MP3 Samples
• Origins
The Origins CD project all started off by being highly inspired and motivated from listening back to recordings of some impromptu jam sessions that the four of us engaged in a couple years prior to making the "Origins" CD. The members of the "Origins" project have another CD titled "OuterLimits" (1996), which also started off from the same roots. As it turned out, "OuterLimits" became a favorite for many listeners, so over a decade later we really felt the urge to reunite to work on a new project.
Our hopes were to create a contemporary-jazz/fusion style album with sophisticated creativity, interactivity, and high level musicianship. But beyond that, we also wanted each tune to be able to stand on it's own merit compositionally, without getting too complex. The four of us all feel that instrumental jazz becomes more appealling to a larger audience by not getting too deep and technical especially in terms of composing a "tune".
For the most part, "Origins" did become a series of groove based tunes that include memorable melodies. Interestingly, each track does take off with it's own unique style. Listening to each tune as the "Origins" playlist progresses is like opening a new tresure chest filled with unexpected surprises. Yet the signature sound of the four musicians ties it all together with tasteful solo sections and musical interaction.
The very first track titled "Taree Ali" was written by Pat Robinson. I remember the very first moment he presented this piece to me, I got excited as I knew his tune potentially could be a great tune to be added to the "Origins" CD project! A year later as I juggled around the order of tunes for the CD playlist, I made the decision to make it the opening track. It really kicks off the playlist in an exciting, uplifting, and inviting way with it's fast tempo 5/4 feel.
Second in the playlist is a more intense piece as the title "Extreme Seventeen" suggests. This is a unique fusion style tune I recently composed (2005). The funky 17/8 groove presented somewhat of a challenge on many levels. Since the downbeat naturally feels like it's late by just one eighth note, it was important to be in command of the rhythm to be able to solo in an effective way.
Tracks three, four and five, sound distinctively different from each other, yet these pieces are the heart of the "Origins" project. These tunes developed in the same unique fashion as several tracks found on the earlier "OuterLimits" CD. This particular quartet loves to hook up for open-ended jam sessions whenever possible. And... something good always comes out of it! The tunes "Serendipitous", "The Time That Was", and "Toot Uncommon", are all the end results of spontaneous improvised on-the-spot composing. Fortunately for us these ideas were recorded and captured. The intuitive and creative forces of all four musicians are revealed while listening back to the carefree jam session recordings. Very often Glenn and Paul would be locking in on a fresh idea with the bass and drums, and moments later Pat and myself spontaneously created harmonic and melodic ideas that ultimately became the cornerstones of these tunes. There seems to be a special beauty about musical ideas that originate when musicians float in the zone of free expression, especially when all the elements connect. That in turn seems to connect with the listener, which is why I feel these tunes add a special dimension to the CD as a whole.
"Brisas Alegre" is a revamp of an earlier recording of the same tune formerly known as "Barbados Dance" found on my CD titled "Sponge". The composition reveals the influences of listening to, and very much admiring the artistry of Carlos Jobin. Paul Deck juxtaposes the bossa rhythm of my guitar chords with a straight rock beat on his drums, which creates an unusual rhythmic interaction. The solo section takes off into a distinctly different harmonic feel as it shifts from the head's minor mode to the solo section's major mode.
Finally, the CD's title track. "Origins", is a composition that I wrote over 20 years ago, but I never had the opportunity before to record it the way it was meant to be. What can I say?... better late than never! Anyway, this tune seems to be just perfect to end the CD. It evokes memories of countless different jazz/fusion artists from the past that have had a significant influence on all the members of the band.
Thanks to Pat, Glenn, and Paul for making this CD come together!
Audric Jankauskas
[Purchase or download the Origins CD]
aujan copyright 2007
