https://www.bennysutton.com/music/Blue-Notes.aspx

Blue Notes

This new version of the jazz standard by Herbie Hancock is a collaboration with the highly talented keyboard player Mark Dorricott on Hammond organ.
Herbie himself did many versions of this track; the first was in 1962. This incarnation more closely matches the one Herbie did with the Head Hunters, his jazz funk band in 1973.
It's a blast and we enjoyed doing it, we hope you do too!
Benny and Mark
:-)

download

Watermelon Man ---- Herbie Hancock ---- Feat. Mark Dorricott (downloadable)

This is my first ever guitar duet collaboration so who better to do it with than the immensely talented Dan Van Den Berg @danarchx
I know, I was a bit skeptical of multiple guitarists too. It probably doesn't occur to guitarists to collab with other guitarists and when we do we stick into comfort zones e.g. Larry Carlton teams up with Robben Ford.
So I wanted to do something with a player who is so different it is obvious which of us is playing at any time. I'm pleased to say that I think the contrast of our styles really works. To avoid confusion, I'm the slow/blusey one playing an Ovation electric and Dan is the fast/fusion technical one playing the Ibanez.
Dan really thought about this one. He went for a rounded tone and used a setting kind of similar to that of Al Di Meola in his early solo work, where he uses a Phaser with light gain and fast muted lines causing the typical tic toc sound of the guitar.
Man I love it, hope you do too!

other credits
Written by Freddie Hubbard
arranged by Devian
Vibraphone by Iman Tjahjono

[video]

Little Sunflower GUITAR DUET with Dan van den Berg (downloadable)

This is the title track from the Spike Lee movie of the same name starring Denzel Washington and Wesley Snipes

Mo' Better Blues ---- Branford Marsalis (downloadable)

The classic Herbie Hancock jazz standard from 1964 as you've never heard it before. My version features a House beat to drive it along and some mix and mash Hip Hop style!

blog

Cantaloupe Island ---- Herbie Hancock (downloadable)

FROM THE 'BLUE NOTES' ALBUM. Download the album now! 
For this track I've gone back to my blues roots. The solo starts off very clean but soon descends into anarchy. The name of the preset I used on my guitar pedal is 'Bonamassa' that should tell you all you need to know! Seriously, the wah wah Rock Blues thing is how I used to do it. So now I have proven I still can get down mean and dirtay. All Blues is classic Miles Davis first appearing on the influential 1959 Columbia album Kind of Blue.

[album]

Miles Davis ---- All Blues

Another track from my Blue Notes album. You can download it free by clicking the [album] link.
This track is composed by Charles Mingus originally recorded by his sextet in 1959 as listed below, and released on his album Mingus Ah Um. Mingus wrote it as an elegy for saxophonist Lester Young, who had died two months prior to the recording session, and was known to wear a broad-rimmed pork pie hat.
It's been covered by many including Miles (hence the link to blue note), Joni Mitchell, Jeff Beck and other notables. I follow the Marcus Miller arrangement so I'm playing High Bass again.

Goodbye Porkpie Hat ---- Charles Mingus (downloadable)

This is Autumn leaves as you've never heard it before. It's Autumn leaves on acid! There's a loop mash beat, some crazy Techno stutters, and inappropriate instrumentation. 

FROM THE 'BLUE NOTES' ALBUM. Download the album now!
http://www.bennysutton.com/download/mp3download.aspx?id=178 

Originally it was a 1945 French song "Les feuilles mortes" (literally "The Dead Leaves") with music by Hungarian-French composer Joseph Kosma. 


Autumn Leaves ---- Joseph Kosma (downloadable)

My version of Footprints is very modern and could have been written yesterday, not 1966 when it first appeared. Footprints is written by American jazz saxophonist Wayne Shorter who had many albums on Blue Note before going on to found jazz fusion band Weather Report with Joe Zawinul.

Footprints ---- Wayne Shorter (downloadable)

FROM THE 'BLUE NOTES' ALBUM. Download the album now!
http://www.bennysutton.com/download/mp3download.aspx?id=178
Devian Zikri's arrangement updates the bossa nova beat of this Latin Jazz standard. Don't miss the drum solo at 3 minutes 10 seconds. Blue Bossa is a composition by Kenny Dorham. It was introduced on Joe Henderson's 1963 album Page One on, yes you've guessed it, Blue Note records.

Blue Bossa ---- Kenny Dorham (downloadable)

Another track from my Blue Notes album. You can download it free by clicking the [album] link.
John Coltrane, the saxophonist, is another influential Blue Note Artiste. He was certainly a virtuoso player. This track is notoriously difficult to solo over due to having three tonal centres that change almost every bar! I got around this by slowing it down and playing in Pentatonic scales sparingly. It's a great track and I found that doing it in the style of Weather Report worked best. The faux lead bass line is me playing the lower registers of my Nylon stringed electro acoustic again. How do you like the trumpet solo, not a real one, the melody was written into MIDI and I used a VSTi enhanced by a breath controller to make it more realistic. It's not 100% but almost indistinguishable from a real horn.

Giant Steps ---- John Coltrane

I've always loved this track by Bill Evans.  I've approached this very simply and traditionally. I don't get to do 3/4 often and appreciate the possibilities when I do. It made for a nice solo played on my Nylon stringed electro acoustic.
Another track from my Blue Notes album. You can download it free by clicking the [album] link.

Waltz for Debby ---- Bill Evans (downloadable)

"This Masquerade" is a song written by Leon Russell. It was a top-ten pop and R&B hit for jazz guitarist/vocalist George Benson, who recorded it on his 1976 signature album Breezin'. Neither Russell nor Benson recorded for Blue Note yet I contend that this song, had it been written in the Blue Note era would have found its way into the catalogue. Blue Note is a state of mind as much as a record label!

This Masquerade ---- George Benson

Take Five is a jazz classic composed by Paul Desmond and performed by The Dave Brubeck Quartet on their 1959 album Time Out. Sadly Dave was on Columbia but undoubtedly influenced by Blue Note. It's another great arrangement from Devian, this time with a samba beat. The melody line doesn't lend itself to the guitar so I have restricted myself to a solo only. See if you can spot a cheeky 4 bars of Techno!

Take Five ---- Dave Brubeck (downloadable)

This composition is, of course, the signature tune of the Duke Ellington orchestra. 
On this track I indulge my usual inclination to do something rebellious when playing jazz standards. There's House, Techno and Elektro beats pushing it forward and some crazy distorted guitar. It's a short track so I hope it leaves you wanting more! The magical riff is repeated on several instruments throughout the track. 
This jazz standard is written by Billy Strayhorn that. It first appeared in 1939 so it is a testament to its timeless quality that I want to play it, and you want to listen to it, today


[my Website]

Take The A Train ----- Duke Ellington (downloadable)

I give this track the full jazz House makeover and it is a testament to its longevity that it sounds comfortable with a 'modern' treatment. I give it a Marcus Miller spin and a hard rock guitar solo, just to mix it up! Moanin' is one of those tunes that everyone has heard regardless of whether, or not, you follow jazz. It is a composition by Bobby Timmons and the title track from jazz album by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers recorded in 1958

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Moaning ---- Art Blakey (downloadable)

This track absorbs House and Elektro beats and doesn't blink! Blue Train was the second studio album by John Coltrane, released in 1958 on Blue Note Records. Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio in Hackensack, New Jersey, it is Coltrane's second solo album, the only one he recorded for Blue Note as a leader, and the only one he conceived personally for the label.
John Coltrane's next major album, 1960's Giant Steps, would break new melodic and harmonic ground in jazz, whereas Blue Train adheres to the hard bop style of the era.
I've also covered Giant Steps https://soundcloud.com/bennysutton/giant-steps-by-john-coltrane

Blue Train ---- John Coltrane

I'd had this track in mind for some time but couldn't see how to approach it - until I actually did! It's another great jazz standard with that strong piano bass line. I put a House beat over the top, keeping the acoustic drums. I gave up on the guitar playing the main melody line, opting for synth instead. The solo fell into place quite naturally and, a couple of mixing hours later, it was done. Well as far as any track is done - they say you never finish a track, you just stop working on it!
"A Night in Tunisia" was written by Dizzy Gillespie circa 1941-2 while Gillespie was playing with the Benny Carter Band. 


A Night in Tunisia ---- Dizzy Gillespie (downloadable)

I tackle this jazz standard by Charlie Parker with my first Big Band arrangement! The lush horn section chords on sound very contemporary and I can see a direct line drawn from this to Steely Dan's blend of rock jazz. Indeed they did a track called "Parkers band" on their third album, Pretzel Logic.
It was written by Charlie Parker in 1946 hence the title derives from Parker's nickname "Bird", respectively "Yardbird". Far from being a suite, the song follows an AABA form. The "graceful, hip melody, became something of an anthem for beboppers."


Yardbird Suite ---- Charlie 'Bird' Parker

I cannot believe that this track was written in the sixties, a great time for pop but a barren time for jazz. This was half a decade before jazz went electric and Joe founded Weather Report with Wayne Shorter. To really date it look at the Youtube video, it's in black and white! Joe you were a genius man!
Mercy has got to rate as one of the best ever Fender Rhodes parts ever. On a par with Joe Sample's part on 'put it where you want it'. Maybe even Stevie Wonder's 'Livin' for the city'
It was written by Joe Zawinul in 1966 for Julian "Cannonball" Adderley and his album Mercy, Mercy, Mercy! Live at 'The Club'. The song is the title track of the album and became a surprise hit. "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" went to #2 on the Soul chart and #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 a feat that Joe would repeat with the track Birdland.


Mercy, Mercy, Mercy (downloadable)

Check out my Soundcloud channel for my latest music releases. 
Love Guitar? You're in the right place!
I'm different! I play melodies - even when improvising!  
I'm really not interested in impressing other musicians. I'm creating music for everyone.
I'M ALSO HERE...
http://www.bennysutton.com
MY VIDEOS http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5TJp0GyhYOnusiCGB8z4fG0T8G35gTTi
https://soundcloud.com/bennysutton_covers


ABOUT ME
I play the music I like to listen to. 
As a guitarist I like to think I have my own style.
Harmony, and the groove is what I'm chasing, hopefully with a tasteful, nuanced, and distinctive presentation. 
I don't have a genre as such. I could sort of call myself a smooth Jazz 'n' Blues guitar 'thang' but in reality every track crosses over multiple strands of R&B/Jazz/Funk/Pop. Don't be put off by my use of the "J" word. Jazz to me is anything unpredictable and I'm nothing if not contemporary. 
Rhythm playing is as much a part of my "game" as lead soloing. I love the Funk!
My main instrument is guitar. I play a 1973 Ovation Breadwinner, an Ibanez nylon stringed and a Yamaha keyboard loaded with Keyscape. Unless stated I play all the other instruments too (mostly Bass), and sequence MIDI and arrange/produce. 

MY JOURNEY
I was signed with Fresh Air records and EMI in the 1980's creating Jazz/funk dance tracks but things were just as challenging then as they are now for musicians so I got a 'proper job' for 20 years! During all that time my guitar was in the loft! I rediscovered music in 2010 and Soundcloud in 2014.


MY SOUNDCLOUD
I am grateful to Soundcloud listeners who take the time to press |>Play - and especially if you give me some feedback :-)
I hope what you hear will draw you in sufficiently to explore on my own website. Nearly all my original stuff (6 albums worth) are on www.BennySutton.com and all are downloadable.
Please don't follow me in hope of getting to get an automatic follow back. I don't do that because I only follow the smallest number of people I can keep track of. I'll have a look at your page but will only follow back if you are really of interest to me. See my follow list, you'll discover some very talented artistes, many of whom I have been lucky to Collab. Soundcloud really is the place to find the real innovators these days - not the music industry approved channels, especially MTV!
If you want to get my attention, send me a PM.

Blue Notes

Benny Sutton