Just a quick post to share the newly updated version of one of my early tunes, Scaramouche!   As mentioned, I’ve been working with my friends at New York Brass to provide “live record” brass and wind orchestrations/recordings for each of my tunes, and we’re almost finished – just one more after this.

I gave them quite a bit of creative license on this one because I was still learning how to use a MIDI wind-controller back when I wrote and recorded this tune; as usual they didn’t disappoint.  For comparison, you can listen to the original version still loaded in the Player Widget above; I won’t be replacing it until we finish the last tune and send them out for mastering.

Separate note, turns out Danny Flam (from New York Brass) is visiting Southern California on business this week so we get the pleasure of meeting in person!  This is an amazing new world we live in where so much can be done “virtually”…  but when the opportunity presents itself, face-to-face is always preferred.

I must admit, I was a tad bit skeptical that Danny (at NewYorkBrass.com) could do much with this one because there’s lots going on in this fusion tune!   But, he and the boys didn’t disappoint – at least in my opinion!   Here is a quick and dirty remix of the tune after adding their tracks: a brass and horn ensemble and a solo alto sax:

I was particularly impressed with the sax solo and how it interweaves with the lead guitar, and crescendo on the brass ensemble during “Verse 2″ is delicious!   And what about that ending?

No question about it, I’ll have these guys kick some brass into the remaining tunes from my “immense catalog” (Mischief and Scaramouche :)  and keep you posted.  In the mean time, YES, I do have some new music underway and it’s going to be my first published piece in an odd-time signature.  I suppose one of these days I’ll get around to writing a nice mellow solo piano tune – perhaps even record it on my Steinway since she’s not getting the attention she deserves lately.    Like many of you, I’ve been mildly distracted by the challenged economy as of late, but doing this work tonight has reminded me that every now and then, we need a Time Out!

I stumbled upon a recent article that I wanted to share…  Apparently, a CalTech Ph.D. student and hacker extraordinaire, Virgil Griffith, has conducted an interesting study which relates music preferences to SAT scores.  If nothing else, it’s an amusing illustration, and not surprisingly most bands sit within the 1000 to 1150 score range because that’s fairly representative of average scores for college bound students – if memory serves me correct.

For me, the problem with this inferred relationship between intelligence and musical preference is that intelligence remains relatively static in relation to musical preference(s), which evolve over time.  For example, Jazz is listed on the low-end of the spectrum – but clearly, the majority of jazz aficionados are well beyond an age bracket coping with SAT scores.  And, with all due respect to Beethoven hovering alone in the rare air of north of 1350, if you’re obsessed with Ludwig at this age, you probably need to get a life and savor your youth!   I’m also intrigued by the apparent gap between 1250 and 1350 – how can that be so?   I hope that doesn’t imply being “tasteless” because that’s about where yours truly landed :(

Credit: musicthatmakesyoudumb.virgil.gr