Mbira

Mbira(thumb piano) track with percussion. Improvisation on thumb piano, joined by African percussion and sound effects. Simple melodically, sparse and intriguing. Perfect mysterious and beguiling soundtrack to a travel documentary or Film/TV show referencing traditional African cultures.

      Mbira-JPM_version

Loutar

Improvisation on loutar, an oud-like stringed instrument. Sparse improvised phrases growing to more melodic parts. Hypnotic, melancholy and raw, like the soundtrack to a western movie at first before taking on a North African feel when the melodic sections kick in. Perfect documentary soundtrack.

      Loutar-JPM_version

Samba Street Party

Upbeat percussion track. Drums rolls intro on hand drums. All out African polyrhythms on various drums. Uplifting, celebratory and uptempo, perfect for gripping sports coverage or adverts channelling South American Carnival vibes.

Ad lengths available.

      Samba_Street_Party_Full-JPM
      Samba_Street_Party_60_Sec-JPM
      Samba_Street_Party_30_Sec-JPM
      Samba_Street_Party_15_Sec-JPM
      Samba_Street_Party_15_Sec_v.2-JPM

African Chill

A nice chunk of traditional African vibes, with arrhythmical counter-rhythms, shakers, xylophone and flute, a perfect ad-length tune for family occasions, exotic products, for some reason I’m imagining an oxo advert. There is an anticipation of togetherness and community, and feelings of positivity, lightness, culture and celebration.

      African_Chill-JPM

Susenyos

Instrumental soulful jazz. Theremin effect over woozy brass intro with subtle keyboard chords. Drums and bass guitar enter, brass moves to a more melodic motif. Electric guitar flourishes then electric guitar and vibraphone melody. Change of pace to a more percussive gallop rhythm with horns. Back to bass, floating theremin and lazy brass and a dreamy guitar and brass melody, like bobbing on the ocean. Upbeat, driving rhythmic section on keys, drums and guitar, punchy brass and soulful saxophone build before slowing to a finish. Relaxed, lush, warm and hopeful, would suit a retro Film/TV scene, growing in excitement, tension building, or a romantic moment on screen where tenderness swings to all out love.

Solo Piano version available.

      Susenyos_Full_Band-JPM

Not My Ask

Romantic jazz instrumental. Breathy saxophone melody, softly strummed guitar and gentle piano chords, joined by a selection of strings playing the undulating melodic idea in canon. Saxophone plays out before melting away to sultry breathiness again for the wistful mid-section. Strings wail, clarinet cuts through as the track builds in intensity before a quiet, reduced ending. Beautiful, sensual, intense and thoughtful, like the soulful East African jazz of Étiopiques. Would suit a highly charged, tender, romantic moment on TV/Film, or a reflective advert for something very special.

      Not_My_Ask-JPM

Susenyos (Solo Piano)

Solo jazz piano. Erratic, playful opening chords, a dramatic section exploring the range of the piano and deep, stomping chords before an East African-style jazz solo. Moves to GymnopĂ©die-like lyrical beauty before a dynamic minimalist section. Alternates fluidly between these varying styles, creating a multi-hued collage of moods. Surprising, playful, dramatic and sophisticated, would suit an old-style silent film or a confusing onscreen tug ‘o’ war of emotions.

Full band version also available.

      Susenyos-JPM

Murmuration

Jazz instrumental. Electric guitar phrase repeated, marimba enter with a contrasting motif, dynamic drums and breezy brass on top. Short break before a funky bass, marimba, keyboard and sax solo section. 70s wocka wocka electric guitar with polyphonic rhythms. Psychedelic keyboards continue the 70s vibe with jazz brass. Gentle, bubbling guitar and keys section, drums join and brass re-enters. Ends on a blast of brass. Fun, sophisticated and positive, would suit a documentary, film trailer or some other journey on film, effortlessly moving across borders, styles and genres.

      Murmuration-JPM

African Rhythm Layers

Wonderfully percussive and relaxed, bit like a version of Nick Drake, near a river, on a Kora, building into something more positive and hopeful as it progresses. Wild but gentle, short but sweet.

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Byron

African jazz-style instrumental. Dynamic drum intro, bold brass enters in unison, African-style jazz guitar, Étiopiques-style keys and lively marimba before a siren-like chiming, dissonant brass build, over increasingly frenetic marimba. Returns to jazz groove with a sax solo on top and a repeated melodic motif underneath on keys. Full band to the end. Joyful and excited, reckless and strange at times, would suit an upbeat summer advert, or as evocative mood music for a travel documentary.

      Byron-JPM