The Steel Guitar Forum

My Lazy River sounded so nice with new strings today, so I recorded this. I've had this song on my mind since I heard Tom Doughty & Woody Mann's beautiful duet version (Hawaiian Tricone and guitar), and decided to have a go at it myself. Don't expect anything like Tom and Woody's version, nor the harmonic sophistication of Luíz Bonfá's original, but here is my "one finger salute" to this beautiful song:

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

I might pull it soon from youtube so watch it while you can, if you want.

Fred

Very nice arrangement, you've done a great job with this one Fred!

Good job, Fred. You managed to sneak some of those nice changes in there, like that half diminished.

As I said on the other forum, wonderful probing arrangement, Fred, played with gobs of feeling. On a second listen, I kind of miss the bossa nova groove. There's something about that rhythm that combines joy and melancholy like no other.

Here's a really nice version of Jobim tune by Emily Remler that illustrates the groove I mean ... root & five bass notes on 1 & 3 with the chords syncopated above:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq8Zq2NNwyE

This great arrangement is available for free, by the way, here:

http://www.allthingsemily.com/downloads/

Beautiful song... very, very nice.

Thanks a lot guys - I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Andy Volk wrote:On a second listen, I kind of miss the bossa nova groove. There's something about that rhythm that combines joy and melancholy like no other.

Andy, that is a great description of bossa nova! I lived in Rio de Janeiro for about a year, and while I love many songs by Jobim and Chico Buarque etc., I used to get a bit annoyed with the abundance of IMO mediocre "bossa nova on auto pilot" tunes with directionless complex chords and no melody whatsoever. But when it's good, it's really good. And I was just thinking the same as you, that I miss the bossa groove here in retrospect. Last night, after recording my arrangement, I listened to lots of other versions of "Manhã de Carnaval" on youtube. And just a subtle hint at the groove would be great, but I'm not sure if I can manage that kind of "multi-tasking" yet on the lap steel! I will for sure try.

The arrangement I posted is very much a work in progress. I feel a bit clumsy on some bits, and this song is so full of nuances that I will keep working on it - it is a pleasure to play this tune, and the melody is wonderful, so it's no risk of getting bored.

Thanks a lot for listening and commenting!

Fred

Beautifully played Fred.
It's one of those tunes that can be played a hundred different ways and it still sounds great. Except when I played it for an exam at music college - it was very off putting when the examiner and my accompanist fell into fits of laughter at my attempt.

How about leaving it up for a while, Fred? I really enjoyed it. I'm sure many others will too.

Very nice playing Fred!

Thanks a lot Bill, Stephan and Jerry! Happy you like it!

Stephan Miller wrote:How about leaving it up for a while, Fred? I really enjoyed it. I'm sure many others will too.

Yes, I will leave it until I make a better one.

Fred