Jazz Piano Feedback Please

[kurtkreimier]

UPTEMPO, SOLO PIANO JAZZ INSTRUMENTALS are needed by an established Music Publisher in Los Angeles. This company specializes in Film/TV placements and has signed many TAXI members. No additional instrumentation is advised, as this company has specifically requested SOLO piano - the piano should be the ONLY instrument present in the recording. Only uptempo pieces will be considered for this one. The sound quality must be excellent (solid demo recordings are okay as long as the quality is there). They offer a non-exclusive, 50/50 split deal - you keep your original copyrights. Broadcast quality needed. Please submit one to three songs online or per CD. All submissions will be screened on a YES/NO BASIS ONLY - NO CRITIQUES FROM TAXI - and must be received no later than October 9, 2008. TAXI #Y081009JZI've been working on these two songs for this listing for about a week now and would really appreciate any feedback you can provide. Mainly interested in the following. Of course, any other suggestions are welcome.Tempo - Too Fast or Too Slow?Performance?Production?Style - On Target or Not?Melodies and Solos? Should I forget the solo sections and just go with melodic repeats with maybe a key change the last time through?Links are below and Thanks - KurtPiano Jazz 1 - http://www.taximusic.com/song.php?song_ ... =truePiano Jazz 2 - http://www.taximusic.com/song.php?song_ ... tream=true

[jay10music]

HEY KURT.....I guess I will try a stab at this.... u can tell u are a very accomplished jazz piano player here and I Applaud u for that... This listing doesn't tell u much...for instance ...The don't say if they want easy jazz...smooth jazz...contemporary....Just up tempo...and they want it for TV/film....That tells me this track will be playing behind some scene or TV project. When I take that In mind, and listen to your piece I don't hear that ...I'm missing that film feeling that the screeners will be looking for...The vibe is to heavy handed for a film or TV scheme.I feel that u need to smooth out your feel and think of a scene in a movie when u star your creation.Kurt... this only my opinon...U GOT THE CHOPS...Just need to put the right vibe in your head and PLAY....JAY.....

[suzdoyle]

Hey Kurt;Nice songs. The first one feels a tad too fast to me, and too many high notes (an occasional bass note would anchor it better).The second one feels too busy for a film listing (not that I'm an expert, but I feel like it's trying to grab my attention, rather than being more subtle which seems to be more effective for synching to film or video).Perhaps slowing the 2nd one down a bit (adding a bit more breathing room) and occasional anchoring notes would help make it more of an integrating factor in a production than a distracting one.Overall, they both feel "brainy," (which I usually like, being one who values intelligence) -- but I think they could be more effective with more breathing space in them (and perhaps slowing them down would accomplish that).Just my two cents.Viva la JAZZ!Suz

[kurtkreimier]

Hello Jay and Suz. Thanks alot for the feedback. It really is appreciated. I can hear where you both are coming from on this. I can hear the heavy hand and I have been concerned about the tempos being too fast and perhaps having too many notes. It has been a challenge trying to keep the uptempo feel while cutting back on the tempo and number of notes at the same time. Or maybe it is just what I think of in my head when I think of uptempo. In any case, I will definitely be going back and trying to smooth it down a little. Thanks again to both of you.Kurt

[mewman]

Hi KurtWith all due respects to Suz, I have to disagree about the tempo changes. Up tempo jazz can routinely go over 200 bpm. The second tune you played, based on Parkers "Confirmation", is marked 208 bpm in the Omnibook. Frankly, my feeling is that the sound of the piano is the first thing you should consider improving. It sounds...well...cheezy. Sorry to say it, but it is definately an electric piano trying to be an acoustic. Any program using up tempo jazz is trying to be hip, I imagine, so you need to try and go for as hip a sound as you can. Try listening to some Brad Meldau, Mulgrew Miller, Herbie Handcock, Chick Corea, Keith Jarret, etc. They all have a very modern sound and are well recorded. You could listen to some Oscar Peterson as well if you are going for a more "Trad" sound. I'm not sure, but it also sounds as if you may have quantized. In order to preserve a jazz feel, I would warn against doing that as it will kill any sense of "swing". I agree with Suz that I want to hear it breath more, but the somewhat mechanical feel to it (did you Quantize?) leaves it sounding a bit dry.It's hard to be critical, but I try to say these things respectfully. Good luck!Mewman

[vicky]

hey there...sounds goods....Mewman is right about the sound, but there are simple ways to improve.....add a little reverb and play with the eq for starts....Neither song seems really up tempo to me, but I think it's OK for the listing...For the listing..I think playing more melody motifs overall would be good, so you're not soloing without the melody still somewhere in there...I'm not a piano player, so excuse if I'm totally off here......it sounds like you're not using any sustain pedal....some on the right hand work sounds like it could be more legato ....On #1...I like the rhythmic approach...#2 the left comp needs more rhythms so it really sounds like an accompaniment to the solo....hope this helps...hope I'm not too tough on you,vtbp

[kurtkreimier]

Hello Vicki and Mewman and thanks for the suggestions. I do have some other piano sounds I can use and will definitely give them a try. The sound I used here was a sound that I recently had some success where a library picked up a few of my trio and quartet jazz tracks so I thought I would start there. And I think I did do some quantizing of the right hand parts but I know I have them in both quantized and unquantized versions and will definitely give some serious listening to each. At this point I am still not happy with the stiffness and heavy handed sound, especially on the right hand parts. I am finding it difficult to make it sound as smooth as I would like given the fast tempos and number of notes I am trying to squeeze in.Actually at this point I am thinking about scrapping the entire melody and solos on the 2nd tune and starting over. And I have wondered about exactly how contemporary to make it since the listing does not specifically say one way or another if they are looking for more of a contemporary or traditional approach. I was thinking about going for more of a post bop approach but not really sure. Or maybe one with more of a post bop feel with one a little more traditional feel. Or maybe another with more of fusion approach.Thanks again for the suggestions and they are appreciated. And no you are not being too tough on me. In fact you have given me some good things to work on. Once I finish up with the changes I will go ahead and post them again.Once again, thanks. Kurt