Latin Jazz - Disposable Politics

http://bit.ly/Tlv4JS 

This song features Justo Almario - flute, David "Fingers" Haynes - drum programming, Jim Lownes - bass, Jonas Aras - piano.  It reminds me a bit of the material from Chick Corea's "Friends" album which featured Joe Farrell on reeds.

Comments appreciated,
Jonas

I'm glad there's at least one jazz listener left out there!

My Sonar template is somewhat meaningless with the advent of "X".  I'm still on 8.5.3 with hopes that they'll make a "Classic" version in the future ;-D.  

Thanks for your kind words,
J

Great job Jonas!  Love it!

Excellent musicians/playing. I've listened to a bit of Chic, Al Di Meola etc... in the past and this brings back pleasant memories. Well done!!!

@mike_mccue: So you're saying I need a slower release time on the master comp? :-D.  I lowered the bass.  It's one of the hazards when the bass player is the co-leader of the project.  I'll re-post the revised mix in the near future.

Thanks for all the kind words everyone.

J

The aspect I like the least about this piece is the drum programming. Could you not get a drummer to play that groove? It does not sound anything like Chick Corea's Friends album (texture wise it does but not groove wise though) because Steve Gadd is playing on that and that is like a rocket taking off the whole time but what you have is a flat drum groove which is also too far back in the mix. (Steve is loud on Friends especially in Samba Song) I can understand why you have not mixed the drums very loud because maybe they don't feel quite right.

It feels like it is not going anywhere for the whole tune groove wise. It is just sitting in one place groove wise. Mix is not great at times. Flute is a bit loud in places. Nice piano playing from you though but it would have sounded way better with a decent drummer. I feel even your piano playing is held back because of the groove. 

It does not matter how interesting the music is if the groove is not happening and for me I feel it is not happening in this tune. BTW in the other latin jazz tune the drums sound a little better (programming too) although there is still some of this groove lacking going on there as well. Maybe the tempo is too slow not sure. The sax is a bit loud in the other tune and the drums are sitting a little far back as well. No piano chords under the sax sounds good. Listen to Samba Song from Friends on a small speaker and hear how well balanced everything is.

I am just being very critical of one aspect of these pieces. The tunes and harmony sound great. I am a pretty experienced drummer myself, my son is a very good drummer and drums and groove is just one area I am very very sensitive to. And besides I have been listening to a lot of Gadd lately and really after that not much measures up too well.  

great production well done the bar never stops in this forum love it thanks eric

The snare could come up a bit on the melody, but then again, it's brushes.  The bass player's instrument isn't the greatest thing in the world.  That'll will have to wait until we get rich off this recording ;-D

Jazz often leaves me confused about how I should feel, the is was progressive and enjoyable!

Very nice song.  Enjoyed everything about it.  There was some multiple snare going on towards the end of the song that confused me a bit, but overall, great musicianship on this.  And; kudos to the writer and arranger.