Month: October 2016

Broadjam Artist: Sam Cooper
Song: JUST NOT GETTING CAUGHT (featuring Ray Dahrouge)

Reviewer: Tim Sharp

Positive Comments: I like the bouncy Island feel of the melody and I do like the instrumentation. The vocal performance has a nice slight rasp to it that I found very pleasing and I’d like to listen to more of your music.

Constructive Comments: Overall the lyric seemed to repeat the same basic thought process over and over. I like the overall idea of the song and the underlying theme, but think that you might explore a little more depth in the story line if possible. But as an overall experience, it was nicely done and enjoyable.

Broadjam Artist: FRED GROSS
Song: Wide Awake

Reviewer: Josh Walker

Positive Comments: This song has an aggressive kind of swing, with some overdrive guitar and forward mixed drum sound. There’s no discernible melody except the improv lines in the sax, but that doesn’t bother me.

Constructive Comments: I’m not a fan of the panned guitar at the beginning – it needs something complementary in the other channel or pan it in the middle. The recording in general needs some clarity and maybe some bottom end as well – to me it sounds very treble/high mid heavy.

Broadjam Artist: Avatar Music Productions
Song: Detective’s Stroll – Jazz

Reviewer: Josh Walker

Positive Comments: This definitely gets the originality award – really nice unconventional sound! The distant mic’ing on all the instruments most definitely adds to it as well. The drum groove and bass sounds great and nice soloing from the tenor sax too! My only complaint is that it’s too short!

Constructive Comments: None here except it could be longer with more exploration.

Broadjam Artist: Denis Hackett
Song: Some Other Day

Reviewer: Josh Walker

Positive Comments: What a nice song! I love the harmony – some non-cliche changes, and the instrumentation is very nice. The melody really has an emotional pull to it, and the arrangement supports that. Great sense of build throughout the song as well! Well done!

Constructive Comments: I think it’s a top notch song, but I put four stars for the recording because I hear some vaguely electric sounds from the piano and drums. If they’re real, they could probably be mic’ed or mixed a little better. Don’t get me wrong, it’s recorded well, but I think it could use a little more refinement.

Broadjam Artist: Brenda Craven
Song: Sunshine Bay

Reviewer: Josh Walker

Positive Comments: I like the harmony and the hook on this arrangement – a really nice, smooth arrangement. The string sounds add to the lushness of the feel as well.

Constructive Comments: The drum programming sounds very tinny with too much high frequency for me – I would either EQ it or back it off some. The sounds in general are obviously synth, but the songwriting itself is nice.

Broadjam Artist: Chet Nichols
Song: I Know Who You Are (Instrumental)

Reviewer: Josh Walker

Positive Comments: I like the laid back groove to start, and the acoustic guitar and harmonica gives a nice folk flavor to the song. The somewhat unusual pairing of organ and acoustic guitar might not come across well to some, but I like it. I like the brushes on the drums to keep the feel simple and uncluttered.

Constructive Comments: I don’t really hear any kind of hook or melody, except in the organ at times. If this is intended to be background music or for TV commercials it makes sense. If not, I would beef up the organ melody or put the melody on another instrument like the harmonica .

Broadjam Artist: Paul Messina
Song: Going Back to Where I’ve Never Been

Reviewer: Josh Walker

Positive Comments: Nice instrumentation and tight groove from the get go! Right on the money for smooth jazz, down to the fretless bass (I first assumed it was synth, but after hearing a minute or two I thought I heard a harmonic, so now I’m not sure). I normally don’t care for electric sounding drums, but this doesn’t get in the way of the song. I really like the breakdown with the string section, although I can tell it’s synth.

Constructive Comments: Nothing major on my part – nice recording, cool sounding musical arrangement, great smooth jazz instrumentation…I put four stars for the recording because I’m not sure how synth sounds will come across if you want to release this for sale. I thought it sounded pretty good, but I know it’s pretty much all synth.

Broadjam Artist: Earl.C.Webb
Song: MISTY

Reviewer: Josh Walker

Positive Comments: This is a nice straight ahead cover of Misty. Everything sounds appropriate for the song, from the instrumentation to the approach.

Constructive Comments: There’s nothing new in this arrangement – it’s the same version done many times before, but it is done very well!

Broadjam Artist: Margie & Art Corey, S. & A. Corey
Song: Shakin’ in My Shoes…….Sax

Reviewer: Denis Hackett

Positive Comments: Not a bad tune, elements of the Great James Brown and the more modern Bruno Mars.

Constructive Comments: I would have varied the vocal track a little more, i.e. some more ups and downs to give it a bit more texture.

Broadjam Artist: Gizzmo aka Miselph
Song: Goin Bac

Reviewer: tobydthesongman

Positive Comments: J. Cole all day feel with a twist of OutKast.

Constructive Comments: Nice song!