Jazz Study #1

This is a mostly through-composed piece rendered with Reason, but with a real piano and a real classical guitar. I played all the instruments and programmed some of the sounds.

I'm particularly curious to find out if you guys like the harmonic motions (especially after the piano entrance) - or if your ears find them too unrelated.

Very nice - you must listen to a lot of Pat Metheny...if not, find some - you'll espceially like the Pat Metheny Group (click the audio player for a sample, if any of you are unfamiliar with the sound), your tune has that distinct Metheny/Mays relationship - with the keys and the classical guitar. (Even the guitar sound is not unlike Metheny)

Very well done! :blush:

As far as the 'harmonic motions' are concerened - it makes sense, nothing jumped out as being wrong...again, the root movement and structure were very much in the PMGroup concept...

As a long time Metheny fan, I cannot agree more.

Very nice music. I liked your harmonies, they are absolutely in the style that I like the most.

Nice work work with Reason aswell.

Ok, OK! - I give up. You guys nailed it on the head. As I was playing it for my brother, the first thing he said to me was, "Isn't this a PM tune?"

I was a BIG fan some 20 years ago when I was a guitarist, although I've become been even more of a fan of the Lyle Mays side of the team, seeing as I am more of a pianist these days. His solo CD offerings are absolutely incredible. But nevertheless, that IS me playing the guitar too. Of course, I was very conscious of the similarities as I was writing it - but I just couldn't stop myself. I'd sell my soul to be able to solo like Lyle.

hee! :) <-- to the above little conversation.

Leightwing,

This was heady. It sounds like stuff I listen to on my own time!! The entrances sounded fine, not at all out of place. I didn't want it to end. It was performed wonderfully too! cool...

*scrolling down your soundclick page to see what else you've churned out that I haven't heard...*

I think I'm addicted to this subforum of YC...

My marching band actually did a Pat Metheny Show.

I was sitting here in my husband's office reading a book and decided I needed to listen to some jazz while I was reading to cover the sterile office atmosphere, so I put on my headphones and went to soundclick and went to the free jazz charts to pick out something random for my listening pleasure. There, I found, to my delight that your Jazz study was #4 on the charts :D so I listened to that while I was reading. hehe!

Yikes! You're kidding!?

hah! no! :D

though they move around a lot. It was just #9 a minute ago....crazy charts.

Crikey, I almost missed this.

It's very relaxing, cinematic. Alas, I know too little to give a worthwhile jazz review but here're my comments anyway.

I like the improvisatory feel - no repeat other than the harmony. Altogether nice harmony; playing is excellent, accented without being obtrustive. I wasn't completely convinced by way you prepare for the piano at 1,52 - the sliding drop of - huh, I'm not sure - it sounds like the uppers drop a semitone...but to land on different harmony (that isn't a semitone down - I'll figure it, don't worry!) Curiously, on a second listening it worked better. At 2,21 I was expecting more - there's a slight build up as the backing chords return and the trio take up together, almost a new episode that starts to develop where the guiitar comes out with a more emphatic rhythm. It's as if you had the choice to extend the work or start winding down at 2,56 to keep the Study short. If you did plan on extending it, this would be the spot.

The close - Reverting to the opening harmonies is marvellous. It gives the study a fleeting feel which is fine.

My overall problem is that it isn't long enough. The introduction is disproportionately long compared with the guitar-piano sections. Since you can't cut back the intro the only way would be to extend the trio section (or do something with the solos after that). It's the kind of track (on a CD or in a club) you'd want to go on for perhaps 6-8 minutes.

Very nice playing and arranging. The balance of the trio is dead-on - this is an area of expertese for you anyway. Electronics are subtle. I noticed the LFO filter sweeps over the opening chords at about 0,25 but they're so slight. If I got that wrong, then goodness knows what you set up but it does add a glow to those chords!

Hoping this hasn't been too presumptuous...

cheers,

Montpellier.

:P

Hoping this hasn't been too presumptuous...

[/b]

Not at all. In fact, I think your criticisms are dead on. I completely agree that the peice is unbalanced. Study or not, to finally build to a groove and then let it go - just to end the piece, is premature. That truly would have been the point to extend and develop. I wish I had. I recorded it two summers ago. This was one of those pieces where I found myself getting in above my head, unable to keep the textural integrity at the level that this style demands. Part of that is simply that my playing chops wouldn't allow it at the time. I was clearly out of my league in programming the percussion, all done free hand - there was no "grid". But the other part stems from a lack of perseverence on my part. Trust me, If you ever met me, you'd understand. Or just ask my wife...

That piano entrance, as awkward or unprepared as it may seem, was actually consciously arrived at that way, complete with a sudden flourish of effects to wash it in. It's very much in the style of Lyle Mays (who I am channeling here :P ). He's late, he's early, he's all around the beat, rarely on it - but it's all calculated. Trust me, it grows on you - and I think I got it right.

You are correct about the semi-tone feel in places. Some of that is achieved simply by actually pulling down the pitch in real time on some of the "pads". But some of it is also by programming attacks into certain patches (sounds) that approach the tone from above or below (In most cases, above).

And yes, maybe if those synth sweeps at the beginning were a little less subtle, they might not seem like mistakes. That's an example of one of those things that keeps you agonizing in the studio late at night, precisely because you have total control over it.

As usual, I value your listening skills and very much appreciate your comments. I'll bet you would make a very good producer. You alway seem to be able to confirm many of my suspicions regarding how certain things are flying - while others struggle.

That piano entrance, as awkward or unprepared as it may seem, was actually consciously arrived at that way, complete with a sudden flourish of effects to wash it in. It's very much in the style of Lyle Mays (who I am channeling here :) ). He's late, he's early, he's all around the beat, rarely on it - but it's all calculated. Trust me, it grows on you - and I think I got it right.[/b]

Yes, I had another listen and true.

And yes, maybe if those synth sweeps at the beginning were a little less subtle, they might not seem like mistakes. That's an example of one of those things that keeps you agonizing in the studio late at night, precisely because you have total control over it.

Oh dear, I didn't mean to imply they were mistakes. In fact, I doubt many would notice them. It was my sojourn through electronic music using analog modules that led my ears to them but I read them as very controlled, thoughtful subtleties.

Have you more music like this to post?

Thanks!

cheers,

Montpellier.

...the peice is unbalanced. Study or not, to finally build to a groove and then let it go - just to end the piece, is premature. That truly would have been the point to extend and develop. I wish I had.

The expansion and development, in a piece like this would (I feel) best come from improvisation. You have a good, solid tune here, and a solo would be spontaneous development and would work well...

Another thing that mihgt work would be expanding the orchestration a bit. Thinking back to PMG stuff, a trumpet w/ harmon always sounds cool, perhaps voice as well...just to add some new texture to the overall feel.

Either way, as a short study/tune, I think it works well.

the kind of music I like to play when I bring my girlfriend home...(you know and the little candle with the roasted chicken in the middle)