Month: September 2017

Broadjam Artist: Jeff Roberts
Song: Out of the Gaze of the Evil Eye

Reviewer: Jimmy Michaels

Positive Comments: Really nice! Reminds me highly of Steve Miller in vocal style. Lyrics are great and the general arrangement really rocks like the old days as it should.

Constructive Comments: Vocal mix is too loud/up front compressing out the music in the first verse and chorus, then again on the third verse and chorus. Other than that, it’s perfect otherwise!

Broadjam Artist: RICARDO ALONSO
Song: Ocaso a la Orilla del Mar (Sunset by the Seaside).

Reviewer: Jimmy Michaels

Positive Comments: Really really nice. It sort of reminds me of 80’s era Polish composer/arranger Zbigniew Gorny’s work. Takes me away and makes me vision a beautiful ocean and a sunset over it with the waves gently crashing down. Very peaceful feeling. 5 stars!

Constructive Comments: None – it’s perfect

Broadjam Artist: Chet Nichols
Song: Jezebel (Best Song Award at BJ, #1 Jazz-Smooth Jazz))

Reviewer: Jimmy Michaels & Dick Hieronymus

Positive Comments: Great tune. Classic late 80’s style soft rock radio sound. Love the harmonica solo too. Vocals are great, reminds me of someone but can’t put my finger on it. Love the lyrical concept as well.

Constructive Comments: Over all perfect. Just a little heavy on the bottom end EQ. Other than that, 5 stars!

Broadjam Artist: Chet Nichols
Song: Tell Me What The Count Is @ (was #1 BJ: Rock-Psychedelic)

Reviewer: Dave Haddad (CenterPeace)

Positive Comments: Party vibe at the top with lots of energy. I really like the acoustic playing and the sound is good too… very Steven Stills and I mean that in the best way. The doubling on the vocal sounded really nice. I like the mix.. then the piano enters and really brightens up the sound and widens the spectrum nicely. The song felt wonderful, what a great rhythm and the playing is excellent!! Just beautiful man, congratulations on your talent.

Constructive Comments: I would suggest a low cut filter on the guitar and vocals at 60hz or maybe even 80hz because there are low end pops all over the place. from the beginning I didn’t think you would be able to sustain almost 5 minutes of my undivided attention but you certainly did. Would like to hear percussion but only as an alternative version because it would take a genius player to keep up with you but it would sound amazing.

Broadjam Artist: RICARDO ALONSO
Song: Jungla De Espiritus (Spirit’s Jungle)

Reviewer: Dave Haddad (CenterPeace)

Positive Comments: When the song kicks in it is exciting. Nice parts, very creative melodic passages. Loved when the congas came in, the sound and pattern worked for me and the were placed well in the mix, supportive not loud. Then when the A section comes in again at 3 minutes the groove is better with the percussion filling out. Building the melody up with sounds is working.

Constructive Comments: Rhythm is somewhat repetitive and unimaginative. Definitely a guy pressing buttons probably on a keyboard. I am not thrilled with the hook in the A section, toward the end I wanted to hear a solo over the top, maybe song long notes because it was the same melody just stacking instruments for a long time. Long intro and long fade was unusual.

Broadjam Artist: RICARDO ALONSO
Song: Rock Show

Reviewer: Dave Haddad (CenterPeace)

Positive Comments: Really nice groove, hard driving and the performances are solid…. interesting and fresh, with lots of passion. Love the power chords and all keyboard stuff. Surprises are abundant.

Constructive Comments: Ok the super bad glitch in the beginning is a real turn off, about blew my speakers up. I’m sorry but you can not put music out with audio problems like that, it is just not professional. Song should start at 1 no more than 2 seconds, yours started at 4 seconds. Yes I know the recording is old, just keep these production standards in mind moving forward. So obvious early Genesis – Yes – UK – Dream Theater vibe but the song is very original . Vocals please, song is very interesting as an instrumental but a little bit of vocals would give it much more accessibility.

Broadjam Artist: Wayne Ammons
Song: That’s All Right

Reviewer: Jeff Roberts

Positive Comments: This is a really polished and professional effort all around. Great vocals, solid writing, super tight arrangement, and instrumental performances. There’s some killer guitar work, really solid rhythm section and nice sax soloing. Cool conga work adds a slinky Latin feel to this as does some excellent changes throughout. Well done!

Constructive Comments: The intro sax solo fights for space with the guitar in the mix, and I don’t think the solo there is enough of a statement for a attention grabbing intro. The guitar tone is a bit too dry IMO and I’d like to hear some tubes breathing (think Ray Parker Jr w the Crusaders). I’d argue for being able to hear the snare distinctly.I think most important at all is that it could use more of a lyrical hook on the chorus. “that’s alright” is pretty weak and cliche. But “you just can’t deny” could be really strong if you wrote around that as the hook How about a guitar lick after “some you don’t” Albert or Buddy would do that.Adding a “sister chorus” on backup vocals would be a tremendous boost.It’s very solid work regardless!!

Broadjam Artist: All Around
Song: Hold U ( Prod.By All Around)

Reviewer: Kevin Leon Smith

Positive Comments: I really like the dancehall style beat! Lyrically clean does not hurt this tune or my brain, just the sweet love for a woman. The groove eminds me of Nelly, yet their own flavors on it. The instrumentation and arrangement is in a format similar to what I use for this style of music.

Constructive Comments: Bring the vocals out front a bit more.

Broadjam Artist: Jimmy Michaels & Dick Hieronymus
Song: Ask Me To Dance

Reviewer: Kevin Leon Smith

Positive Comments: Funky disco music never goes out of style! Nothing over the top in this tune! Great vocals telling a story on top of a groovy groove! Tasty disco guitars, flowing strings keys add their dancing textures in the arrangement! Smooth moving couples on the dance floor not breaking a sweat all night long!

Constructive Comments: This is a great song, so all I can say is keep having fun making great music for us!Got anything a bit more funky?

Broadjam Artist: Glenda Jackson
Song: I’ll Follow Jesus

Reviewer: Jeff Roberts

Positive Comments: Nice intro with a catchy melodic hook. And when the vocals start I know it’s Minister Glenda! I’m already a fan of her vocals and writing. Nice introduction of double tracking on verse two–that’s a nice drama building touch. Wonderful bridge with a couple great moments in the diminished passing chord and the major>minor change. The instrumentation is superb. This is one that truly needs to be heard and played & sung in many churches. It’s a graceful and inspiring instant classic. Well done Glenda!

Constructive Comments: I think your vocals need to come up a bit in the mix.