Pensativa, a jazz classic

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 11 Mar 2021 8:26 am

This track, Pensativa, composed by Clare Fischer, one of my musical guides, features my good friend Matt King on melodica and a solo of mine that I am not ashamed of. In a perfect world, I would be having a string arrangement written etc. But in this imperfect world I present this.
I am playing a Rickenbacher B6 once owned by the late Sol Hoopii, tuned to C6.

https://mikeneer.bandcamp.com/track/pensativa

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 11 Mar 2021 4:08 pm

Sounds great Mike!, you are in a big creative streak right now, keep it going!

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 12 Mar 2021 6:37 am

Many thanks, Craig. You bet, I’m am trying to get a record finished.

Greg Forsyth · Post by **Greg Forsyth** » 12 Mar 2021 10:52 am

Wonderful music Mike, and a great morning pick me up. Thanks for sharing. I always love the tone and clarity of the B6, especially played by some one with your skills.

Carmen Acciaioli · Post by **Carmen Acciaioli** » 13 Mar 2021 8:47 am

Nice Track , nice solo ! I like hearing steel with different instruments.
I’ve been practicing on my 10 string no pedal C6 , quite a challenge !
You do it well !

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 14 Mar 2021 2:00 am

One of my favorites. I love this version, Mike. All great parts.

Clare Fischer came to North Texas in the '70s to teach a master class and played it with the One O'Clock Band in concert. I believe he would like your treatment.

Joe Cook · Post by **Joe Cook** » 15 Mar 2021 3:53 pm

Love the sound, Mike! Great music.

Richard Johnson · Post by **Richard Johnson** » 16 Mar 2021 10:25 am

Nice! I haven't heard that tune in awhile. Sounds great.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 18 Mar 2021 6:15 am

Thanks for taking the time to listen and comment, much appreciated!

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 22 Apr 2021 5:53 am

I'll be looking for a chart since it's tricky now that I have my bossa nova machine up and running (Yamaha keyboard).

Your version isn't like the way the One O'Clock band and Shearing, it's more like a samba band coming down the street. Knocks me out.

James Mayer · Post by **James Mayer** » 23 Apr 2021 9:45 am

It may be a classic, but I've never heard it. I loved it.

Jack Stanton · Post by **Jack Stanton** » 24 Apr 2021 6:24 am

You know, you just don't hear enough melodica these days. Great job as usual.

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 24 Apr 2021 10:37 am

That might explain it. I couldn't figure out if Mike was really playing harmonica on a keyboard, or if he was really playing harmonica.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 24 Apr 2021 11:24 am

That was my piano playing buddy Matt King on melodica. He is exceptional.

The Real Book chart on Pensativa is actually incomplete and terrible. I used a chart from a book of Clare Fischer’s music (there are two volumes of his compositions). There are some incredible versions of this tune that I’ve discovered since I recorded this, one by Terry Trotter and a live video of Clare playing this with some incredible harmony. If I would have heard this before, it might have changed my approach.

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 24 Apr 2021 5:15 pm

That's interesting Mike, Terry Trotter was Larry Carlton's keyboard player for a long time, got to see him many times with Larry and have one of his solo albums!

John Alexander · Post by **John Alexander** » 29 Apr 2021 10:49 pm

Really good, Mike! I share your appreciation of Clare Fischer, and have been paying a lot of attention to his music for some years.

Richard Nelson · Post by **Richard Nelson** » 30 Apr 2021 7:45 am