MARCH 22, 2011 10:57AM

My Latest Venture Integrating Jazz with Spoken Word Poetry

Rate: 11 Flag
 
Greg and Trumpet 013
 Playing my Conn CONNstellation horn

(Click on "Sistah" and it will take you to the song.  I tried embedding the HTML code for the player and for some reason it won't allow me.  Maybe I'm just a bit rusty on my OS skills...)
 
A couple of months ago I was approached by one of my musical genius friends brotha.deep, a well known composer, arranger, producer and musician from within the jazz and funk genres.  He proposed to me to add some horn lines to a spoken word poetry EP he's producing.  I thought why not?  I am very open minded to musical genres and I love poetry.
 
Although this vibe isn't finished, this is a sample representation of what we're trying to achieve.  Although it says "Sistah" by Greg Randolph above, that is because I posted the link from my SoundCloud account.  The music was written by brotha.deep and lyrics by the poet Nile.  I wrote the horn lines and performed only those.  Honest feedback as to the project is welcomed and needed.
 
Nile- Spoken Word Poetry
brotha.deep - bass, drums
Oskar Cobo - keyboards
Greg Randolph - muted trumpet
 
Namaste' to each of you.

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I'm not sure if anyone will catch this, but I hope someone will get it.
:-)
Cool stuff, Greg. It's been way too long since we've seen you around these parts. You are missed. Thanks for this post and thanks for sticking around.
the horn is hot, the words subtle and velvet sexy, the tone just right, ahhhh...marvelous like "Americans, unknowingly, live part of every day in the house that Satch built" But you maust have known when you did!

-- noted critic Leonard Feather
Greg! My man! How the hell are you? Cool stuff. R
G.
the vibe is strong
the melody dances with the verse phrasing
but bump up the vocal a bit

also: i've been following your music on FB
your trumpet play is smooth like velvet
it is always a pleasure to be listening

and this place and you? some more coolness?
I liked the sound and concept. Is it possible to post the lyrics? Welcome back.
Love your horn, really nice.
Nice! my son uses SoundCloud as well!! rated
Hey man! How's the health issues?
Makes me want to drive all night.

Critique as requested: Trumpet is smooth. Mute is hypnotic. Bass line glides and defines the pace. It's snappy. Vocals lost, need to come up a little.

FYI: Swing by Chigaco Guy...his tribute to Pinetop Perkins who passed yesterday.
Walt! It's great to see you!!! I only pop in on occasion. I've had some health struggles lately which has limited me even more. I'm glad to see you are here and doing well.

Love that quote Elijah. Thank you. I thought the horn accented the words. We will probably decrease the gain on the horn in spots that overlap the lyrics, but overall I think it adds the sass needed.

T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've missed you my friend. Just working and being a husband, father, son, brother, friend and trying to stay sane in an insane world my man. So glad I'm not on here with all that's going on. I would kill myself. :-)

Thanks Chuck. I agree on the vocals. We will probably gain me down Nile's vocals up a bit. Those are the kind of constructive comments I want to hear. Fred White, keyboardist from Acoustic Alchemy will be doing the final mixing and Wayne Cobham (brother of drummer Billy) will be playing horn on some of the cuts.
It's a lot of fun.

Thanks Damon. I'll message Nile and see if she'll send them. I don't even have them. :=-)

Thanks Rita, I think the other musicians and vocals kind of make the horn sound better though. It's an accent, not a lead.

Slow Ric. Thanks. I'm still at home recuperating. I have this plug in my thigh and I can't overdo it until the incision heals. I will be on meds forever and ever amen this time, but my heart is strong as an ox. It's just the congenital enlargement of my aorta that causes the problems. I hope you're still going strong and I'm SO glad to hear you won your case!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you Susie! You should turn him on to "MyStage" as well. A friend started it and it has no limits of time restraints. I only posted Sound Cloud here because it's easier to link. :-)

Thanks AKA. I agree. brotha.deep is an unbelievable composer and his bass and drums set the tone. Nile will have her vocals turned up before final mix and my horn turned down. It was my biggest concern.

Thanks all and much love. I have to go elevate and straighten my leg.
Peace
Good stuff!!

I'm so far behind on the news of ze Friends of Tink!!! Just by reading the comments!! Pfffft!!

Glad to hear you're doing!!!

Rated!!!

(lately, I've been a bad friend on things like FB and general emails, I sorry!!!! To everyone...except the dufuses who keep sending me the Requests for F*ckbook!! I can't do that, wifey gets mad, that's her site!! :D)
Ha! Thanks Tink, I understand.
Oh you have talent and then some. Bravo!