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Viva Valerie


by

JohnMinard

 Genre: Smooth Jazz

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Description
My first Garageband original endeavor.

Written for my wife Valerie. I attempted to combine her gentle moody side, with her Little Latin Loopy Lou side.
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Song Stats
Hits: 876
Comments: 7
Fans: 0
Plays: 128
Downloads: 53
Votes: 2
Uploaded: Jun 26, 2007 - 09:02:58 AM
Last Updated: Jun 23, 2007 - 11:30:07 PM Last Played: May 07, 2009 - 10:43:09 AM
Song License
Creative Commons License:
Attribution-ShareAlike

Creative Commons

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Hardware:
24" iMac 2.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo. 2GB Ram. Best computer I've ever owned
Software:
Garageband: Only software instruments used, but no canned loops. Might be better with headphones to hear percussion and strings.
Comments
Moviz said 885 days ago (June 27th, 2007)
A very...
Interesting mix of moods and a great composition and playing. I like the percussion very much (how did you play the bongos, were they real?) The whole thing is excellent for a first attempt in GB, but the only beef (for what it's worth) is that I wasn't mad on the ultra bass sound which for me was a bit discordant and too loud in parts. Otherwise very enjoyable piece, M
Check out my latest song called Come Back Billie
JohnMinard said 884 days ago (June 27th, 2007)
I hear ya
I searched far and wide for a good bass sound, electric or acoustic upright. They were either too synth or without enough definition and variety. And I think the low strings need improvement.

The bongos were just part of one of the Apple drum kits.
Check out my latest song called Viva Valerie
TobinMueller said 885 days ago (June 27th, 2007)
Little Latin Loopy Lou
I love the intent of the track, the dedication to your wife. Thanks for alerting me to it. Some interesting moments, transitions. I enjoyed how you begin to pass melody between instruments at the outset. The piece, in my ears, is too driven by a chord progression and doesn't display enough melodic movement. Also, there are moments when things seem to get a but rattled and don't quite line up. The bassline lacks a certain variation and doesn't respond to the hints of harmonic changes in the right hand (some of which are very cool) the way I wanted it to do. Overall the arrangement is perhaps too quantized (giving it a stiff feel). But the overall arranging is fun and lighthearted and the track is enjoyable to listen to. Thanks again for letting me know about it and your request for honest feedback.
Check out my latest song called Forge A New Life (MJRF)
JohnMinard said 884 days ago (June 28th, 2007)
Appreciate your points
Tobin,

Your comments were very instructional. I look forward to reworking it with those in mind. Coming from a percussion background, I need to learn how to let the melody loose from the foundation. And I see how I can easily jazz up the bass in the B section, and naturalize elements of the performance.

Thanks a bunch!
Check out my latest song called Viva Valerie
JohnMinard said 884 days ago (June 28th, 2007)
Appreciate your points
Tobin,

Your comments were very instructional. I look forward to reworking it with those in mind. Coming from a percussion background, I need to learn how to let the melody loose from the foundation. And I see how I can easily jazz up the bass in the B section, and naturalize elements of the performance.

Thanks a bunch!
Check out my latest song called Viva Valerie
jiguma said 884 days ago (June 28th, 2007)
John ..
.. I like the start - the triangle is a very under-rated instrument. Tobin's comment about the changes in melodic instrument at the start is something I would never have nailed, but I agree. I like how the song picks upwith the extra percussion and RH piano - nice break up in the middle. Not crazy about the bass sound, and it's a little too rigid to sound natural. Basically I agree with what Tobin has said - he's certainly someone who knows what he's talking about in piano based music (or any music when it comes down to it).
I think this is an adventurous piece, which almost came off - with more experience in GB (Maurice mentioned it's your first GB piece) I expect we'll be hearing some excellent music from you. I liked the slow pan of the piano at the end.
Good post,
Neil
Check out my latest song called Lost In Translation (w Mike Watkins)
JohnMinard said 884 days ago (June 28th, 2007)
Thanks Neil
I appreciate hearing comments from seasoned musicians. I'm mostly just in it for fun, and to learn more about the melodic/harmonic aspects. Cheers!
Check out my latest song called Viva Valerie
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Genre Info
Smooth jazz is generally described as a genre of music that utilizes instruments (and, at times, improvisation) traditionally associated with jazz and stylistic influences drawn from, among other sources, funk, pop and R&B. Since the late 1980s, it h

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