Atmospheric piece of music jim, great playing and control.
Zoltán Jakab
Great piano playing plus you published it in the group the
day when I turned 60. Thank You for the present. I suggest you like Chick Corea.
Tom Hendricks
I enjoyed the mix of different parts or moods. Never
predictable with lots of twists. The front reminded me a bit of Keith Jarrett,
then you went through those inventive change ups! Was this structured, sort of
structured or improvised? Well done! If you have a YouTube version, I'll
nominate it for Shared Secrets - Facebook page for YouTube Playlists if you
like.
Marty Nolan
That’s terrific. Really picks up the vibe of the video
shown. Didn’t escape me that it slowed down to the pretty woman in the bikini.
But that was the music reacting to the visual. All good.
Neil Fromm
Very polished keyboard play with that always varied and
dynamic jazz feel. Love the sound of the piano in this piece Jim.
Jim Barrett
Ah this was a treat for the ears and I especially loved the
later stages from just before when them gals were walking around in a circle
there to the end. It was all brilliant but there especially had me transfixed.
It could have been an instrumental Joe Jackson piece.
Wonderful playing and composing. Thank you Jim. A delight to
listen.
***
“Atlantic Avenue” was inspired from the countless trips down
Atlantic Avenue usually on the way to a shoot. This road travels along the
Virginia Beach Oceanfront and whether it’s in season or off, this is a very cool
stretch of road. At the bottom end just a block or two west lies the Creative
Arts District.
The left hand work is based on a Jazz improv that I worked
on years ago. This is another one of those, “Composing over my pay grade again”.
But, it not only keeps you sharp, but expands ones ability, no complaints here.
This track has been featured in some of my video projects
and will also be used during the 2025 /26 Astrophotography Short Film Projects.
Will be updating our web sites with further info, for now here are the dates. All relatively based around the new moons of prime Milky Way Season 2025.
37 years, heck back then I was in my 20’s. Thanks to the
almost endless number of people who helped and contributed along the way. Not
just sponsors but all the captains, mates, guides, publications, television
stations, syndicators, production companies, hotel operators, and tourism
authorities. Big shout out to my family and friends who have been in the boat
with me throughout this quite interesting journey. Never would I ever have had the
these experiences if it were not for JBOTV. Most importantly, thanks to our
viewers, many who still contact me and keep up with us after all these decades.
Stay tuned, we will be right back after these commercial messages.
Featuring the Creative District in Virginia Beach VA.
Rami Laine / Helsinki
That is seriously impressive playing. What is this? Avanta
garde, neo classical?
David Hussein / London UK
Amazing virtuosity. Your command of the keyboard was mesmerizing.
A compelling piece which held my full attention through.
Tom Hendricks / Dallas Texas USA
That was a real pleasure. Fine piano sound for starters, and
you played extremely well with a crisp touch. The music was upbeat like the
art, and unpredictable in a good way!
Ross Friedman / Petaluma, California
That's some beautiful playing Jim on this interesting
composition!
Zoltán Jakab / Slovakia
Great composing and performance, including the visual part
as well!
Jim Barrett / Cork, Ireland
That's very lovely Jim. Great supporting Video too . Some
serious artists there. Natty says Virginia is for Lovers I see! Isn't that what
this group is full of!! Virginia, here we come!! Cool song Jim.
Natty T. / USA
Virginia is for Lovers!
David Reed / Florida, USA
Awesome job I live off cypress, I love Va beach!! Ty
Rob Leanhair / Tübingen, Germany
Great to hear this top notch piano playing and the all those
cool graffiti..
Earnest Mathewson / USA
Wow, Jim, you are something!!! Nicely done and beautifully executed.
Congratulations.!!!
Roger L Whittlesey / Massachusetts USA
Very cool! The playing is very good. An interesting
composition.
J. Lane / Denver USA
Truly a Renaissance man!
Jake Jacobson / Hampton USA
Thats Magnificent!.
Jim Quinn / USA
Just one fine piano player. Great playing and control
Recording, behind the scenes, and story:
During the Fall of 2024, I was traveling several times weekly
down the Virginia Beach Oceanfront as well as the creative arts district
called, “ViBe” At the same time, I was writing a new Jazz / Classical
influenced composition that had several changes and time signatures to it. Also
I had started seeing a beautiful wonderful lady named Melanie all around the
same time.
Jim & Melanie Oyster Farm Cape Charles
New Years 2024
Well, since I was noticing all these fantastic Murals in the creative
district, it dawned on me that they all were very different. Similar in a way
that this new composition was quite different as well. So instead of doing a “Still”
photo shoot, I figure the best way to capture these murals would be by air.
Yes, some creative drone work would be necessary, and this was in Oceana Air
Space, so I had to get clearance. Only had two approved days to film over the
holidays.
Fortunately, good weather was on the agenda and filming went
without a hitch. During shooting, I was sending pics of the different Murals to
Melanie, then turns out she was showing them to the other nurses on the floor.
It was quite fun, and was some of the most enjoyable filming during the year.
Below are some of the stills captured during the shoot.
The music did fit well with the imagery, however the bridge
of the piece towards the end was inspired by the Romantic era, and the effect I
was going for was sort of a carefully timed orchestra effect by using the left
and right hand in different time signatures. The effect worked, but I could not
play it at first. It took a couple of months to get it down, still I can’t play
it every time. The recording was the second take.
This music will be featured on some of my upcoming video and
short film projects. It is playing on social media and is also on my piano
showcase channel.
Recording and Equipment
I get a lot of complements regarding the “Sound” of the
piano. As a lot of musicians will know, piano can be a bear to get the right
sound. One of the things I learned in my electronic music degree, is to
understand how to create presence in a sound. Without getting into too much
boring detail here is what helps with the separation in the piano sound that
does add a lot of presence to the overall sound effect.
A) Cut the track live to tape, with no edits. Basically, practice
the piece until it can be recorded in one take. This helps in overall flow and
dynamics.
B) Once the take is finished, in a DAW of your choice, take
the track and double it to another track.
C) Re assign pan on each track, usually I will quarter left
on the right, and vice versa on the left.
D) Assign EQ to one track and leave the other track dry but
with some slight room effects.
E) Effects, studio reverb, but very light.
I make sure before recording to set levels so that there is
plenty of head room with no distortion. Final levels are achieved in post.
Piano / Yamaha KX88 studio controller, Roland JV1080
expanded synth. 64 voice piano patch. M-Track, edited in Audition and Premier
CC. Video / Cannon SL2 with 18 to 200MM and 6D Mark 2 with 17 to 35mm. Air,
Mavic Pro 3 and Mavic AIR 1 both at 24mm
Many thanks to the listeners and big shout out to the artist
who participate in the Creative Arts District. Below are inks to the “Vide”
district as well as our Piano and Jim Baugh Outdoors TV Channel.
