Month: January 2017

Broadjam Artist: Chet Nichols
Song: Out Of The Blue (Instrumental – from “Red Mesa Sunset”)

Reviewer: Floyd Kelly

Positive Comments: When I listen to New Age music, I like to close my eyes while I imagine things based on the music taking me on a journey. While listening to this smooth vibrant instrumental featuring a skilled pianist, and some nice strings, pads and percussion – it took me to a land far away where fields of grass grow tall, sunshine’s rays beam down on trees full of apples and birds of the wild go about their daily lives on the river’s flows.

Constructive Comments: Is this a cover? Anyways, it sounds nice, very pleasant. I took off a mark on originality because I thought this was an instrumental that originally has lyrics. If I am wrong, please forgive me, please, …. please. 🙂 We hope you have a wonderful new year, we played this three times in our review and had a pleasant experience. Would be nice to hear on The Weather Channel 🙂

Broadjam Artist: N.Jones, Music Designer (Protilius Productions)
Song: Deep Rising (2013)

Reviewer: Floyd Kelly

Positive Comments: I like to listen to this kind of electronic ambient music for when I am doing my neo-noir macaroni art I go through lots of macaroni. I’m going to put this on my playlist for later when I’m making up a batch of replicant figure sugar cookies. My brother says this is good ambient music for when he is going through his “Blade Runner” memorabilia on Friday nights.

Constructive Comments: Electronic ambient music can be difficult to review. It’s so open in ideas for the listener. I played this three times in my review and I was reminded of the movie “Blade Runner”. And, with that said, I’m not saying anything else 🙂 because that is a compliment.

Broadjam Artist: Marilyn Hall
Song: In Love

Reviewer: Randal Dunkle

Positive Comments: I like the beat and the sound of the drums, beautiful lyrics and a very cool melody. Sounds a little like Cat Stevens.

Constructive Comments: Very good Christian Song – As I listen to it a second time I think I hear a good place for a lead guitar riff however, I think the song sounds fine as it is – best wishes!

Broadjam Artist: Greg Lambert
Song: She Said Yes

Reviewer: Randal Dunkle

Positive Comments: Very good lyrics and great hook – I really like the lead singers voice and I also like the the sound of the mix!

Constructive Comments: Great Christian Song – I really don’t have anything to add, I’d leave this song just the way it is!

Broadjam Artist: Floyd Kelly
Song: Guide Star Pegasi

Reviewer: Randal Dunkle

Positive Comments: Very serene sound that really draws me in, beautiful keyboard work as well. Takes me back to a crystal clear lake of ice with snow all around.

Constructive Comments: Great sounding piece I really hoped to hear drums at the end of the piece that would have really set it up for something great, still a very good sound – best wishes!

Broadjam Artist: Nigel Barrett
Song: Shoot The Breeze

Reviewer: Dave Haddad (CenterPeace)

Positive Comments: Sweet traditional intro, arranged well, minimal. Song builds well. Song builds well to the B section, all elements in the right place. Beautiful space within the arrangement, thank you for not cluttering it up…. hearing too much of that here on bj. Mature song writer, the melodies are solid and supported well by the rhythm section. Nice parts and syncopation. Loved the break at 3:50, well placed and executed.

Constructive Comments: Sax sound is somewhat distracting as it is obviously a keyboard. So glad to not have many comments here… you should see my other reviews!!! Ok the key change was a little cheesy for me, felt the song was so strong that it didn’t need that, took it to a Kenny G element. Only thing which would improve this song would be live instruments (drums, bass, sax, percussion) but that’s just my preference… and I know we are all using elements which we have access too, we can’t afford to hire great players for all our songs…. I get it.

Broadjam Artist: Margie & Art Corey, S. & A. Corey
Song: Now You’re Free

Reviewer: Dave Haddad (CenterPeace)

Positive Comments: Nice fancy sounds. Good arrangement of parts, the second verse comes in the perfect spot. Great space in the song right before the second verse, set it up beautifully!! I enjoyed some of the synth elements panned mostly to the right. Sax is nice in the intro. Some nice Rhodes playing in this song. I like the conga looks, good use of minimal percussion!! It was not cluttered, just right, helped me to hear your message. Very nice ideas in this song, I felt like you got your message across.

Constructive Comments: Low end is a little much, the bass sound could use an eq cut at 50hz and below. Sax part seemed a little random as it was ‘riffing’ through the track. I would have liked to hear a solo section arranged for the sax. Also too much reverb for my taste, I would like to hear the natural tone of the instrument being feature more that the wash of reverb. Art, I would like to hear less reverb on everything, feels like the whole song is lost in a tub of reverb, it’s all over the place (sax, vocals, percussion etc…) for my ears, it’s too much, I need more definition and less washy. Song ended abruptly, maybe try for a longer fade out…. could have kept some of that sax riffing for the end (this would have sounded nice in the reverb wash) but throughout the song I thought there was too much reverb on the sax and vocals. Good song buddy, nice vibe and concept.

Broadjam Artist: HarryBudini
Song: The Very Thing I Despise

Reviewer: Dave Haddad (CenterPeace)

Positive Comments: Song is full of ideas. Like a passion play of sinister jesters with bad intent. Melodies falling in and out, lots of instruments in this track. Nice Rhodes solo in the middle section. Very unique progression of ideas developed and supported by a multitude of instruments.

Constructive Comments: So much delay on the vocal I found it distracting. Hi hat pattern is backwards with the closed hat on 1 & 3, traditionally it should close on 2 & 4. Song gets thick with the horn sound around 1:22. Arrangement is not fluid and changes so often that I have a hard time gathering any one idea. Random percussion hits seem unnecessary. Was not able to understand much of the lyrics… partly do to the effects and partly to the mix. Many different elements competing for front of mix. So many instruments competing it’s hard for me to score on hook. Arrangement is a little too busy and random for my taste, would have liked to hear less ideas and more of a refined hook. I’m feeling like this song is part ‘I have a concise idea’ and part just throwing random stuff in there. The backwards cymbal and hi-hat is killing me, please listen to some jazz music to understand the traditional patterns.

Broadjam Artist: Bill Dake
Song: In The Gardens of Mrs. B (Instrumental)

Reviewer: Dave Haddad (CenterPeace)

Positive Comments: Nice live tracks, reminds me of Mike Stern or Scofield. Nice intro with bass and piano interplay. A good head, a little complicated but nice fusion style tune.

Constructive Comments: Piano sound is a little harsh sounding (noticeable in the intro mostly), could use a roll-off around 3k to 8k. Rhythm section not always together (50 – 1:10, mostly the drums)… very sporadic drum part is distracting, would have liked to hear a more consistent ant part…. then when it does get more consistent around 1:30, there’s more breakdowns. Seems like there’s a lot of competition for the ear, piano, guitar, bass all a little too busy around the 1:35 mark on to 1:50. Little pops here and there (1:00). Felt the song could have gone on for a round of solos when it ended.

Broadjam Artist: Mark R. Harris
Song: Looking for an answer

Reviewer: Dave Haddad (CenterPeace)

Positive Comments: Good blend of instruments and harmonic ideas. I like the piano and nice changes around 1:45. Song conjures up a longing of missing someone. Live shaker adds to the real feel of the track. Song is full of melodic ideas.

Constructive Comments: Mix is heavy in the low end… there’s a lot of low end sounds, the bass and another bass sound which needs some eq roll-off around 50hz. Guitar arpeggio could be more pronounced. I understand that you are a bass player but the amount of low end instruments is overpowering the mix. There is noise in the beginning before the track starts, try for a more professional presentation… These little things such as noise before the song starts and in the end bring down the production value. Percussion (shakers) was a bit distracting being panned so far to the right. Hooks were good but ever changing not giving me a chance to hone in on a theme, except the A section (main theme) was good.