Compilation Sequencing tips?

I'm making a jazz vocal compilation - Do you have any rules you've made for yourself surrounding this at all to somehow enhance the flow -- assuming there is a sub-genre derived theme, that is -- or just compile them in a bunch for other people to pick out and follow (which is what often what happens anyway when I listen to them).

Any tips I shd follow?

Is it a playlist or an actual cdr?

No rules for a playlist imo, but cdr is all about the ebb and flow.

CDR, yeah, its for someone who doesn't know jazz much - I don't know that much about vocal stuff myself so I'm learning too.

So ebb and flow in a 12 track comp, say (want to keep it around 40 mins), which is about 12-15 tracks = obv I think they are all good in someway, do you breakdown by degrees of goodness with your top 3 in middle/beginning/end? I'm finding the middle sections of tracks 3-5 and 7-10 quite hard to get a handle on.

There's a million answers to this. But you should definitely start out with at least 3 (if not all) really strong tracks so you hook the listwner through to the end.

Otherwise, if you want to be anal, think about tempo and key and energy and vibe at song beginning and end--the way a Dj would. Not easy stuff to learn overnight, but you could experiment with a playlist demo until it flows to your liking. I personally like to make things vaguely chronological too so that the production doesnt vary too widely from one song to the next. Have fun!

This is your friend: http://www.all8.com/tools/bpm.htm

Who do you hate enough to give them a compilation of jazz vocals?

have you ever listened to Sarah Vaughan or Ella (when she sings she's like a hurricane, in a great way)?

I could burn them a copy of Cecil Taylor's It is in the Brewing Luminous but that's one 80 min track, which would be cheating.

On the energy and vibe thing I'm thinking of playing some Flamenco and Milton Nascimento as well.

i like having 3-5 absolutely killer songs right up front. nothing too long or downtempo among the first couple, either. get the energy going early. if the audience is presumed to be unfamiliar w the genre, it might be good to try to establish connections to stuff you know they do like. also, i like to end w a quiet song, followed by something powerfully cathartic, followed by an even quieter song.

strategy-wise, i think it's good to get your "hits" set up in a row up front, and your sweet closing chapter at the back. that should be like 6-9 songs. then you can throw in a couple transitional pieces that seem to segue well out of the first section and into the last. the upfront transition is a good place to throw a serious curveball. that should leave you with only a handful of songs to arrange in the middle.

i like to put a surprise great track at the very end to make sure the person is rewarded for listening all the way through

also leaves em wanting more instead of being exhausted

i find it helps to start with 2x or 3x as many tracks as you want on the compilation, arrange them however you like (the tips upthread are all good tips), listen to it a few times all in one go, and then edit out every 2nd track until the flow is nice and the arc of the vibe comes into sharp focus and all of the potentially awkward tracks are removed, and then do a final little rearrangement.

Great suggestion Lechera -- I was thinking about putting in a 'Bonus' track of a separate genre. Flamenco, which I love, and I know she loves Spain...last night I was thinking in the middle but right at the end wd be better. Instead I'm going w/an instrumental 'break' ('Starless and Bible Black' by Stan Tracey)

have you ever listened to Sarah Vaughan or Ella (when she sings she's like a hurricane, in a great way)?

― epigram addict (outdoor_miner), Saturday, 31 March 2012 Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I've got twice the number needed, but its still lacking a performance I can go with from Ella that would fit. Got any faves?