June 2025 Challenge Response – Michael L

[Michael L]

Dead post due to site issues. See first reply for my submission.

[Michael L]

Early in the month I was listening to some old Django Reinhardt recordings. I had thirds in mind because of the challenge, and when Django played Stormy Weather it just rang out how thirds could work for that melody. I did some experimenting and more listening to other version of the song, and this began coming together. It was a fun project!
Looking forward to hearing all of your submission this month.

[James B]

Hey Michael,
This is a wonderful piece of music you’ve created. Really impressive on every level.
I loved your melody phrases in sync with the rhythm guitar and recorded beautifully. I really loved it.

James

[sciencefiction]

Very laid back and cool sounding, Micheal! Your harmonized thirds fit in very well with your melodic lead playing.

I was just sitting out on my back porch with a Coors Lite enjoying your playing. Your composition put me in a very mellow mood.

Larry

[Manfred M]

Stormy Monday, Django Reinhardt and Thirds, that really is a wonderful mixture, Michael, which you also present and play wonderfully here. Masterclass!

Take the chance to meet your AM friends on Zoom
The next Meetup will probably take place in the second half of August

There will be a detailed announcement here in the forum in good time.

I look forward to meet you.
Manfred

[AndréM]

Awesome jazz vibe.
Very nicely done.
Love it.

AndréM

AndréM

[sunjamr]

I know what you mean, Michael – As soon as you said “Stormy Weather” I could hear in my head how that would work really well. Great idea! Well played, well arranged.

Sunjamr Steve

[Jennifer D]

Wow that was wonderful with a key change as well. Absolutely beautiful!

[Catherine Arsenault]

Michael that was tastefully played really well played !!!!😊🇨🇦

[Gary W]

Lovely sound Michael, bravo!

Gary

[Laurel C]

That was masterful Michael. A lot of thought and work behind this arrangement.

[Bill]

Very lovely Michael. You’ve put together a wonderful piece here. Some nice Django-isms throughout with the little slides into notes and hitting a high note with a quick glissando down the neck. The key change toward the end was great too. Bravo! 🙌🏻

[Alan L]

Masterfully played Michael, very soulful and melodic ☺️

[Martin W]

Hi Michael, this has to be one of your best to date , you certainly put some work into this project, sounds very complex , beautifully played throughout, the key change was a nice idea to change things up .
I agree with the others a Masterful performance 👌

Martin

[Dieter]

I love Django Reinhardt and his music. You captured his mood wonderfully and played excellently. A first-class performance.

Dieter

[Pap]

Great choice of music to demonstrate harmonized thirds. They key change made it interesting too! Really well played Michael…stage ready! Cheers. Pap

[JoLa]

Normally I know what to expect from you, Michael, but that just exceeded all my expectations, WoW!

Not only was the marriage of Django and Stormy Monday a fascinating idea but your chill, thoughtful, undisturbed, and balanced execution was a complete masterclass! Not to mention this was your own arrangement as well. It almost looked like you were improvising this and meandering around the melody perfectly hitting all the right notes as you felt them. Crazy good, you sure leveled up with this one!

🎸JoLa

[Michael L]

Hi Jola, thanks! This was a mix of improv and composed sections. The melody is VERY much in the major pentatonic scale, so the improv on some of the fills and lines around the melody is what we’re used to.

[Denise]

Like Jola I am amazed about your submission.
Great jazzy rhythm and chord progression. Wonderful playing. Was this your own improvisation?
Wow!!!! You have now reached another level. And it looks that you have found your style.
Denise

More Blues!

[Michael L]

Hi Denise, thanks so much for you nice comments! There is a fair amount of improv in this… it’s all major pentatonic, so not far from what we always practice here at AM. I did plan the arrangement, of course; AABA ABA(key change), and composed the “guitar solo” part on the second pass, but a lot of the fills and movement around the melody were improv… with lots of rehearsal, so it was improv over well-known territory.

[Mark T]

Such a chilled vibe on this submission, Michael – wonderful playing and recording 👍🎶😎

[JoeD1]

You put this together just fine Michael! Awesome submission!

Joe

The sight of a touch, or the scent of a sound,
Or the strength of an Oak with roots deep in the ground.
--Graeme Edge

[John H]

Michael
This is nicely arranged and performed. So sweet, subtle, dulcet. What a great listen for a hot summer day. I love the chordal arrangement. Your lead spot on. Fantastic.

JH

[Tremelow]

That was just beautiful, Michael. And with your flawless playing it completely absorbed me. I wasn’t a big Jazz or Django fan, but now I’m reconsidering..

[Author]

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