flute (Bass), Sax (Soprano), Triangle, Vocals, Pandeiro, Rhythm, Surdo, Cavaquinho, Main Performer, Liner Notes, Bombo, Zabumba, Mixing, Make-Up, Bombard, Musical Direction, Bandola, Effects, Bamboo Flute, Campana, Chocalhos, Costume Design, Tarola, Apito, Prato, Sanfona, Arranjo, Escaleta

[clinthopson]

Les Paul was probably the pioneer in over-dubbing.


Aussie James Morrison is a master at almost every instrument. I remember hearing a disc where he did a big band recording and played every instrument. Jaw dropping.

[Mike Schwartz]

Originally Posted by Squaredancecalling Steve

Historically, the first was Sidney Bechet's "Sheik of Araby" (clarinet, soprano and tenor sax, piano, bass, and drums), and later Lennie Tristano's "Requiem" and "Turkish Mambo" -- technologically primitive by today's standards but three bitching recordings!

But the best is the GREAT Teiji Ito, who made several wonderful soundtracks and recordings in which he played all the parts (many recently rereleased by John Zorn's Tzadik label). The best of them is Tenno, in which Ito plays Wooden Flutes, Ryuteki, Hichiriki, Shakuhachi, Koto, Shamisen, Taiko, Tsutsumi, Frame Drums, Tom Toms, Bass Drum, Ki, Woodblocks, Bells, Rattles, Gongs, Steel Drums, Thumb Piano, Marimbula, Log Drums, Timpani, Cymbals, Prayer Bells, Glass Bowls, Temple Blocks, Glass Bottles, Clapping, Tambourine, Maracas, Shakers, Sticks, Percussion, Drum Set, Trumpet, Horns, Conch Shells, Sho, Voice, Sound Effects, Turntable, and Electronics.

I wasn't really thinking of who would respond or what would come up, when I came up with the notion to post, but not really shocked was you to step in first Steve!
This one sounds nothing short of amazing...

[Mike Schwartz]

Originally Posted by Joe Carter

from the southern hemishphere, Hermeto Pascoal's Eu e Eles, where he plays 12 original compositons and plays over 60 overdubed instruments. Some of them:

Organ, Bass, Flute, Percussion, Piano, Tuba, Bongos, Flugelhorn, Flute (Bass), Sax (Soprano), Triangle, Vocals, Pandeiro, Rhythm, Surdo, Cavaquinho, Main Performer, Liner Notes, Bombo, Zabumba, Mixing, Make-Up, Bombard, Musical Direction, Bandola, Effects, Bamboo Flute, Campana, Chocalhos, Costume Design, Tarola, Apito, Prato, Sanfona, Arranjo, Escaleta

Great call!

[Mike Schwartz]

Originally Posted by Jazzooo

A few of my own to start with, though no one would be able to tell if they didn't know first. I like interaction with myself.

Others--outside of jazz, many. Some of Stevie Wonder's stuff, Adrian Belew, McCartney, early Prince--some great tracks there. Marc Beacco, a weird and wonderful vocalist, did a couple of albums where he sang enormous ensembles and rhythm parts, and then brought in a soloist like Mike Stern or Dennis Chambers or Toots to play on top of them.

Doug,

Since you've done this, how to you avoid having the result be a collection of misc. 'noodling around'?

My limited listening experience on these projects seem to fall into either meticulous layers of terrific playing, or those who come up with a level of fine playing on some of the instruments and not so much others; maybe the material might not carry well throughout the project.

[Al in NYC]

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

[Jazzooo]

"Since you've done this, how to you avoid having the result be a collection of misc. 'noodling around'?"

To be honest, I don't know but I've been able to do it since I was about 12--the first time I got to overdub myself playing piano and then vibes. I think it is a couple of things. Number one and two, I am a pretty good arranger and a pretty good player, at least in terms of gelling with others in an ensemble. I don't noodle, but at the same time--being the kind of jazz player I am--I rarely play the song exactly the same way twice. Keeps it fresh for me.

Another thing is you have to think like a producer from the start (or at least by the time you start the second track). You have to be intuitive and ruthless--a cool lick on guitar that doesn't mesh with the bass? Over the side. I think of each player as a separate person when I'm overdubbing, and I just visualize myself fitting into the band.

And I think the other thing is that I've gigged quite a bit as a drummer, and as a bassist as well as a piano player. I don't approach the drums like a pianist, or vice versa.

Here's a track called "This Time Stand Still," from my album "Midlife Chrysalis." I'm not making any claims that it is great or that I am, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't suck.

http://www.speedyshare.com/781539601.html

I'm playing piano, organ, electric bass, drums, sampled Mellotron, percussion, electric and acoustic guitars and singing several harmonies. It's about a guy who can never seem to kick his partner out, even after it's obvious she's through with him.

[Jazzooo]

Here's a different kind of track, from the same album. There's an improvised melodica solo and some guitar work, as well as everything else. I guess the key is not having your talent be unbalanced--I'm as good a guitarist as I am a bassist as I am a drummer. I'm most proficient on keys, but everything else is about equal. I'm no singer, but I do the best I can to tell my stories.

http://www.speedyshare.com/633330343.html

Adrian Belew is actually an inspiration, as are the other guys I mentioned. Some musicians claim to play everything, and then you find that the drums are loops and the bass is sampled. Nothing wrong with those approaches, I've used 'em too. But it's rare to find a pianist who can actually play drums, bass, guitar, mallets, hand percussion, and a bit of trumpet and trombone, and then make it all work. I've always assumed I'm one of maybe 1000 guys in the world who can do it--maybe more, maybe less, I don't know. But I don't know actually know anyone else personally who can, at least not at a professional level.

[Robert de St. Loup]

Almost all, but not quite:

[Mike Schwartz]

Originally Posted by Robert de St. Loup

Almost all, but not quite:

Can't make it out........who/what is it?

[Mike Schwartz]

Originally Posted by Jazzooo

Here's a different kind of track, from the same album. There's an improvised melodica solo and some guitar work, as well as everything else. I guess the key is not having your talent be unbalanced--I'm as good a guitarist as I am a bassist as I am a drummer. I'm most proficient on keys, but everything else is about equal. I'm no singer, but I do the best I can to tell my stories.

http://www.speedyshare.com/633330343.html

Adrian Belew is actually an inspiration, as are the other guys I mentioned. Some musicians claim to play everything, and then you find that the drums are loops and the bass is sampled. Nothing wrong with those approaches, I've used 'em too. But it's rare to find a pianist who can actually play drums, bass, guitar, mallets, hand percussion, and a bit of trumpet and trombone, and then make it all work. I've always assumed I'm one of maybe 1000 guys in the world who can do it--maybe more, maybe less, I don't know. But I don't know actually know anyone else personally who can, at least not at a professional level.

Doug,
I'm looking forward to hearing these; not able to on the office computer. Thanks!

[Jazzooo]

Now I'm looking forward to hearing what you think, Mike. The files seem a little squirrely--normally, with Speedyshare, you just click on the ink and it will start playing, but I checked them tonight and you'll probably have to right-click on the file and download 'em.

[Mike Schwartz]

Originally Posted by Jazzooo

Now I'm looking forward to hearing what you think, Mike. The files seem a little squirrely--normally, with Speedyshare, you just click on the ink and it will start playing, but I checked them tonight and you'll probably have to right-click on the file and download 'em.

In both cases is sounds like a multi-person band!
Seamless and well integrated.....didn't care for the 2nd tune, but loved the first one.

Right out of the gate reminded me very much of Bob Dorough's School House Rock!

[Jazzooo]

Gracias, muy amable! I{m stuck in a town 30 miles from my home tonight--drove througha puddle and my rav 4 just seized up,and ceased to function.

[Jazzooo]

It{s the next day and I{m still stuck in this hotel, waiting for my Mexican insurance to kick in. But Mike, I have one more for you--this one is tighter, I was kind of tapping into a Steely Dan groove. It{s called With Us/Against Us and just in case people don{t know me well enough--it{s political satire. I{m not actually a right wing yahoo who thinks that history was just fine the way it was, why do you have to spoil Thanksgiving for the rest of us? Why do you have to go tell us Licoln might have been gay? and so on.

http://www.speedyshare.com/404769348.html

I{m not a good guitarist, but I play good guitar--that{s what I{m talking about in terms of technique. You have to think like a guitarist, and like a guitarist who wants to please the producer-arranger.

Sorry for the typing--Mexican keyboards are bizaro.

[ScottyWright]

Noel Jewkes, a San Francisco-based musician, whose primary axe is tenor sax, did a solo project years ago under his moniker Dr Legato, where he played maybe ten instruments and sang a bit.
Don't know if he ever released it on CD- I have the original cassette tape, but everything Noel does is always fun.

[Bill Barton]

Originally Posted by clinthopson

...Aussie James Morrison is a master at almost every instrument. I remember hearing a disc where he did a big band recording and played every instrument. Jaw dropping.

That's Snappy Doo on Atlantic, one hell of a record. He plays all of the horn parts plus piano. Herb Ellis, Ray Brown and Jeff Hamilton are the other players so technically it's not a "one-man band" record but pretty darned close.
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p...0:0xfrxqegldke

We mustn't forget Rahsaan's amazing Natural Black Inventions: Root Strata, which has been reissued on CD in a variety of fashions, usually combined with another Rah Atlantic date. There's no overdubbing, and other than occasional contributions from Joe "Habao" Texidor and Maurice McKinley (and a cameo appearance by Sonelius Smith) it's all Rahsaan.

[Bill Barton]

Originally Posted by Mike Schwartz

Can't make it out........who/what is it?

It's Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells from 1973.
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p...0:jpfrxq8gldte

[Jazzooo]

Let's not forget about Shuggie Otis, either. Strawberry Letter 23!