Month: February 2017

Broadjam Artist: RICARDO ALONSO
Song: Solo El Amor

Reviewer: Peter Toussaint

Positive Comments: Despite not understanding the language (Italian I believe) I get the hang of the songReminds me of the ’90 Italian pop and it does it wellThe hook is very catchy and the instrumentation is done wellThe electro drums were a good choiceNice instrumental break

Constructive Comments: I would not have categorized this as rock but as popOtherwise, in its genre I think this was good

Broadjam Artist: Gladstone Avenue
Song: MY BEAUTIFUL CONNILEE

Reviewer: Peter Toussaint

Positive Comments: Beautifully played, very well recorded Reminds me of Vangelis, also in the arrangement For me the best part is when the drums come in.

Constructive Comments: I would personally not have classified this as rock but more as world music. Then again, it’s a fine line…

Broadjam Artist: FRED GROSS
Song: Momma, Oh Momma

Reviewer: Peter Toussaint

Positive Comments: Nice recording, good guitar workThe vocals are well on pitchProduction sounds pleasant

Constructive Comments: Lyrics are a bit simplistic but appropriate for the genre

Broadjam Artist: Marilyn Hall
Song: America Stands-Country version

Reviewer: Gladstone Avenue

Positive Comments: It was a pleasure to listen to this song. I’m pretty big on the vocal being on key and the vocal never sways…really nice music bed with well thought -out parts—love the piano part. Good lyrics and presentation. I joy to hear.

Constructive Comments: I have no constructive comment. This was VERY well produced.

Broadjam Artist: Bill Dake
Song: Semi-Sweet

Reviewer: Gladstone Avenue

Positive Comments: Nice country song. Good arrangement. Like the subtle touch with the organ and the instrumental backing is good.

Constructive Comments: A little bit too long. A problem I have with many of my songs. Other than that, nicely done.

Broadjam Artist: Chip Salerno
Song: Behind You

Reviewer: Regan Onufry Ryzuk

Positive Comments: The samples and use of instruments are good. The drums are well placed and the background washes are big and well used. The beginning feels like a Xenakis piece. The entrance of the strings at :47 is solid and I would like to hear those rich sonorities developed a bit more. The drama at 1:26 is good and the horn and string entrance at 1:45 is effective.

Constructive Comments: Whenever I hear this type of music is seems useful for a film placement but like much other film music it doesn’t seem to hold up on its own in say a concert setting. I know it’s not meant to so the cue is doing what is supposed to do. Music in the cinema can’t always take a front seat so, so again, the cue works. This piece feels like there could be yet another version that might take more of a front seat with further development and orchestration.

Broadjam Artist: Mark R. Harris
Song: Alone Together

Reviewer: Regan Onufry Ryzuk

Positive Comments: “Alone Together” is a classic standard. The guitar is extremely well played. I would go hear this band live. Very adventurous and. Chord substitution are quite good and I hear the Joe Pass, Pat Martino influence. Perhaps even a bit of Vic Juris too. Nicely done. I was looking forward to hear fours with the drums but the track is fine.

Constructive Comments: I have no constructive comments to add to guys who obviously know what they are doing. This is not negative but other than great soloing, the arrangement is a standard arrangement. Perhaps a unison line for guitar and bass could add to the arrangement before the return to the head or a brief drum break but the track is fine without these subjective concepts. Well done!

Broadjam Artist: Signal 30
Song: Beyond This Life

Reviewer: Regan Onufry Ryzuk

Positive Comments: The entire piece seem like accompaniment. There is no melodic content. The first two or four bar introduction has nothing to do with the rest of the piece. The clarinet seems unneeded. In that type of clarinet use, there should be more than one clarinet. If it is to be one clarinet, it needs to move more independently as its own melody. The clarinet should not end with a suspension of the fourth G natural. It seems like an oversight. There is way too much doubling in the strings too the choir.

Constructive Comments: The recording quality is samples that need work. If the choir patch is intended to be the melody, it needs to be developed more independently from the other accompaniment figures. I would recommend listening to the song cycles of Schubert and Schumann as a place to begin writing for voices with interplay with accompaniment.

Broadjam Artist: RICARDO ALONSO
Song: TRILOGY: PIANO CONCERTO

Reviewer: Regan Onufry Ryzuk

Positive Comments: Piano patches with a string trail off seems unneeded. Obviously in the key of Am with too many white note passages. This seems like a piano piece only. The instrumentation obfuscates any clarity making the piano compete with the samples. It seems desire to be a short concerto type of piece. “When in doubt, leave it out.” If its a piano piece, so be it. If it’s to be orchestrated, there needs to be a reason for the orchestra to be there. I hear glimpses of this concept toward the end and this should be developed further.

Constructive Comments: I would recommend that the composer listen to Bach, Chopin, Prokofiev, Ravel, Scriabin, Stravinsky and others to develop a more sophisticated approach to piano composition and then piano with additional instruments later. Perhaps begin composing duets such as music for piano and flute, or piano and violin and then branch out to trio writing etc.

Broadjam Artist: Lisa Vivienne
Song: Tree of Life

Reviewer: Regan Onufry Ryzuk

Positive Comments: Admittedly, this is not a genre I listen to so I do not feel qualified to submit a thorough critique.

Constructive Comments: The vocal performance is good but the song doesn’t lift or offer anything making it stand out. Perhaps it’s easy, religious listening? I’m not really sure.