Tag Archives: instrumental

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Halcyon Sky: The Regrooves EP – Day 25

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Greetings all…

9:24 pm… In studio checking out one of the remixes just sent to me for the EP. As I thought, stellar work, and the vibe is exactly what I expected. I’m looking forward to dropping this project as soon as possible. I’m equally excited to have an artist from the Netherlands remixing one of my tracks from the Halcyon Sky release. It remains to be seen as to whether his track will make this EP, based on his daily schedule and my predicted drop date but either way, you will be hearing it in the future. It marks the beginning of a collaborative effort between him and me, so stay tuned throughout the year for some tracks by us.

I’ve received some rough mixes from the two other artists who’ll be featured on this project and I’m definitely feeling the flow of both tracks. Music composition and the technology of the internet, a beautiful thing… :). Back to work on mine.

Have a good night…

::: oceans of rhythm :::

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The Making of Soulosophy – Day 3

Soulosophy Concept Art v1 Brown

Greetings all…hope u are enjoying your Saturday. In the last post, I was going on about a roster of 24 musicians (25 including myself) that I thought could participate on this project. After giving it much thought, especially in relationship to the approach and final release of the Halcyon Sky EP, I decided to take the “walk before you can run” approach. Gone is the idea of that many musicians participating for a sophomore project. I’m definitely not ready to book and pay for studio time when the project can very well be done between my studio and my partner’s studio.

That being said, I have one solid tune already given to me to review by a long time friend and smooth jazz keyboardists with four (at least) CDs under his belt. With the roster being significantly smaller and the musician commitments I have thus far, yeah, we can rock this. Next step, song completion assessments. More about that in the next post.

Before I forget, for those of you that have been following my tweets on my personal Twitter account, @mrfresh, regarding my musical endeavors, I’ve decided to consolidate all those under one new Twitter ID, SFTF Productions, you can follow me there. I’d highly appreciate it. Thanks!

Have a great weekend.

::: oceans of rhythm :::

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The Making of Soulosophy – Day 1

Soulosophy Concept Art v1 Brown

Greetings…

Hope everyone is doing well. It’s been a minute since I’ve done any blogging, but I’m back to continue the chronological process started on my Halcyon Sky EP project and continue with my next major project, Soulosophy.

Soulosophy will be a smooth contemporary jazz project. I use the term “smooth contemporary jazz” to make an attempt to distinguish and separate it from what the industry currently presents as “smooth jazz”. Not to rant, but the popular genre name is truly a misnomer. I’ve had countless discussions over the years on the true (industry) name is: New Adult Contemporary. It’s a much more accurate name to use, considering what artists are fill the radio playlists and smooth jazz fests across the country, but using that name to sell the genre is obviously too cumbersome and wouldn’t “sell” (I’m sure you agree).

The name “Soulosophy” actual comes from an Instagram user that I follow. The name fits the concept of tunes I hope to release. I’m already excited about the guests who have graciously decided to become part of the project (more about who they are in future posts), because of their stellar musical gifts, so stayed tune for more on that.

Currently, Soulosophy will be a 10-track instrumental project comprised of new tunes and not-so-new. Most of them right now are in their infancy stages, but I’m pleased to have one very talented smooth jazz keyboardist already submitting tunes for the project for me to check out. I’m excited about the collaboration with this artist and am equally pleased to say that you will hear me on the title track of a CD he is currently working on for release (I believe this is his fifth). There are a number of other musicians I plan on inviting to participate as well.

I’m sitting in Starbucks now and it’s going on 7:30, time to head to homebase.

Have a good morning/afternoon/evening/night.

::: oceans of rhythm:::

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Halcyon Sky (Debut EP) – Day 15

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Greetings, Sitting in the public library in between stops, basking in a little satisfaction. Ahh yes…forward motion. Last night I wrapped up mixing one of the tracks on for the EP. It’s a track I composed about two years ago and thought it’d make an excellent song for the project. Though it’s in it’s pre-mastered state, a good thing to do for any track at this point is to play it on various systems – mp3 player, CD player, over computer speakers, studio monitors, etc. This is to try to achieve the best sound possible across the many mediums people listen to music on.

I burned it to CD and took for a ride around the city today….I like! Not too bassy coming out of the SUV’s sound system, percussion is nice and organic sounding, acoustic guitar is sweet. next is an mp3 for the iPod.

So, I can pretty much scratch this one off until I get to the part of the schedule where I master all the tracks over a few days. Forward motion. On to the next track in the priority list tonight.

In the last post, I mentioned starting design of the Bandcamp page. That actually is now completed as well. I like banner artwork and the color scheme design. Onward.

Have a good one….

::: oceans of rhythm :::

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Halcyon Sky (Debut EP) – Day 13

thelab

[12:39 am] I don’t know if I can actually count yesterday as a true day 13 of working on the EP because I’ve nothing but tech difficulties in studio – I should say technical difficulty as it only pertains to re-setting up a wireless mouse. Non-powered USB hubs can be finicky and I think this is the case because connecting a portable USB hard drive doesn’t always seem to work. That being said, I’ll probably hit up eBay or Amazon to see if I can find one on the cheap. In any event, not actually working on tracks allowed me to take time to think about a realistic release date. Now that I’ve settled on one, it’s time to define the schedule to meet it. Every track on the EP is in some state of development, so I believe it”l be easy to (ideally) stick to schedule.

Initially, this EP was supposed to be comprised of tracks totally done by me only, but I already have (as some of you read) the (desired) collaboration with Todd and Fave of C3. I’m considering doing one more with a DC metro area artist whom I’ve had a few lengthy discussions with…good ones at that. That, in itself, will alter the drop date, but maybe I may go ahead with that.

Been an *interesting* weekend from a mental standpoint and kinda glad it’s over (who really ever said they were glad to see the weekend go, but….). Anyway, classical music is playing in the background. I get in the mood at times and this is one of those times.

Time to turn in….

::: oceans of rhythm :::

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The Sunday Soundtrack – 14 Apr 13

Greetings Listeners….

Welcome to another edition of The Sunday Soundtrack. “It’s been a long time, I shouldn’t have left you…” (a little hip hop lyric reference there). It’s great to be back with another edition, albeit overdue, of the podcast. It’s about 12:37 am here in studio, but it’s done. I hope to stay on a regular (to be determined) schedule. Starting with pre-production on Monday for the following Sunday helps, doing a little everyday helps even more. The plan is to finish Saturday evening 🙂

For my new listeners, The Sunday Soundtrack podcast is geared towards giving you an alternative listening experience to the standard Sunday afternoon commercial smooth jazz formatted programs and expose you to independent artists with tunes that provide that same smoothness, but in such genres as electronica, nu jazz, downtempo, experimental, chillout, instrumental jazzy hip hop, and the like. Please feel free to take a listen and leave comments, if u like. You can also reach The Sunday Soundtrack at (301) 458-0499

Without further delay, let’s get to the playlist.

1. Moon Beat – LTJ X-Perience/Moon Beat
2. Consequences (Late Night Mix) – Blank & Jones/Relax 4
3. Gutenmirgenduft (Morning Scent) – dZihan & Kamien/Gran Riserva
4. Subsolitude – Hypoetical/Pendulum
5. Try Me – J Boogie’s Dubtronic Science f/Goapele & Capitol A/J Boogie’s Dubtronic Science – OM Records 2003
6. Square Purity – The Jazzment/Beats – Old Stuff
7. Sunbeams – Uko/Cafe Del Mar – Vol. 7

Some special shout outs:

  • My entire podcast massive: Fave, Big La (Todd Kelley), DarrenKeith, Anji Bee, Nikki, BSOTS, DJ Diva, EJ Flavors (The Sensei), and T. Grundy (Mr Brilliant). All excellent podcasters whose episodes range from smooth jazz to soul to hip hop to R&B to chillout to funk. My hats off to all of you, thanks for the encouragement
  • All the podcast drops done by the crew above AND listeners – thank you!
  • Ray Garraud – The Garraud Files Podcast, a versatile tech enthusiast, author, blogger, podcaster, public speaker, and good friend with whom I’ve had several great conversations with on his own thoughts of mobile podcasting and the evolving tech out which allows it. Thanks for the push, Ray!
  • Calandra and Madeline for the re-encouragement
  • @DVSJr, @Upright for the re-tweets/favorites about the return!

    • I hope you’re enjoying the tracks. Please feel free to follow the The Sunday Soundtrack on Twitter

    Take care and have a great week.

    ::: oceans of rhythm :::

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    The Sunday Soundtrack – 07 Aug 11 – featuring Clara Hill

    Greetings listeners. Welcome to another edition of The Sunday Soundtrack! It’s been about a nine month hiatus…whew…long time coming, but it’s good to be back once again. It’s been a hot summer this year…all the more better to bring you some CHILLED tracks to offset the heat. This edition of the Sunday Soundtrack features one of the smoothest female vocalists I have ever heard…the inimitable Clara Hill.

    From her last.fm page:

    Clara started to discover the power of voice in the eighties, when she was singing alongside some tunes by Madonna. At a certain point it was clear to her that she wanted to join and front a band. Aged seventeen, she founded the acid jazz combo Superjuice, together with her friend Funès. In the early nineties, at the height of acid jazz, the band toured through Berlin clubs, gathering a high-profile reputation. During these years, Clara made her first steps in live music. During one of her shows, she met DJ Alex Barck from Jazzanova, who was spinning records as a support DJ. In 1998 he introduced her to the producers of Extended Spirit (2/6 of Jazzanova): Stefan Leisering and Axel Reinemer, that produced a few tracks with Clara. Relaxed and easy, a friendship started with Stefan Leisering and Clara Hill. With him, the song “No Use”

    Clara’s thick, lush, harmonies go so very well with the wide chordal arrangements that Jazzanova and other similar artists she’s work with that I have to describe her music by taking the first letter of her first name, and combining it with her full last name: CHill!

    Without further adieu, I bring you the playlist:
    ~~~~~~~~~~
    1. Still Here – Aural Float
    2. Reel Life (Evolution II) – The Cinematic Orchestra/Man With a Movie Camera
    3. Reprise – Clara Hill/Best Of 3
    4. Maybe Now – Clara Hill/Restless Times
    5. Crush – Chevalier
    6. I’m Here – Clara Hill/Restless Times
    7. Flawless – Clara Hill/Restless Times
    8. Under The Radar – Two Little Satellites
    9. No Use – Jazzanova Feat. Clara Hill/In Between
    10. Dub In Ya Mind (Blue Water Mix – Afterlife/Simplicity Two Thousand (Disc 1)
    ~~~~~~~~~~

    I hope you’ve enjoyed the tracks as much as I do. Big shout out to my podcast massive for the ID drops in the podcast. Thanks for the encouraging words regarding the return of the podcast. An equally important shout to my regular and new listeners, as well. I appreciate you checking it out.

    Clara Hill on last.fm

    Official Website

    Enjoy the day, night, afternoon, morning, or whenever you are listening to this podcast. For those of you on Twitter, feel free to follow The Sunday Soundtrack there.

    ::: oceans of rhythm :::

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    Welcome To The Sunday Soundtrack – 101010

    Welcome listeners, to another edition of The Sunday Soundtrack. Here we are in the last quarter of the year, 2010. Seems like a whirlwind of time has past. Sometimes I just wanna stop the world, and hop off, hahah. Hope all is well with you.

    All brand new tracks today, thanks to some time spend searching YouTube. Interestingly enough, I can spend hours in this goldmine, gathering tracks for the show, and the last treasure hunt turned up some really nice gems.

    Back on this episode, after some time, is an artist I discovered when The Sunday Soundtrack first hit the netwaves, Michael E. I discovered him on myspace, and recently came across his track “Blow” from his latest release, Cafe Tranquillo. A signature track by him, it employs lush movements and laidback rhythms. His music’s always been a favorite of mine.

    Returning once again, is Lazybatusu with their track, Keep On Keeping On. This duo produces tracks that range from a large sounding arrangement to, at times, tracks leaning towards a minimalistic sound, while all the time laying in that chillout vibe. This is a nice track, and you’ll be hearing more from this group in future podcasts.

    I always say The Sunday Soundtrack is not The Sunday Soundtrack without Afterlife. This time, Dub In Ya Mind (Blue Water Mix), is what I’m featuring. Steve Miller brings the essence of Ibiza chillout in a relaxing track that can always find it’s place in activities where no multitasking is aloud (smile). I always love the way he incorporates the elements of female vocals


    1. Viva Cubana (beachhouse mix) – Clublife/Dubai Chillhouse Grooves Vol 2.
    2. Keep On Keeping On – Lazybatusu/Supperclub Presents San Francisco Vol. 8 Disc 2
    3. People Come, People Go (Chillout Mix) – Arnej/After Hours Anthems
    4. Always on my Mind (Bar Lounge Music Mix) – Soul ‘N’ Sound
    5. Consequences f/Vanessa Daou (Late Night Mix) – Blank & Jones/Relax-Edition 4
    6. Blow – Michael E/Cafe Tranquillo
    7. California Sunset (Ambient Lounge Mix) – Various
    8. Moon Beat – LTJ – X-Perience/Formetara de Dia Volume 1. Part Two [IMPORT]
    9. Dub In Ya Mind (Blue Water Mix) – Afterlife/Simplicity Two Thousand (Disc 1)
    10. Sunset Chill Lounge – Various

    I was laced with some swag from SomaFM recently, here’s a short video about it. Shout out to Rusty Hodge, DJ at SomaFM,

    As always, thanks for listening, it’s much appreciated. I hope the podcast provides the necessary chill(out) you’re looking for when you need it.

    ::: oceans of rhythm :::

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    Welcome To The Sunday Soundtrack – 5 Sep 10


    Photo Credit: A.K., 2010

    Hello listeners.

    Hope this post finds you well. The Labor Day weekend, for those of us in the U.S., is upon us. I, for one, am glad that I’m able to get an extra day to chill out before returning back to the office. In that spirit of relaxedness (is that a word?), I bring you the playlist and flow for this podcast.

    I just returned this afternoon, from a wedding in N. Carolina that was quite nice. The weather held up perfectly for an outdoor matrimonial event, and the reception was VERY nice as well. I wish the happy couple (whom I’ve known for some time) a long and love-filled marriage.

    Today’s track span the genres of nu-jazz, latin-flavored, downtempo, and chillout, with a bit of ambient mixed in. It’s my hope you enjoy it. This edition includes the lead off track, Reel Life by The Cinematic Orchestra (The Evolution II remix). I especially enjoy this track for it’s orchestral elements and the way it invokes visuals of movement via it’s musical composition. After noticing a tweet earlier this week from Honeysugarwater, mentioning Bebel Gilberto’s original tune “Aganju”, I decided to feature the remix this time around. The apex of the podcast brings Ocean Air by dZihan and Kamien. I first heard of them not on the net or elsewhere, but via a musician, songwriter, and producer who lives not too far from me. I was hanging out in his studio, listening to some tracks he had in his “vault” and we got onto the subject of downtempo and chillout. He had asked if I had heard of them and played a track by the name of which I can’t recall, but after hearing it, I was on a hunt to find everything I could by them. They’ve been featured on many Sunday Soundtrack editions since ’07. Rounding out this edition is a very laidback track by a group entitled Bliss. I discovered them on another website when track hunting last year. They often hinge on ambient compositions, but I happened to like most of what I’ve heard thus far. It’s my wish that you do as well. Without further adieu, I present to you the playlist.


    1. Reel Life (Evolution II) – The Cinematic Orchestra/Man With a Movie Camera
    2. Instrumentally Yours – Ben Tankard/Instrumentally Yours
    3. Aganju (Remix) – Bebel Gilberto/Bring Back The Love (The Remixes)
    4. Moment Of Truths (The Morning After) – Big La vs. Todd/Water… Under The Bridge
    5. Ocean Air – dZihan & Kamien/Freaks & Icons
    6. As Possible (feat. Baschin) – Chris Zippel/Genuine Horizon
    7. Life and How to Do It – All India Radio/Permanent Evolutions
    8. Kukuma Bazar РJens Buchert/Caf̩ de la Mer
    9. Curiosity – Amba/Amba
    10. Song for Olabi – Bliss/Quiet Letters

    “Ocean Air” – dZihan & Kamien/Freaks and Icons

    All the tracks featured in this edition can be found via Amazon, iTunes, and the various sources offered by discogs.com. For those of you on Twitter, feel free to follow The Sunday Soundtrack. I’d appreciate it.

    Enjoy all your chilled out moments…

    ::: oceans of rhythm :::

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