Two part brass instrumental. Unsteady jazz piano and erratic saxophone notes begin before settling into a mellow, lyrical piano and sax melody with warm string swells. Slightly off-kilter tuning counteracts the sweetness of the melody, giving it a quirky edge. Dreamlike, nostalgic and strange, would suit a reflective documentary moment or a sentimental but not sickly-sweet Film/TV sequence.
Blog Archives
If You Were Mine
Jazz piano solo. Relaxed jazz chords, sparse and measured. A tense repeated phrase leads to a pensive, sombre melody with hints of hope from high piano notes. A meandering improv-like melody deviates from the original chords progression before a quiet, content ending. Thoughtful, intense and reflective, a moody piano number perfect for a the heightened tension of a romantic love scene. Two star-crossed lovers on separate paths through rain soaked streets. One in Paris, the city of lights, the other in Woody Allen’s New York…will their paths ever meet again?
Wistful Piano (Suite)
Scattered piano melody with electronic effects over a subtle ambient synth drone. Background drone grows in waves of atmospheric noise. The noise grows stronger and harsher, almost swallowing the piano notes. Another string drone swells to finish. Introspective, melancholy and reflective, suiting a moment of pause, reflecting on the past and contemplating the future. Suitable for thoughtful ending in a TV/Doc.
w/ synths: Added other-wordly synth drones and wonky sustained synth lines, giving an off-kilter edge.
w/ strings: Regal orchestral string arrangement on top of piano melody from the start, string lines intersecting in a looping counterpoint.
Sad But Hopeful
Emotional piano-led track. Sparse piano intro, joined by melancholy orchestral strings. String swell, subtle drums and a rhythmic piano motif, growing in confidence and strength. Slowly building, dialogue between strings and piano. Effects-laden piano gives a cold electronic edge. Reflective, yearning and questioning, would suit a TV/Doc sequence of high emotional intensity or a pensive moment on film.
Jonquils
Sweet simple piano and bells, joined by light string section. At 0:30 mins in there is a more pensive section, a feeling of hesitation, “will everything be ok?” but then we are warmly reassured from 1:05 mins in, with instrumentation that builds to a strong and triumphant end. Perfect music for, I don’t know, a feel good video about adopting a puppy? I see puppies. Damn those Andrex adverts.
Silver Moon
Violin-led country-folk instrumental. Folky violin melody with occasional harmonies soars over wistful slide guitar, gentle electric guitar, double bass and steady drums. Warm, fuzzy and sentimental, perfect for a slightly cheesy, Waltons-style, wholesome American TV show or nostalgic advert.
The Art of Being Sneaky
Pink Panther-esque jazz instrumental. Double Bass jazz motif tip-toes across the track, joined by clipped hand drums, Rhodes piano keyboard sound and sound effects. Mysterious, playful and suspenseful, perfect for an onscreen intrigue or a pastiche of retro whodunnits.
13 sec version available.
Pagume
African jazz instrumental. Snaking double bass intro, joined by jazz drums, vibraphone, electric guitar and keyboard playing a rhythmic motif. Change of rhythm, horn blasts then saxophone melody, subtle African-jazz style, effects-heavy electric guitar solo, brass noise before vibraphone motif returns and all play until the finish. Intriguing, exotic and sensual, with hints of Mulatu Astatke and a little Fela Kuti influence, would suit a travel documentary or Film/TV scene evoking the spirit of a hot night in urban 1970s Africa.
Visiting Laila
Solo piano. Jazz chords straight out of a classic movie scene set in a smoky cavernous jazz club. Slow chordal movement at first, sweet and lyrical, moves to a confused romantic motif with some dissonance, chords grow in volume and intensity, a declaration of love. Back to the introductory chords, more relaxed now with hints of unsettling dissonance. Romantic, confused and reckless, a love letter to early jazz, on Film/TV, would suit a La La Land style, modern interpretation of heady jazz-age love.
Uncoupled
Round bouncy synth in an arpeggiated monotone start, joined by organ and cheerful high synth. Building lightly with tiny cymbal strikes, then breaks down into a small organ section. Final section builds to a full beat but still has that gentle laid back feeling to it. Warm, gentle and reassuring.