Second Takes, 11 steps to madness. Improvised Jazz-ish album

jo92346

This album is a series of jazz-ish improvisations recorded last month (except a couple piano pieces). I say "improvised" in the sense nothing was planned, I didn't write anything: I just improvised each part in a first take. An exercise I'm not really used to.

Those first takes (that you can find on this forum) were sometimes less than drafts, not developed enough, with many hesitation, notes that shouldn’t be there or too many useless notes, various imperfections and the never happy me
Instead of rewriting, re recording and correcting everything, which is my usual process, I just did a few rehearsals trying to improve each track, before eventually recording a second take and keeping mostly as is (to the exception of a few notes corrections and the mixing). Still far from perfect, but it sounds cleaner while keeping the spontaneity of each music.

This is not background music or easy listening.

All made in NS2, Audiolayer, Neon audio editor and soundpaint on the MacBook.

This is not background music or easy listening.
The drafts are on my Youtube channel.
You can listen on most streaming platforms including:
YouTube Music, Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Bandcamp.

Edward_Alexander

Nice! Sounds great!

jo92346

Thanks @Edward_Alexander

raimundoarriagada

@jo92346 said:

This album is a series of jazz-ish improvisations recorded last month (except a couple piano pieces). I say "improvised" in the sense nothing was planned, I didn't write anything: I just improvised each part in a first take. An exercise I'm not really used to.

Those first takes (that you can find on this forum) were sometimes less than drafts, not developed enough, with many hesitation, notes that shouldn’t be there or too many useless notes, various imperfections and the never happy me
Instead of rewriting, re recording and correcting everything, which is my usual process, I just did a few rehearsals trying to improve each track, before eventually recording a second take and keeping mostly as is (to the exception of a few notes corrections and the mixing). Still far from perfect, but it sounds cleaner while keeping the spontaneity of each music.

This is not background music or easy listening.

All made in NS2, Audiolayer, Neon audio editor and soundpaint on the MacBook.

Made it first available on Bandcamp: https://josephbalson.bandcamp.com/album/second-takes-11-steps-to-madness

I really want more info about how you recorded it. Liking a lot while i'm listening to it!

jo92346

@raimundoarriagada : There is really not much more info...

For the piano pieces I just played them while recording in NS2 with one of my custom piano patch in audiolayer, that made the first take. Then I rehearsed until I could play again the same music, keeping the vibes and spontaneity, getting rid of all some of the imperfections of the first improvisation.

For the other pieces, exact same process, just with a little bit more tracks. All the sounds are my patches in Obsidian or Audiolayer. Edit: I play first an invisible track that I won't export, usually with an electric piano with the basic harmonic, rhythmic and melodic structure, that gives me a reference when I play the other instruments.

Soundpaint flute and sax don't work on iPad, so I recorded them on the MacBook and imported the audio in NS2 with Non audio editor.

Mixing was basic, mastering even more basic. There is absolutely nothing special in these recordings, all is very basic.

GeoTony

A thing of beauty… you should be proud of this 🙏
I’m a big fan of the ECM record label and you’d fit right in there…

NeuM

@jo92346 said:
@raimundoarriagada : There is really not much more info...

For the piano pieces I just played them while recording in NS2 with one of my custom piano patch in audiolayer, that made the first take. Then I rehearsed until I could play again the same music, keeping the vibes and spontaneity, getting rid of all some of the imperfections of the first improvisation.

For the other pieces, exact same process, just with a little bit more tracks. All the sounds are my patches in Obsidian or Audiolayer. Edit: I play first an invisible track that I won't export, usually with an electric piano with the basic harmonic, rhythmic and melodic structure, that gives me a reference when I play the other instruments.

Soundpaint flute and sax don't work on iPad, so I recorded them on the MacBook and imported the audio in NS2 with Non audio editor.

Mixing was basic, mastering even more basic. There is absolutely nothing special in these recordings, all is very basic.

Nothing wrong with basic. Ofttimes the simpler, the better. These are very nice ruminative pieces.

LinearLineman

Well done, Joseph. My favs were Empty Spaces and Immovable Oceans…. the jazziest for me. I like how you bend the boundaries, and that you produce in different genres. Thanks for posting, bro, and have some happy holidays, too.

jo92346

Thank you @GeoTony , @NeuM, @LinearLineman .
I'm afraid my holidays are fucked up. Because of a train strike (guess what country I live in) it was impossible for me to reach the airport in time to get my flight. Weather made any other option impossible. And prices during this period also made impossible to book another flight less than 12hours before take off. Had to cancel the flight, hopping for maybe a partial refund, and booked another flight in January, but the holidays are fucked up anyways.

MrStochastic

Well made! But also it actually sounds pretty sane to my ears.

jo92346

Thanks @Stochastically . Sorry missed your message.
Sanity might be a relative thing I guess.