And now for something completely different!

http://www.songramp.com/view.ez?sampleid=8453

This is a song called Jonathon Livingston
Beagle--forgive the smug title, but I was only 15 when I composed most of this track. It is a brand new recording, however.

That's me on acoustic piano, synth, 5-string bass and acoustic drums. You'll also hear the great David Scott on tenor sax.

This is jazz, but with a touch of my old progressive rock influences I suppose. I'm very fond of the performances. I learned after the fact that one of my tom mics was not functioning, so the tom sound is a tad roomier than I'd intended. Still--it ain't bad!

Doug

www.dougrobinson.com

Nice work, Doug. I like David's tenor tone - kind of like Rollins - nice n' smooth. I can't stand a lot of modern tenor players honky Sanborn-like tone.

Cool little synth treatments peeking out in the arrangement.

I like the playfulness in the composition. Good playing all the way around.

Your room sounds really good, and I like where you panned eveything in the mix - nice spread on the piano. I see what you mean now about liking a tighter kick sound, rather than the often used "fluffy" sound.

What mic were you using on the floor tom? Doesn't seem to have the tone you're getting on the rack toms.

What'd you write the song about?

Dan Richards
Digital Pro Sound
The Listening Sessions

Thanks for the kind words, Dot. This isn't something I would put forth as one of my best home recordings, but at least it's good in the places that count the most.

By the way, these are about the relative levels I aim for in small bands--the drums are as strong as everything else, but not really in your face. They don't sound close-mic'd to me. The musical arrangement dictates what the listener is supposed to pay attention to, not the volume of one instrument over the others. I can't understand the way Pat Metheny mixes his records, with the guitar about 20 feet wide and everything else beneath it. Actually, it works nicely with his music, but I don't like it in my own.

"What mic were you using on the floor tom? Doesn't seem to have the tone you're getting on the rack toms."

Hah! That was the one with an unplugged mic cable. You're really just hearing what got picked up in the overheads, and maybe a bit from the rack tom mic (the TB1). Normally, I'm very happy with a B1 on that floor tom, plugged in of course.

"What'd you write the song about?"

Probably about sex--I was 15! Actually, I would write a tune like this at least once or twice a week back then--I seemed to have a never-ending well of stuff to say in this genre. Today I look back and admire the writing, but it doesn't exactly touch my soul. It's all kind of fun stuff like this. I write fewer now, but they tend to be deeper, not as...cute, I guess you'd say. Still, I like music with some wit, and this has some.

After the trio gig last weekend, I got really inspired to compose. Two brand new songs in the last two days (not counting this one)! The guys are coming over Wed to learn them. One is sprawling and complex, a faaaast drum n' bass type rhythm with a legato bowed bass melody. Energetic. Haunting in a hyper way. The second tune is a second line blues, kind of a Monkish thing.

I don't know why I'm on such a streak right now, but I'm going to press my luck and write something else tomorrow.


www.dougrobinson.com

Oh, yeah--you're right about David's tenor tone, and I didn't really capture how beautiful it is. (This was a quick and dirty recording all around.) Then again, he was playing kind of rough for this tune. But his tone is huge and warm--I'll post a ballad we recorded together in the next few days.

www.dougrobinson.com

Doug,

I loved this mp3 man. Jazz is a genre for me where when I hear a tune, I'm either pulled in immediately or bored to tears. There's no middle ground at all.

Needles to say you kept my interest throughout the track. Great playing, cool production. Some jazz pruduction annoys the hell out of me (though I can't cite any specifics, as I'm a rock guy who just loves the occasional jazz piece). A lot of it is either lifeless or focuses too much on one instrument to my ears.

I can't agree more with what you said about balancing volumes. I like when the arrangement dictates the focal point of the song, not a lead instrument that completely obscures the rest of the band.

Keep up the good work. I want to hear some more if you've got anything available!

Jim

Thanks, Jim!

"Needles to say you kept my interest throughout the track. Great playing, cool production. Some jazz pruduction annoys the hell out of me (though I can't cite any specifics, as I'm a rock guy who just loves the occasional jazz piece). A lot of it is either lifeless or focuses too much on one instrument to my ears."

I agree, though there is some terrific stuff out there. So much of it, though, is so glossy that it sounds slick and dull to me.

"I can't agree more with what you said about balancing volumes. I like when the arrangement dictates the focal point of the song, not a lead instrument that completely obscures the rest of the band."

Arranging is the money, no doubt. Some people think that you need a big band to think like an arranger, but it's just as important with a trio.

"Keep up the good work. I want to hear some more if you've got anything available!"

Swing over to my website--I did an album called SitJazzDown with Mike Miller on guitar, whom you might enjoy. He's quite an awesome player, and the other cats aren't too shabby either. Thanks again.

www.dougrobinson.com

I really liked this jazzooo! It's incredible that you could compose something this complex when 15! The track really feels like there is a band in the room. I'm much like rewt when it comes to jazz. I enjoy it when I hear it but don't go out of my way to learn to appreciate it. I really liked the drum track. Lots of cymbals and toms! Is the sax as well, it sounds very improvised and real. The small variances in the piano riff keep it interesting. I also really like the seperation of the tracks. How long does it take you to compose and arrange a piece like this?

-Dusty

"Is the sax as well, it sounds very improvised and real."

You left out a word I think, but maybe you're asking if it was written out as well? The melody parts were. The little sax/chord stabs here and there are three saxes that I just arranged on the fly--doing a pass, then telling David "Now do the same thing, but on a C" etc.

There's a lick just before the sax solo where two saxes double the bass on an ascending line--I wrote the line for bass and just taught it to David on the fly. He's really good that way.

" The small variances in the piano riff keep it interesting."

Good ear, dude.

"I also really like the seperation of the tracks. How long does it take you to compose and arrange a piece like this?"

Hmmm, I'm 48 now so...33 years! No, seriously--I wrote it in about two weeks if I remember correctly (at the same time as writing something else that I can't remember now). Over the years, I'd take it out and fool around with it but never did anything worthwhile. Then about two months ago, I had a friend who would come over to help me once a week in the studio. I needed something to record that day so I picked this odl song. The parts were already composed except for the improv.

It was about two and a half sessions to record it, maybe a total of 12 hours? Here's how:

Drum track to click (oddly enough, I sequenced a percussion track in 4/4 to play against, and it did not make my life easier as the song was in 3/4!);
Piano track to drum track;
Bass track to the other tracks;
New drum track;
New piano track;
New bass part;
Synth parts
Melodica (no longer on there)

I originally had a KILLER melodica solo, but David Scott was coming to spend the week with his new girlfriend, so one night I gave the solo to him. He played 5 solos, and this is a comp of the first and the last. I don't even miss the melodica anymore...sniff...

Then my friend lent me the 5-string bass and I redid the bass once more, to get those low C's.

www.dougrobinson.com

I am beginning to feel that there is so much more for me to learn at this site. Jazzooo the recording is very well done. Not what I would expect from a home recording. At my level of skill I would only say it is very very well done .

Hi, Jon--thanks for the comments. I really do appreciate them. And welcome to the forum--I hope you[ll be sharing some music so we can get to know you a little better!

www.dougrobinson.com

I already have some music posted....just that this song is not written by me....just recorded.....I am hoping to have a song written by myself up soon....