Somewhere off Jazz Street - four albums
Somewhere Off Jazz Street is a an oddly named band. Although certainly using plenty of elements of jazz in their music, they don’t really swing and have a somewhat mournful, almost funereal sound. But it’s an interesting sound like the calm before the storm or a blues dirge. They are also a little mysterious as no personnel listing can be found on the site. It is hard to say whether this is good ensemble playing or just darn good mixing. There is a good amount of electronics and keyboard but the defining sound is a strong and steady jazz saxophone. This is what keeps it from being just another downtempo jazz hybrid.
There are four free and legal albums available from their site. Greetings From the End has some of the more mellow offerings. “Where The Living Ain’t Easy” takes a modified first line from “Summertime” and go off on its own. “Pawns of the Game” has a more acid jazz feel. Road To Somewhere is decidedly more modern and flirts with the avant-garde. The opening “And The Angels Said” has a nice built amount of tension throughout while “Enter Orbit” allows the project to try out a little free playing.
The other two albums are Saxophone 1.1 and Stories From Midnight Street, both offering the same cool but somber style. “Back to The Cool” from Saxophone 1.1 has a ultra-hip sound that borrows a bit from Miles Davis experiments in the 70s. Stories From Midnight Street is my favorite album for its film noir feel. If anyone decides to do a 21st century of the TV series Naked City this would be the soundtrack.
All four albums are available in 128kbsp MP3. Unfortunately there is no way to get a higher quality CD. However, if you enjoy the music, support the artist by giving them a donation.
Download
Road to Somewhere
Greetings From The End
Saxophone 1.1
Stories From Midnight Street
from about off the website site:
Somewhere off Jazz Street is music inspired by jazz and the saxophone, but is not jazz or even a real saxophone.
“For years I played jazz piano but found myself listening more to the saxophonists than the piano players.”
“With computer technology and somethng called a soundfont , an audio soundfile that I play from a keyboard , I could finally play the sound I was hearing.”
Every note of the saxophone sound that you hear is played live from the keyboard as are all the variations of the sound.
The other instruments and sounds you hear are also made in the computer. Some are soundfonts played live while others are programmed into the computer.
Comment by Anonymous — December 16, 2008 @ 2:21 pm
In that case, this is some of the most impressive computer music I’ve ever heard. It also explain why it doesn’t swing. Computers have a very difficult time swingin’.
Comment by Marvin — December 16, 2008 @ 2:46 pm
Thanks so much for your write up on my music. Your words are greatly appreciated !!! To clarify the personal on the albums, all the music is played by me using keyboards and computer.
Buz Hendricks
Somewhere off Jazz Street
p.s. Great site you have here !! Thanks !
Comment by Buz Hendricks — December 18, 2008 @ 12:09 am