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Here's an update. Got a few more pieces of percussion in there, and an ending now. I think I took care of the hot piano in the beginning. U can use the same link. Hope that's it! Got one that I'm workin' on, thought I'd let y'all check it out and tell me what ya' think. Still have some tweakin' and additions to do, but I got the majority of it layed down. My piano may be a little too hot in the beginning. Hafta' take care of that. Got a cool little ending I thought of right after I got done fiddlin' around with this thing. On my list of things ta' do. Savoir-Faireibanez468

Mar 13, 2009, 9:32am, geo wrote:Hey long time Amigo!!! Cool tune!!! Nothing jumps out to these pedestrian ears....Good luck wit it!!Peace, GeoGeo!! My main man!! What's goin' on? Where ya' been? 2009 came months ago! Thanks for listenin' dude! 'Preciate it!ibanez468

Well...no. It's not a real sax. It's Mr. Sax T from Sample Modeling. It runs in a Kontakt 2 Player. But it's the closest sounding thing to a tenor sax that I've heard aside from the real thing. I probably need to work a little more on my expression & dynamics, but this is only the second time I've used it, and it sounds pretty convincing to me.Come on now...tell the truth. Either it sounds OK, or it sounds like crap. Give it to me straight! ibanez468

Thanks Squids & Chris!Mar 16, 2009, 3:51pm, yammer107 wrote:This fits right there stylistically... just enough changes,ect .. Honestly if it were to pop on the radio I'd think it was another regulary rotated song....Hey, thanks man! 'Preciate that! That was definitely what I was tryin' ta' shoot for! Mar 16, 2009, 3:51pm, yammer107 wrote:I've also noticed they seem to do alot of mock/suedo sounding instruments for their lead lines.... hard to explain, like its acceptable to use any old keyboard patch... They seem more concerned with the melody line than impressing you with the lastest most realistic software on the market... still hear alot of Fm sythesis, patches from the 80's, etcKeep in mind that they don't have screeners to impress, just their hardcore fans. They can pretty much use whatever they want, and get away with it. I'm usually always impressed regardless of what they've used anyhow. ibanez468

Thanks for the listen fellas!Yeah Derek, I think ya' got a GOOD point there. I'll see what I can conjure up with the left-hand.Vince, I'll see if I can't rough some of the piano parts up. The bass is meant to attract attention. That's the whole idea! You may or may not be familiar with this kinda' jazz. The bass part is the "driving force" of the whole song practically. That's how it works bro'. I'll see what I can swing on the sax parts. They may in fact need a little sweetening. Good beefs though. Thanks Dev! Nope, no live playin' this time. That's Trilogy playin'. And hey, you've got genres, you just haven't figured out which one you really wanna attack yet! I know, it's tuff bro'.ibanez468PS -- You guys are hearing Weather Report huh? Wow, I haven't listened to them in many many years. I wouldn't know a Weather Report song if I heard one right now. I didn't really listen to them at all. Glad it sounds like "somebody" though! That's a GOOD thing, right? What's the old saying?: imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Hey bmorrconscious!I'm all about tryna' GRAB 'em! It certainly works on me when it's comin' from somebody else (pro or otherwise)! Thanks for the listen! 'Preciate it!ibanez468

Hey Georgie!Thanks ALOT!!! You can call me "Bruce"! How 'bout that? Really appreciate you listenin' and all! This kinda' stuff is really the kinda' stuff that gets me goin', ya' know? I spent the last coupla' years prior ta' joinin' TAXI, tryna' write/create more jazzy tunes. Felt good ta' go back THERE again! ibanez468

Hey Bruce,Finally getting around to this. Cool tune! Lots of good ideas in there. Maybe a few too many for my taste , but it's a very nice effort.Of course, you know I'm going to throw my 2c in there, for what it's worth!BTW: I don't hear a Weather Report vibe much at all, I'm going to go more with Spyro Gyra.Here goes:1. The intro is way too long and the bass line is so repetitive that it kind of loses the impact. I'd recommend doing a short drum fill and then starting the tune from right where the sax comes in. With the melody to attract the attention of the ear, the bass line works fine.2. Introduce the guitar up front as well, probably doubling the melody or playing fills in between melody notes or just comping a nice rhythm part. Since you're a very fine guitar player, step up and use it to your advantage. Bringing your main axe in earlier will give the tune even more cred and live feeling.3. Loosen up the parts a bit. Make the sax less locked in with the piano on the melody. It's all starting to sound a bit too MIDI to my ears in the rhythm and melody. The solos have a good smooth jazz phrasing feel but the melodies are too locked in and don't have a nice live feel to them. Maybe doubling with guitar will help with that too?4. On certain solos, the sax for instance, let the bass play half notes or whole notes and then go back to the rhythm when the answer melodies come back in (same with the drums and percussion). That will break up the relentlessness of the whole thing and create some dynamic and rhythmic contrasts. Also, consider a few more fills in either the drums or the percussion, or both. In a tune like this, you're obviously emulating a real band and a few more variations, tastefully placed, will enhance the illusion.It's tough to pull this stuff off and you're 85% there, IMO. My hat's off to you for going for it and you obviously have an ear and a feel for the style. Give a listen to Spyro Gyra for some inspiration, particularly in the rhythm section, and with some tweaks this tune will go from very cool to great.Keep up the great work, man!!Mazz

Hey Man, You really should listen to Mazz re: bass-line. no one else seems to touch on this, but you should take heed. I would bet the Taxi Screeners will say the same. I would go one better than Mazz, If you are not able to go note by note and tweak the bass line, then get a real bass player. BTW, forgot to say. Song has a good feel. but the computer bass ruins it... IMO any musician worth their salt would hear this, makes me wonder how much you paid those guys for those reviews I read BB, Greatmoves

Mar 31, 2009, 5:23pm, mazz wrote:Finally getting around to this. Cool tune! Lots of good ideas in there. Maybe a few too many for my taste , but it's a very nice effort.It's about time! What took you so long?!? I realized you were outta' town for a minute, but this has been here forever! (Just kidding.) Quote:Of course, you know I'm going to throw my 2c in there, for what it's worth!Absolutely! Wouldn't have it any other way.Quote:BTW: I don't hear a Weather Report vibe much at all, I'm going to go more with Spyro Gyra.OK, got 1 or 2 of their CDs. Haven't listened alot though.Quote:1. The intro is way too long and the bass line is so repetitive that it kind of loses the impact. I'd recommend doing a short drum fill and then starting the tune from right where the sax comes in. With the melody to attract the attention of the ear, the bass line works fine.OK, I get what you're sayin'. But I've heard many a tune where the bass line is repetitive and funky for this kinda' stuff. Otherwise, I wouldn't be tryin' it myself, but I hear ya'! Quote:2. Introduce the guitar up front as well, probably doubling the melody or playing fills in between melody notes or just comping a nice rhythm part.I thought I did that (doubling the melody, I mean.). Not loud enough, huh? There's 3 instruments playing the melody at the second verse from that point on. Piano, sax, guitar. And I've got a rhythm guitar workin' in the BG at all times from that point on too. Hmmm, maybe it's not loud enough either? Quote:Since you're a very fine guitar player, step up and use it to your advantage. Bringing your main axe in earlier will give the tune even more cred and live feeling.I see.Quote:3. Loosen up the parts a bit. Make the sax less locked in with the piano on the melody. It's all starting to sound a bit too MIDI to my ears in the rhythm and melody. The solos have a good smooth jazz phrasing feel but the melodies are too locked in and don't have a nice live feel to them.Gotcha'! I think I can fix that. Make it a little more "sloppier", for lack of a better word? Quote:Maybe doubling with guitar will help with that too?See response to #2.Quote:4. On certain solos, the sax for instance, let the bass play half notes or whole notes and then go back to the rhythm when the answer melodies come back in (same with the drums and percussion). That will break up the relentlessness of the whole thing and create some dynamic and rhythmic contrasts. Also, consider a few more fills in either the drums or the percussion, or both. In a tune like this, you're obviously emulating a real band and a few more variations, tastefully placed, will enhance the illusion.Good ideas. I'll see what I can cook up.Quote:Give a listen to Spyro Gyra for some inspiration, particularly in the rhythm section, and with some tweaks this tune will go from very cool to great.We'll do!This is all GOOD stuff Mazz. When I started out with this tune, I don't know that I had intentions of using it for a submission. Eventually, it DID end up out there for the screener to rip apart. I took a chance, what the heck? We'll see what happens. If it gets returned, then I definitely have some revisions ta' work on, huh? Thanks for the ideas Mazz, and for your time. 'Preciate it.ibanez468