Ocean

July 6, 2006 7:39 AM

"Ocean" is an instrumental track from my recording project, James, Not Jim. It's a smooth, melodic, jazz/fusion piece that features electric bass guitar. Some more extensive recording/performance notes are here. Hope you like it. If you do, there are two more tracks over at myspace.com/wheatdesign.

posted by wheat (9 comments total) 2 users marked this as a favorite

Is there supposed to be so much distortion on the bass?
This is definitely more out of the rock/pop world than out of the jazz world, and would probably be better translated into a pop song (but double the tempo, because as it is now it sounds more like the instrumental track for a Hoobastank song).
posted by klangklangston at 8:27 AM on July 6, 2006


klangklangston. There's no distortion on the bass. There is a touch of fret buzz, which is intended (part of the natural sound of a fretted bass). And there might be some speaker distortion. But the bass itself just has a touch of compression and the mix has a touch of reverb.

As for Hoobastank, I don't see the connection, though I'm not very familiar with their work--maybe there's a particular track you have in mind. As to labels, call it instrumental rock, if you think that suits it better. I think most people would put it in the "smooth jazz" category.
posted by wheat at 9:35 AM on July 6, 2006


It sounds like pop/rock because it doesn't use any jazz chords/changes/scales and it isn't swung. There are a couple of blue notes in there but that's all.
posted by unSane at 10:12 AM on July 6, 2006


I'd really be more curious to find what people thought about the track itself rather than on how to categorize the genre, though those are certainly worthwhile points.
posted by wheat at 11:58 AM on July 6, 2006


[tags adjusted in light of unSane and klangklangson's comments.]
posted by wheat at 12:54 PM on July 6, 2006


It feels like it's lacking a counter-melody. The bass part is nice enough but it feels like a backing part. I'm also waiting for a harmonic surprise and don't get one.
posted by unSane at 1:04 PM on July 6, 2006


very, very nice!
posted by quonsar at 2:16 PM on July 6, 2006


I don't really want to re-stir the genre/pigeonhole discussion, but I LIKE that it's more rock/poppy than smoove jazzy (to my ears, anyway). There isn't enough good instrumental pop/rock music being made today. This DEFINITELY goes into that category. Good stuff!
posted by sjarvis at 6:24 AM on July 7, 2006


I just listened to this.

I really enjoyed it, thank you. ^_^
posted by Year of meteors at 4:17 AM on November 24, 2010


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