Instrumental Piano Tracks - mix advice, please

[ideascapes]

I plan to submit a few tunes for this listing:----------------------------------------------------------------------------INSTRUMENTAL PIANO TRACKS a la David Benoit, Brian Culbertson, Michele Camilo, etc. sought by President of Independent World/Jazz label for a compilation project comprised of a melodic menu of solo and band arrangements led by acoustic piano. Melodic Jazz and Latin tracks are welcome but compositions mixing Jazz with interesting World sounds will be a priority. The compilation stresses a melodic instrumental approach with fresh sounding piano-led tracks based on mostly medium-tempo grooves. Ballads (no New Age) are also welcome but only represents a small percentage of the compilation. Tracks must be original with excellent performances and available for a non-exclusive license deal. Please submit one to three songs online or per CD. All submissions will be screened and critiqued by TAXI and must be received no later than Wednesday, March 25, 2009. TAXI #S090325IN------------------------------------------------------------------------------I'd love to get some feedback on the mix if you have the time (pick one song, or just listen to the first minute or so of both?).http://www.taxi.com/ideascapesSong Titles: "Autumn Hills", "I Turn to Stone"Thanks much!Vince

[geo]

Hey Vince... it's Geo.... decided I didn't like the anonymity of AMP so I switched back.....Both your tunes sound great.... no surprise there... "Autumn Hills" is my fav... though I like the syncopated feel in "Stone" and it is the dynamically more interesting...I'm on cheap PC speakers and everything sounds great... my jealousy rises ... Only thing I noticed was this... but it's in the listing....compositions mixing Jazz with interesting World sounds will be a priority.I don't know if some percussion or something might help your chances... but the tracks do sound great as is... that just stuck out when I read it...Good luck friend...Peace, Geo

[devin]

Vince, I liked both of these tunes! I found "I Turn to Stone" really cool...nice vibe (bass sets it up really well).I'm not familiar enough with the genre to embarass myself with arrangement feedback, but both felt about right.On my cheapy headphones at work, the sax in "Stone" seemed just a wee bit hot on the louder blows.[Edit: I hear what Geo is saying about the "world" instrument content. I can offer banjo only...sorry ]

[ciskokidd]

I think both songs stand a chance, but adding world elements would probably make your chances all the better.Mixing wise, (take this with a grain of salt because I'm not in the ideal listening environment at the moment) I think the drums sound a bit dull to my ears. I'm not hearing that nice high end shimmer this kind of mix should have. The piano sounds pretty nice and well rounded with no mid range clutter. The sax in the second song is a bit too loud in the mix to me. It sort of popped out of nowhere as I was listening and you really want it to feel like a natural transition. I would take it down a couple db.Hope this helps.Best,Cisko

[wignelson]

Vince, I liked both songs. I Turn To Stone a little better than Autumn Hills. I just wrote a song Autumn Breeze a couple months ago. Great minds think alike. In Autumn Hills, you have a recording glitch at 2:20. The piano jumps in in the middle of a note. If you have a clips pane to work with, I would split that clip and do a fast fade in to the note.It's not a big issue and regular citizens wouldn't even pick up on it, but publishers might.I found both pieces kind of meandering melody wise, but as background music it satisfies because of the fine musicianship.Good luck with these. Wig

[t4mh]

I agree with all the comments above about drums and the chopped note. In Autumn Hills about 40 to 50 there is a section that I can't quite make out what is the piano is doing. I think a screener would think that it is a rough spot and you should work your mix a bit through that section. Other than that I enjoyed your music and your mix a great deal!Good luck!Keith

[ibanez468]

Hey ideascapes!Love Autumn Hills. Listenin' right now! I just don't know if this is jazz though. I mean it's not the kind that I'm used ta' hearing. I'm not sure it has enough World sounds either, but I don't know, that's JMO. Same with "I Turn to Stone". It just doesn't sound jazzy ta' me, and there again that's just my opinion. Whooops, wait a minute. Hear comes a sax. That helps bring it over a little more, anyways. Who knows, maybe I'm full of sh*t and both of these get forwarded. It depends on interpretation from the listener. Both are good tunes though. And I think you need to add some Worldly instruments to the tune, to really better your chances. Just my $.02 FWIW.ibanez468

[iceman]

Autumn hills.Nice piece. I think the percussion could come in spots. Around 2:08 there are some tom fills which I can barely hear. Be nice to have those up. The ending is very cool and unexpected. I would like to hear that section that in the middle of the song as well. Be a nice change up. Of course I might be totaly full of s*&t. But I read somewhere -- if it's cool, use it more than once.Good luck. Definately worth submitting. Randy

[georginasaint]

Hi Vince, These are lovely tracks. The style reminds me of the pianists from South Africa I knew in the 80's like Dollar Brand... also like George Winston. I'm not familiar with the a la's in the listing. I think you might up your chances if you add some "World" sounds, but it says they'll be given preference, but not that it "has" to have them. Great playing! I did hear the chopped note so would definately fix that!Good luck with them!Georgie

[carlosgomez]

Autum Hills: Reminds me of Bruce Hornsby The way it is. Good production. Nice stereo field. Nice dynamics. Well blended mix of freqs and space. Solid.I Turn To Stone: Good production. Nice stereo field. Good dynamics. Well blended mix of freqs and space. Nice job on the low freqs. Double solid. Well done.