interesting return today...

[jpbataille]

I got a very interesting return today :

"cool concept... the groove is too stiff for the genre... real players will make the difference...
the track has good charming sound but as mentioned, needs to make a better impact by utilizing players to perform the music. the players will put the groove in the right place (unlike a machine) while performing the music with dynamics.
The music needs players to perform with a natural groove"

What is interesting there, you'll ask ?

Well, I make a point to *not* use any sort of machine in my recordings. Actually, I got rid of any sort of sequencer or midi stuff about 20 years ago (yes, I was *heavily* involved in the midi thing in the 80's)
I play every instruments manually, with no click whatsoever, recorded with microphones, using the real acoustic of the place I happen to be.
This is why I find quite surprising to be heard as a machine.

Jean-Paul Bataille

"Drop G Swing Studies" :
http://www.fingerstyle-guitar.com/jean- ... /audio.php
http://www.youtube.com/user/batzic

[glender]

Question - Were you taught by robots? That may have something to do with it...

[randwool]

Watched the YouTube video listed. Very nice.

[remmet]

Very nice playing! One thing that may have contributed to the machine-ish feeling was the straight eighth-note structure, which sounded a little march-like. I think all you'd need to do would be vary the eighth-notes with some dotted or triplet rhythms.

Are you a Chet Atkins fan? (Okay, who ISN'T?)

Richard

[jpbataille]

This thread was in the "Screener Shoutout" section.
But this section seems to have disappeared ?
Anyway...

I emailed TAXI about the subject. If my music is not forwarded, fine. But be heard as a machine is a bit over the top (since I *really* don't want to use any sort of machines these days). Makes me question the confidence I can have in the screeners.
I received a kind answer from the head screener 2 weeks ago, saying he will consult with screener #275 (who thinks I'm a machine) last week. I'm waiting for some answer.

Randwool : thanks for watching

Remmet :
Actually my idea was to achieve a musical effect I heard in Madagascar or La Reunion island, which is a contrast between one instrument playing straight on the beat, and some percussions playing triplets at the same time. So I played the guitar very stiff on purpose (and this was actually not easy because I wanted to play the swing...) and then add percs. I suppose this effect is not welcome in more conventional type of music, but I was happy with it.

About Chet Atkins, well, I know his music, like anybody else, but didn't listen much to him... I'm more influenced by 20's and 30's early jazz, and french popular music from 30 to 50's (which incorporated the american jazz in its own way). I most often play swing, but, as I lived a while in the french west indies and indian ocean, I sometimes compose neo-caraïbo-afro tunes.

One more thing : I don't know how you listened to the song, (which is called "Tête Seconde" BTW) because I didn't find the way to put a link to a particular song in my Taxi page (or to my Taxi home page).
How do you guys do you achieve that ? (must be very simple... )

Anyway, thanks for your attention. Appreciated.

Jean-Paul Bataille

"Drop G Swing Studies" :
http://www.fingerstyle-guitar.com/jean-paul_bataille
http://www.youtube.com/user/batzic

[johnclavin]

That is some really nice guitar playing on your youtube video. And I don't see any machines.

[jpbataille]

Just wanted to let you know that I received an email from the head screener about the question.
He talked to the original screener who said that "he felt the groove / feel was a little “academic” - meaning that it lacked the spontaneous energy of human interaction, of players working together, communicating with each other. He feels this is an important characteristic of the style and should be present for a forward to a listing looking for artists".

Fair enough. I have no problem with that. (I had being heard as a machine...)
Thank you to Robin for the following.


Now, why the "screener shoutout" section disappeared ? Is it just me ?

Jean-Paul Bataille
http://www.fingerstyle-guitar.com/members/568/
http://www.youtube.com/user/batzic

[kvnlnt]

I watched the youtube video. I don't see and details of the listing this post refers to so I really can't comment on the screener's feedback with regard to your submissions (sounded like it was an artist submission?)...but I will say I thought the video spoke well of your musicianship. I also think it encouraging that the screeners actually do read these forums and took the time to respond to you. However, if you're legit, I would take their feedback with a grain of salt... I get a wide range of feedback on the same songs for similar listings, I even get glowing reviews on "on target" submissions that are rejected...art IS subjective. Keep up the good work....

-K

[jpbataille]

I don't take it personnal.
I, too, had very different feedbacks for the same piece of music. That's the game, no problem.

But be heard as a midi sequencer had the effect of dropping my confidence in Taxi, so I wanted to clarify the situation.
Done.

Now back to work.

(BTW Kevin, I stopped by your website and I like what I saw.)

Jean-Paul Bataille
http://www.fingerstyle-guitar.com/members/568/
http://www.youtube.com/user/batzic

[kendamkier]

Cool video, good sounding and brilliant performance.
IMHO I think it would be fair if the screener would just say "Sorry, I was wrong"
Keep up the great work man!

Ken