Glad you liked the Ray Charles clips, mahgister and keegiam and beautifully put comments.
Amazing genius and, as mahgister states, “on a spiritual journey”. Comments like that may seem hyperbolic, but there is no better way to describe and explain the extraordinary musical power. One of those artists whose musical force can completely transcend and overcome any musical shortcomings in the accompanying band. Of course, the extent of a musical shortcoming is a relative thing and when one is talking about an inspired genius no one will be on quite the same level. Still…….
“Song For You” is a perfect example and goes to one of my comments re the “Tunisia” clips: the difference between the sound and feel of a working band and that of a more loosely put together group of musicians put together for a special event. There is no doubt in my mind that had Ray had his own drummer for that live performance that the performance would have been taken to an even higher level as is the case on the other two live clips in which Ray’s big band was playing. Yet, Ray was like a musical lightning bolt on stage and one can just ignore the drummer’s uninspired groove. The groove came almost entirely from Ray; an amazing thing particularly at such a slow tempo.
Speaking of slow tempo. Btw, one of my favorite Ray stories is told in the first listener comment:
https://youtu.be/zHZnt8S6Xzc
Amazing genius and, as mahgister states, “on a spiritual journey”. Comments like that may seem hyperbolic, but there is no better way to describe and explain the extraordinary musical power. One of those artists whose musical force can completely transcend and overcome any musical shortcomings in the accompanying band. Of course, the extent of a musical shortcoming is a relative thing and when one is talking about an inspired genius no one will be on quite the same level. Still…….
“Song For You” is a perfect example and goes to one of my comments re the “Tunisia” clips: the difference between the sound and feel of a working band and that of a more loosely put together group of musicians put together for a special event. There is no doubt in my mind that had Ray had his own drummer for that live performance that the performance would have been taken to an even higher level as is the case on the other two live clips in which Ray’s big band was playing. Yet, Ray was like a musical lightning bolt on stage and one can just ignore the drummer’s uninspired groove. The groove came almost entirely from Ray; an amazing thing particularly at such a slow tempo.
Speaking of slow tempo. Btw, one of my favorite Ray stories is told in the first listener comment:
https://youtu.be/zHZnt8S6Xzc