Jazz Instrumental (Comments please)

[mfowler]

I thot it was very good. Very cool changes. The only things that I would do (if I were lucky enough to the owner of this tune!) would look at the synth bass .. when it gets up in the higher register, it can sound a little artificial (not sure that's the proper adjective...). But the low end sounds good. And as Mazz said.. tweak the drums a bit as far as levels,etc.... But I really enjoyed it!

[cjdenecia]

I get into some jazz now and then ... not an expert but I know what I like and usually try to hear how the average non jazz listener would relate ...and this starts strong. old school piano happenings - right down to the sound. the brushes and the left hand work killed.then it does move forwards in time effortlessly without sounding the least bit contrived. the fact the piano took it through the transition probably made it work ... tho the piano melody changed, it somehow held the theme ...then - some real great moments - melodically ... some near campy melodic moments (as it built to it's near crescendo in chords) too but you never seemed to go that extra step which made it formula oriented. good notions ....bass is a bit too synth oriented for my liking - I sure wish it sounded just a bit more real cus the part was good.I also dug how the brass of the kit lagged just that milli-second .... made it real ... how you finalized the track was cool, I loved the attack of the big chords on the piano - left no doubt where my ear was supposed to be and then the final flutters of the fingers as it outro'd ....great change of pace for my ears on this. I even appreciated how you faded out the orchestration and slowed it down while maintaining the piano vibe.non-jazzers will appreciate it. they won't be thinking it's the Great Gatsby or nothing but they will hear the flow and the beat and the dynamics ... or maybe that's just me and my brain thinking I'd heard enough country music for a day or so and this is like that orange pallet cleansing sorbe they give you at the posh eateries between courses ...either way, I dug it.

[ideascapes]

Al,Nice song(s) and good playing on the keys. Concerning mixing/mastering, the sound went over better for me during the louder passages, when you're really attacking the piano and the drums and bass are playing more dynamically.I was a bit thrown during the ending when the supporting instruments seemed to fade, but not the piano. Sounded a little "artificial" to me. On my own mid-to-uptempo jazz songs, the production never seems to sound right to me unless I use real drums. Ballads seem to work better with samples or loops.Definitely keep it up--you have the chops!

[aldicicco]

Thanks again for your replies!M - I am getting some great ideas here and your feedback reinforces my need to direct more attention to my mixing skills, not to mention patch selections.CJ - Your note is a real gem. You really captured many of my thoughts as I was writing this piece. Very perceptive indeed. Hope this bit of sorbet helped when you returned to Country.Vince - I hear you loud and clear. The sound engineering side is now losing some of its black art mystique. Some of the things I thought just can't be explained - are truly explainable! I'm glad this song caught your attention.Best wishes,Al

[ibanez468]

Hey Al!Yeah, this is a cool piece! I liked the way you transitioned from mellow to the funky groove too! I'm with cj as far as bass is concerned. This kinda' tune definitely calls for a real one. Ending was slick too! I've heard the specified group fade-out on a number of different contemporary jazz tunes, and I've always dug that move, so I can feel ya' on that one. I did that with one my own tunes, I liked it so much. Nice piano playing too. Mazz has got ya' covered on that end. Nice tune man. I hope ya' get some bites with it.I-468

[aldicicco]

Hi Ibanez! Thanks for taking the time to reply.I'd like to re-mix the piece in its entirety and have it CD ready whenever that time comes. Nonetheless, I love Dave Walton's suggestion of taking the three parts separately for Taxi listings.Best of luck with your music too. I heard some of your recent submissions and they transported me back to my R&R days. Great playing!It looks like you're in Chicago, yes? If so, that's my hometown too! Born and raised on the North Side in Logan Square. This is a good time of year to be there - the holidays are always extra special.Best wishes!Al

[ibanez468]

Nov 21, 2008, 6:06pm, aldicicco wrote:Thanks for taking the time to reply.No problem, I enjoyed the listen! Quote:I'd like to re-mix the piece in its entirety and have it CD ready whenever that time comes. Nonetheless, I love Dave Walton's suggestion of taking the three parts separately for Taxi listings.Sounds like a plan. You've certainly got the parts to work with.Quote:Best of luck with your music too. I heard some of your recent submissions and they transported me back to my R&R days. Great playing!Thanks! I'll keep at it!Quote:It looks like you're in Chicago, yes? If so, that's my hometown too! Born and raised on the North Side in Logan Square. This is a good time of year to be there - the holidays are always extra special.Yeah, basically! I'm about 20 minutes south of Chi, over in CC Hills now. But I was born & raised there. Logan Square? Yeah, I remember that area. It's been a while since I've been over there, but I always enjoyed passing through. Take care!I-468