Use Our Imaginations

Duck Confit

recorded live on twitch.tv/selecta720 april 25 2025

Ella Fitzgerald + Linda Womack + Bobbi Humphrey + Albert King + Steve Ferrone Tributes-Recorded Live On TWITCH-April 25 2025

FAWM 2025 #6 UpMonk

Historical background
Tenor-saxophonist Benny Golson wrote “Are You Real” in 1958 for Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers’ album Moanin’. Conceived as a hard-bop answer to Parker’s rhythm-changes lines, the tune balances bright, singable melody with a labyrinth of turn-around II–V cadences—perfect material for Blakey’s press-rolls and the Messengers’ trademark call-and-response shout chorus. Over the decades it has remained a working-band favorite, recorded by everyone from Lee Morgan to Kenny Barron.

About this arrangement
Instrumentation – nylon-string guitar (lead & chord-melody), upright bass, brush-kit drums, and a Nord synth pad  that adds a vintage-fusion halo behind the trio. The score also lists a 2nd guitar for comp support.

Tempo & feel – a brisk ≈ 129 BPM four-to-the-bar swing keeps the bop energy intact while leaving room for single-note guitar runs. 

Key & harmony – arranged in G major, but the head pivots rapidly through circle-of-fifths II–V cells (A m7 → D 7, B m7 → E 7, etc.) and brief diminished connectors—true to Golson’s original weaving changes. 

Texture & solos – the guitar states the head in tight chord-clusters as the Nord pad swells under long tones, giving a subtle electric-jazz sheen. Bass walks buoyant quarters; brushes add snare pops and cymbal splashes. A single-chorus guitar solo dives into chromatic bebop enclosures, followed by an eight-bar synth-pad feature that hints at 1970s CTI records. Everyone reunites for a final shout-tag that lands on a crunchy G 6/9—equal parts Blue Note grit and Nord shimmer.

Why listen
Hit play and you’ll feel a hard-bop anthem refracted through warm nylon strings and a glassy synth glow—proof that Golson’s question “Are you real?” still gets a fresh answer in 2025.

Stay connected
Enjoyed the ride? Explore more arrangements on my YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@rfviolao) and dive into scores, lessons, and musings at https://ricardofarao.com/. Tap Subscribe, leave a comment, and join me for the next chapter in guitar-led jazz storytelling.

Are You Real - B. Golson

Historical background
Composed in 1954 by the legendary Benny Golson, “Along Came Betty” is one of the signature pieces of the hard bop era. Originally written for Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, it showcases Golson’s unique blend of lyrical melodic writing and soulful, complex harmonies. The tune became a staple of jazz repertory, recorded by countless artists and studied as a perfect example of a narrative-driven jazz composition—with Betty as the elegant, swinging muse.

About this arrangement

Instrumentation – This trio version is arranged for nylon-string guitar, upright bass, and jazz drum kit (snare, hi-hat, ride cymbal, low toms), creating a clean, intimate timbre.

Tempo & feel – Marked at ≈ 125 BPM, the feel is a medium swing, slightly relaxed and expressive, allowing the melodic contours to breathe with narrative charm.

Key & harmony – Written in G major, the arrangement is filled with rich, chromatic movement: Maj7, 7sus, m7, and altered dominants. Reharmonizations such as F♯m7 → B7, Gmaj7 → D7sus, and Eø → A7 bring a nuanced tension-and-release that supports improvisation and lyrical development.

Texture & phrasing – The guitar states the head with warm chord-melody phrases, accentuated by soft walking bass and brushes. The middle section opens into melodic solos where bluesy inflections and bebop phrasing naturally emerge, returning to the head with expressive push-pull phrasing.

Why listen
This arrangement is a tribute to the quiet sophistication and narrative elegance of Golson’s writing. It’s storytelling in swing form—a conversation between grace and groove.

Stay connected
Discover more arrangements and performances on my YouTube channel: youtube.com/@rfviolao, and explore full transcriptions and jazz resources on ricardofarao.com. Subscribe, comment, and join me on this ongoing jazz journey.

Along Came Betty - B. Golson

Recording of my DJ set opening for Andy C on May 17th, 2025 at Iris Presents Believe 

Mick Finesse — Andy C Opening Set, May 15th 2025 @ Iris Atlanta

No-one Else But You

Rondo Blue

Sunny Day Music
160 - 170 bpm

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Sunny Day Music

Producer/Artist/Songwriter.  Works with Platinum Selling and Grammy nominated Major label artists (Capitol, EMI, Warner) as well as Indie artists.  Heard on over 40 TV shows and Movies and on radio (ABC, CBS, NBC, VH1, Discovery, MTV, Nickelodeon, and others).
Business: shaywatson@shaywatson.com   
Hear extensive catalogue: http://www.shaywatson.com

MR E is a boundary-pushing dance music producer and the founder of Awokakai Recordings, splitting time between Essex and London. Known for his genre-spanning productions across Drum & Bass, Jungle, House, Techno, and Ambient, MR E brings a deep passion for electronic music culture and a fearless approach to innovation.

selecta@selecta720.com for booking & submissions
fine vinyl purveyor & party rocker extraordinaire.
twitch.tv/selecta720

Hello!
I am a Chicago jazz/instrumental bassist and composer and this is where most of my demos live. You can find more polished versions on my albums, available here or on Spotify. Enjoy!
www.vogtmusic.com

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