Playing Stanley Clarkes version of 'Goodbye Pork Pie Hat'

[Oscar South]

I'm learning 15 or so songs or so for some gigs with a fusion band at the moment (we'll be gigging around Cheshire in about 3 weeks-a months time, come see us if you can, it'll be well worth it), theres one thats giving me trouble though, Stanley Clarkes version of 'Goodbye Pork Pie Hat'.

I've played and looked at the original Mingus version in pretty good detail, I've transcribed and memorised every note Mingus played and learned the melodies, solo'd over all the different sections etc. I've got no clue where to start with this one though, I'm going to transcribe everything I can pick out asap and see if that makes the pieces fit into place a bit better, its just the layered up synthy stuff thats throwing me off, I can't even tell if the chords are the same/similar to the original or if he's just vaguely playing the melody then going off on one, and the bass tends to get covered up a bit too. Either way, if anyones played this song and/or can offer some advice on approaching it it'd be much appreciated.

Here are the versions I'm working from:
[url="http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/134504/Stanley%20Clarke%20-%20Goodbye%20pork%20pie%20hat.mp3"]http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/134504/Stanley%...20pie%20hat.mp3[/url]
[url="http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/134504/02%20Goodbye%20Pork%20Pie%20Hat.mp3"]http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/134504/02%20Goo...20Pie%20Hat.mp3[/url]

Also, heres the original Mingus version if you want to hear how that one sounds:
[url="http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/134504/1-02%20Goodbye%20Pork%20Pie%20Hat.mp3"]http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/134504/1-02%20G...20Pie%20Hat.mp3[/url]

Thanks,
Oscar.

Edited May 1, 2009 by Oscar South

[The Funk]

I've only heard his version off Live From The Greek w/ Billy Cobham, Larry Carlton et al.

EDIT: D'oh. You've uploaded the versions you're working from. Downloading...

Edited May 1, 2009 by The Funk

[steve-soar]

Make it your own and have some fun.

I'd love to see you, where are you going to be playing?

Edited May 1, 2009 by steve-soar

[Oscar South]

I'm not sure where we'll be gigging yet other than venues centered around Chester. Probably the generic Chester ones like Alexanders, Frog and Nightingale, Telfords Warehouse etc. but we're going to look at areas around where we're based as well, Chesters not got the best selections of venues if you're not a pub covers band. This band is more about improving musically than gigging really but we're definately going to gig it as much as we can so if you know any good venues for this kind of stuff then let me know and I'll get in touch with them.

[sshorepunk]

I have a transcription of this somewhere, it was published in a mag' many years ago

The main melody is easy to play and sounds good, if you can do the SC thing on the complex bits, even better!

Marcus Miller did it as well I think

Tony

[Faithless]

Here's Marcus, doin' his thing on that song..

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hc3Brcn6MAY"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hc3Brcn6MAY[/url]

[Balcro]

Hi there,

I've dug out one of my S.C albums and listened to "Pork Pie Hat, but the version I have sounds fuller and "synthier" than your download.

Yes, the synth stuff gets in the way, but I would go back to basics on this and only play the minimum. The sleeve notes on my CD say that SC'c version of P.P.H was written as a tribute to Jaco and Gil Evans, so let the silences, pauses & sustains happen if they're there.

Sometimes the bass - if you can call it that - takes the lead and other times it fades back into the mix.

Good luck.

Balcro.

Edited May 2, 2009 by Balcro

[Oscar South]

[quote name='sshorepunk' post='477524' date='May 2 2009, 08:51 AM']I have a transcription of this somewhere, it was published in a mag' many years ago

The main melody is easy to play and sounds good, if you can do the SC thing on the complex bits, even better!

Marcus Miller did it as well I think

Tony[/quote]

Would you be able to scan that in or take a picture of it? If so that'd be amazing.

[quote name='Faithless' post='477627' date='May 2 2009, 11:58 AM']Here's Marcus, doin' his thing on that song..

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hc3Brcn6MAY"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hc3Brcn6MAY[/url][/quote]

Yea I had a listen to a recording of that version, sounds amazing. I'm playing another tune that Marcus played on, its a simpler one called 'Snakes'

[quote name='Balcro' post='477655' date='May 2 2009, 12:49 PM']Hi there,

I've dug out one of my S.C albums and listened to "Pork Pie Hat, but the version I have sounds fuller and "synthier" than your download.

Yes, the synth stuff gets in the way, but I would go back to basics on this and only play the minimum. The sleeve notes on my CD say that SC'c version of P.P.H was written as a tribute to Jaco and Gil Evans, so let the silences, pauses & sustains happen if they're there.

Sometimes the bass - if you can call it that - takes the lead and other times it fades back into the mix.

Good luck.

Balcro.[/quote]

Yeah, I'm going to get together with the guitarists and we'll figure out whos playing what etc. and mess around with some stuff, should make it easier. I might try playing fretless on this one to bring the higher notes out a bit more, though I do like the bright tone Stanley gets on his fretted a lot.