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https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/eclip ... 15767?uo=4

Finally. =)

From what I heard it sounds good, albeit a little too adult contemporary for me. Congrats.

Kind of 'easy listening' but nice. I only listened on my computer speakers but found that the sax overpowered the backing keyboards a few times, probably due to the reverb on the sax.

I don't like the piano work...It comes off too much like 'filler' to justify your sax virtuoso...
Try composing the piano to underscore whatever the musical message is. If you say there is no message, then you might as well sell your work to Muzak and the elevator companies...

Sorry... The lesson here is that your work on this song was /is not finished...Its about the song, not about you or your woodwind. Listen some time to the classic jazz composers... Anybody can stand in front of a backdrop and spit out some melody....

But a pro might tell you to stand inside a story and parlay some musical thought... (Big difference young man...) and I'm afraid college isn't gonna teach that to you.

That piano should have a living role in the objective of your song/piece. Currently ...it flows like a doily at a Macy's department store employee party..

Thought it sounded pretty good - keep doing what you are doing man

Deadguitars wrote:Thought it sounded pretty good - keep doing what you are doing man

Any advice you can give him? (Something he can use?)

Musicians who make and sell music to Muzac etc. are pros.

I do not think of this music as jazz, so I would not expect a rich improvised feel. It is 'easy listening' music. Not my cup of tea, I'd much rather take in something from "Coltrane Live at the Half Note"
But, different folks like different music. I'd think this might appeal to those who appreciate Kenny G stuff.

Certainly not all genres of music can be guided by the platitudes from the "songwriting 101" handbook.

As for learning to play jazz in college, these days there happen to be some very stellar jazz musicians that now teach in universities. Dave Holland, for instance, has recruited some amazing players for his band, from university music programs he has taught. But jazz is a different type of music that also often uses a saxophone.

PaperDog wrote:

Deadguitars wrote:Thought it sounded pretty good - keep doing what you are doing man

Any advice you can give him? (Something he can use?)

Yes KEEP ON DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING
Good luck w/ school , too

Deadguitars wrote:

PaperDog wrote:

Deadguitars wrote:Thought it sounded pretty good - keep doing what you are doing man

Any advice you can give him? (Something he can use?)

Yes KEEP ON DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING
Good luck w/ school , too

Deadguitars...You are funny... I know you disrespect me... But I dont hate you for it...

i recall from a previous thread where you crossed swords w peg that you are a fan of kenny g. if that is what you're going for here i'd say "well done". you scored a bullseye.

alas, i am not a fan of that style of instrumental pop music. as vinny said....it's not jazz, but then you made no claims along those lines.

i'm not sure what relevance or benefits can be gleaned by listening to classic jazz composers such as ellington, monk, horace silver, etc if this is the genre that mdh chooses to work within. (though, i suspect he's likely aware and familiar w their works)

as for jazz being taught and learned in schools and that being a viable and valid way to go about it....of course it is.

Berklee, North Texas State, and University of Miami have all produced many great musicians. Vinny mentioned dave holland recruiting practices...gary burton also comes to mind as someone who's been regulary recruiting Berklee students for quite some time.

the romanticized notion that jazz can only be learned in dark smoky bars paying your dues on gigs is as misguided as the misconception that only old black sharecroppers who migrated to chicago from missisipi can play the blues.

mdh...keep on keeping on. i'd love to hear you take a stab at something more outside, or at least a little more adventurous and daring.

PaperDog wrote:

Deadguitars wrote:

PaperDog wrote:

Deadguitars wrote:Thought it sounded pretty good - keep doing what you are doing man

Any advice you can give him? (Something he can use?)

Yes KEEP ON DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING
Good luck w/ school , too

Deadguitars...You are funny... I know you disrespect me... But I dont hate you for it...

Its a Ying and Yang thing


I liked his project ....
Kids gonna go back to school - learn from talented teachers - play with talented students - grow as a musician .... thats a good thing
His project is a stepping stone for future goals
Build them up not tear them down - you no like my m.o. ?
As for disrespecting you - thats BS , man - although you are quite perceptive , P Dawg !
- Tom

sounded good, but could do some eq-ing on the mid / low end. But then again i was listeining through my PC speakers

cheers!

John

Deadguitars wrote:

PaperDog wrote:

Deadguitars wrote:

PaperDog wrote:

Deadguitars wrote:Thought it sounded pretty good - keep doing what you are doing man



Any advice you can give him? (Something he can use?)

Yes KEEP ON DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING
Good luck w/ school , too

Deadguitars...You are funny... I know you disrespect me... But I dont hate you for it...

Its a Ying and Yang thing


I liked his project ....

Kids gonna go back to school - learn from talented teachers - play with talented students - grow as a musician .... thats a good thing

True

His project is a stepping stone for future goals

True

Build them up not tear them down - you no like my m.o. ?

NOT True, but I would say you have a lil bit of the ol 'passive-aggressive' sneak that dagger in style of tact about you. I know it when I see it, cause its something I wish I could do...

As for disrespecting you - thats BS , man - although you are quite perceptive , P Dawg !

I don't hate you for it.

Now, as far as advice-giving, This young man wont get built up from any colored smoke that gets blown up his ass. What he needs is truth and honesty. Its not 'judging' to tell him like it is. The best thing you as a musician could ever do for another musician is to be brutally honest, direct, (not emotional) and lay it down for the other guy. (in ways that matter...I'm not talking about nit-picky BS) He will thank you for years to come , after he gets over the hurt rage and obsession to kill you.

If you really think about it... We ALL have much redeeming musical quality about us, so that's a given. ...(even when we say to others that they suck) The truth is this guy, and nobody sucks musically... But telling him you 'like' it doesn't prove much to him about his music. All it says is that you "dont hate it" What has he learned?

So, wouldn't it be more useful to throw a few bones of solid qualifiers... Wouldn't you like for folks to give you the real dope about your project?

You're not wrong at all... But maybe this guy and others as well, need to see evidence of more than lip service... even If only in the form of a verbal challenge about the music. And I do not believe for a second that telling him what I told him, is tearing him down. I was not kidding about the piano...If he should decide to heed my view, he'll be stoked at how easy it is to do it that way.

It's a nice contemporary sound... as other have mentioned Kenny G comes to mind. Not something I would buy... but I get it.

Just do what makes you happy.
If this is it... fly with it. Not everyone is suppose to be some Blues or Jazz-master.
You find out who you are and then be the best "you" you can be.
(My assumption) The backing tracks are and will be your limitations as I think PD was saying... hopefully you find a pianist or guitarist to work with.
Good Luck with it and school!

P Dawg
-He didnt ask for any advice ,,,, he said "here is my Demo"
- " but I would say you have a lil bit of the ol 'passive-aggressive' sneak that dagger in style of tact about you. I know it when I see it, cause its something I wish I could do... "
Dude - we have gone at it before and it has accomplished nothing - call it what you want .... I see it as respectively disagreeing without the name calling

"Now, as far as advice-giving, This young man wont get built up from any colored smoke that gets blown up his ass. What he needs is truth and honesty. Its not 'judging' to tell him like it is. The best thing you as a musician could ever do for another musician is to be brutally honest, direct, (not emotional) and lay it down for the other guy. (in ways that matter...I'm not talking about nit-picky BS) He will thank you for years to come , after he gets over the hurt rage and obsession to kill you "
We just have a different philosophy about how to skin a cat I guess
I genuinely like his music and see that he has a solid musical foundation ... that he is building on .... he knows what to do .... the demo is ... prob not important to his future as much as just keeping at it

I do not disagree with many of your points but this kid is different than the usual suspects we get here I think