TAXI.com

Hi there,

So I had a track returned, I thought I was pretty on target personally, but apparently not. I'm not griping, I'm just trying to work out how to improve. The feedback was "Having more elements of jazz. Check out references included with this listing.". What would constitute an element of Jazz in this instance, and what am I lacking in my track.

This is the listing:

Lots of CONTEMPORARY JAZZ INSTRUMENTALS and/or INSTRUMENTAL CUES are needed by a top-notch Music Licensing Company with lots of Film and TV placements!

This Library is searching for several Instrumentals (and/or Cues) that could be heard on a playlist with the following references:

"Right Back Round Again" by Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride, & Brian Blade

"Kalifornia" by Jazzbois https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfC-TIw_pEU

"Balm" by Bill Laurance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfC-TIw_pEU

"Glimmerings" by GoGo Penguin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfC-TIw_pEU

Please send original, Contemporary Jazz Instrumentals and/or Cues with memorable motifs, captivating grooves, and polished productions. Modern Jazz instrumentation with impeccable musicianship in the general ballpark of the references will suit your submissions well. If you plan on using any virtual instruments or samples, they should be high-quality and modern—nothing dated will work here.

TAXI Tip: We know that Contemporary Jazz is a pretty wide genre, and we think you can have some fun with the instrumentation you use on this pitch. That being said, your pieces need to be firmly rooted in the Jazz genre and not stray into the avant-garde or experimental zone. Remember, these Instrumentals and Cues will be used in TV placements, so they have to have some commercial appeal!

Your submissions should be roughly 90 Seconds long for Cues, and about 2 to 4 minutes long for Instrumentals, give or take. Non-faded, buttoned/stinger endings will work best. Please do NOT copy the referenced artists or songs in any way, shape, or form. Use them only as a guide for tempo, texture, and tone. Do NOT submit any material with unauthorized samples of any other artists’ music, sounds, or any other form of media. Broadcast Quality is needed.

This company offers an EXCLUSIVE deal, so please be sure the Instrumentals and/or Cues you pitch for this opportunity are NOT already signed with any other Companies or Catalogs. Any sync fees will be split 50/50 with the Company. You'll get 100% of the Writer's share, and the Publisher will get 100% of the Publisher's share. You must own or control your Masters and Copyright to submit. Please submit as many Instrumentals and/or Cues as you'd like, online or per CD. All submissions will be screened and critiqued by TAXI. Submissions must be received no later than 11:59 PM (PDT) on Wednesday, July 26th, 2023. TAXI # S230726ZZ

Below is my track, I've got a few more "changes" here and there in mine, but that's because I kept being fed back that I was being too repetitive and now I'm slightly neurotic about it, haha.

Any insights would be greatly apprecaited.

Thanks in advance.

Great job programming the drums!

My thoughts, The synth pads and strings, are not typical jazz instruments. Also the upright sounds a bit midi. I think it's a decent developmental arc for an instrumental cue. The biggest think is that it feels programmed. i'd imagine the forwards for this are going to be actual jazz combos playing live. Check the forwards blog to see what was forwarded for the listing.

I'm not sure, working on jazz instrumentals are going to be worth the time if you're not already a jazz guy. I believe Paulie plays jazz sax, and says the majority of his placements are for trap instrumentals. One thing I wish I did in my first year of TAXI was focus more on genres I'm already strong at. It's always time to grow in other genres as you start signing deals and getting placements.

Fun track, I agree about the bass, I think it's too forward in the mix (a mistake I make all the time). Also, the sustain on it makes it sound not real. I've been using CorePear Bass for years and love it, only $59. Super easy interface and sounds great.

https://www.orangetreesamples.com/products/corebass-pear

Thanks for the advice guys, maybe I'll just lean off jazz for a spell in which case.