Legacy #5 (Smooth Jazz)

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Llarion

Llarion

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I joined the EastWest family yesterday, getting a massive suite of orchestral and other instrument samples/plugins. Here is my first foray into the suite - I used Hollywood Strings Gold to re-arrange and re-cut the strings on my new recording called Legacy #5... It's still got some tweaking to get the strings exactly where I want them, I think, but I wanted you to hear what they sound like. I'm so in love... :D

Legacy #5
 
It was great to listen to your music after many years :)
I had Garritan's Orchestra a while back, but I found out I am really not that good in that genre so I don't think I've used that in years :)
You work sounds very good, you're not just a bass player :)
 
Sounds great to my ears. That little build up at 2:15, the brass should be a bit more present there I think. At least that's what I was expecting. Overall very nice atmosphere and the flute sounds great but the bass is suite.
 
I don't have a ton of experience of soft strings, but the impression I get from this piece is that the strings are so...background. That's no deal breaker, cuz that's their role of course, but live strings would be better, right? I'm not suggesting live, but how can you tweak these guys closer to live? Maybe make them less pretty? Dirty 'em up a bit? Make 'em stand out more. Step out of that wallpaper shift, darling, and show me what you look like. Sort of.
 
I most enjoyed your little bass forays up to the higher notes. Nice tone!!
I think the strings are where they should be for a smoooooth track like this.
The string arrangements are lush and as would be expected for a "classic" smooth jazz piece.
Have you listened to/considered the style of arrangement that Scott Walker had on his classic albums? I can't recall the bloke's name (well actually lady now - he went through the change) but they mix lush with unexpected and unconventional ideas.
I only suggest listening to the stuff because the melody on this would work well with a Walker baritone & therefore slightly devious strings.
Lovely stuff Phil!
 
pronoise said:
It was great to listen to your music after many years :)
I had Garritan's Orchestra a while back, but I found out I am really not that good in that genre so I don't think I've used that in years :)
You work sounds very good, you're not just a bass player :)
Click to expand...
The mad Turk!!! How ya been, man?? SO glad to see you! Yeah, things have come a long way since the MP3.com days, huh? Do easy girls still love you? :)
 
Manslick said:
Sounds great to my ears. That little build up at 2:15, the brass should be a bit more present there I think. At least that's what I was expecting. Overall very nice atmosphere and the flute sounds great but the bass is suite.
Click to expand...

Thank you sir! Stacey is so wonderful to work with, I love recording her flute... I'm still working my way through these strings to figure out how to get them to cut without being overbearing...
 
dobro said:
I don't have a ton of experience of soft strings, but the impression I get from this piece is that the strings are so...background. That's no deal breaker, cuz that's their role of course, but live strings would be better, right? I'm not suggesting live, but how can you tweak these guys closer to live? Maybe make them less pretty? Dirty 'em up a bit? Make 'em stand out more. Step out of that wallpaper shift, darling, and show me what you look like. Sort of.
Click to expand...
Thanks! This was my very first foray into these strings, I'm just scratching the surface of what is a endlessly deep pool of expression and nuance; I just have to learn how to channel it. My intent is, as you say, to have them be background warmth, but to have them occasionally announce their beauty with a well-placed line. I have to figure out how to get multiple articulations working so that the faster runs are less legato... It's a VERY fine line, I discovered, between them being there not enough and there too much, so for the moment I'm erring on the side of caution; but I feel ya in wanting them to have their own voice in the song! :)
 
rayc said:
I most enjoyed your little bass forays up to the higher notes. Nice tone!!
I think the strings are where they should be for a smoooooth track like this.
The string arrangements are lush and as would be expected for a "classic" smooth jazz piece.
Have you listened to/considered the style of arrangement that Scott Walker had on his classic albums? I can't recall the bloke's name (well actually lady now - he went through the change) but they mix lush with unexpected and unconventional ideas.
I only suggest listening to the stuff because the melody on this would work well with a Walker baritone & therefore slightly devious strings.
Lovely stuff Phil!
Click to expand...

Thanks Ray! I haven't heard Scott(?) Walker, but it sounds like material I very much need to seek out if what you say is true. "Devious" strings. I like that a lot. Really. I'm gonna keep that mindset. :)
 
Montague Terrace is a lot more accessible than some of his more recent stuff. I have Tilt, but don't find myself listening to it as often as its excellence deserves. I'm just shallow. Those tunes you posted are really beautiful, Ray. Looks like it's time to amazon.

Sorry for the excursion into Scott talk.

But yeah, listen to the strings on Plastic Palace People - there's no way you could approach that sound with software. You need a real band in a real room with real mics.
 
The best short cut to Scott is Boy Child - It was my intro & in the following couple of months I quickly bought 1 - 4. As is said - "No Regrets". Mind you I'm not a Brothers fan!
I have his last few - they are hard work but worth the effort though they certainly aren't on repeat - once a year is good.
Matching the sounds would be a difficult task but letting the arrangements flavour you thoughts and own work is def. worth the price of entry.
 
Don't go for the bait. Scott Walker has a big budget and entire orchestras at his disposal. You'll just get depressed. :D
 
Nice track. Although I'm a metal guy, I enjoy all kinds of music. In this particular case, the song is finely mixed. Concerning the strings, sound pretty convincing to me.
 
Llarion said:
The mad Turk!!! How ya been, man?? SO glad to see you! Yeah, things have come a long way since the MP3.com days, huh? Do easy girls still love you? :)
Click to expand...
I am doing fine Phil.
I am a little older and hopefully wiser now.
As a father of two young boys, life has changed quite a bit for me, in other words no more easy girls :)
 
pronoise said:
I am doing fine Phil.
I am a little older and hopefully wiser now.
As a father of two young boys, life has changed quite a bit for me, in other words no more easy girls :)
Click to expand...

Well, the matiuruty and skill in your material certainly reflects your gained experience! :D
 
I'm envious of anyone who still has the genius of Scott 3 and Scott 4 to discover from fresh. The Old Man is Back Again and Seventh Seal are two of my favourite songs of his. I could live without the Jacques Brel covers though...

The strings and flute sound great on this track Llarion. Stylistically it's a bit smooth for my taste, but you've clearly got plenty of skill putting all this together so well. Well done on the arrangement and the mix - it's all blended very well.
 
You're right Rob,
The joy of finding Plastic palace people & then digging around to find more songs about balloons and underpants sung so beautifully and luxuriated in Stott's arrangements was immeasurable.
I'm OK with the Brell stuff but I like Brell anyway.
A good stereo is def. the prime accessory for discovering Scott though.
Oh, there's a mono mix of one of his classics on you tube - a very different mix of the same arrangement - it was exciting to hear - geez, am I easily pleased.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfgjlBR--uA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM1_kjlNQQs
 
I'm confused. Your title, Legacy, says smooth jazz. But the song is not a jazz rhythm.
Rod Norman, jazz drummer and engineer

Llarion said:
I joined the EastWest family yesterday, getting a massive suite of orchestral and other instrument samples/plugins. Here is my first foray into the suite - I used Hollywood Strings Gold to re-arrange and re-cut the strings on my new recording called Legacy #5... It's still got some tweaking to get the strings exactly where I want them, I think, but I wanted you to hear what they sound like. I'm so in love... :D

Legacy #5
Click to expand...
 
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