Exceptional music from exceptional musicians

The Very Best of SoundCloud IV

Best Of SoundCloud V

Best of 2024

Favs by Brian James McDonald

Timeless Gems

I hope you enjoy my latest playlist. I admit to being a little "playlist" happy but for me I just hear so much good music here that I want to have it all easily accessible. These are the tracks I listened to starting o Friday. (The picture is of a beach here in San Diego taken with my phone with no effects.)

Weekend Listens

Best of SoundCloud 2

Smack bang in the middle of a pandemic after almost a year of no gigs, Lachy Doley decided to get all his favourite people together and record and film something really special.
On his 43rd birthday they played 2 big sets in front of an audience of 20 at Sydney’s iconic Studios 301. A four piece horn section, three piece vocal section, his brother Clayton guesting on piano, two feature lead tracks one by Mahalia Barnes and one by Karen Lee Andrews. All together a killer 14 piece band and a new highlight of Lachy’s career.

Musicians:
Lachy Doley - Hammond C3 Organ, Whammy Clavinet, Lead Vocals
Joel Burton - Bass
Jackie Barnes - Drums
Karen Lee Andrews - Lead Vocal (Track 5) Mahalia Barnes - Backing Vocals, Lead Vocal (Track 11)
Clayton Doley - Piano (Track 5,8,14), Lead Vocal (Track 8)
Franco Raggatt - Guitar (Track 7,9,11,14)
Ray Cassar - Trumpet
Matt Keegan - Tenor Saxophone
Anthony Kable - Trombone
Andy Bickers - Baritone Saxophone
Juanita Tippens - Backing Vocals
Bek Jensen - Backing Vocals
Vincent Sebastion - Percussion

Studios 301 Sessions

I'm A Man

Gianni Micciola live at Magazzino di Gilgamesh - Turin (Italy)
for info write to :
gianni.micciola@gmail.com

Gianni Micciola - Bulldog

a simple melody (short)

Copyright 2023 Brian James McDonald (ASCAP)
Copyright Hoon Toons Publishing (ASCAP)
All Rights Reserved Worldwide

Alchemy

Frans Beelaard Recorded in Modesto, Ca. Steve Roy Bass, Drummondville, Canada. Sergio Parraga, Congas, Bongos , Bells. Spain.  Featuring Alto Saxophone solo, Gibson 335 Electric Guitar solo. Fender Rhodes Electric Piano solo. Gibson L5 Electric Guitar Rhythm. Acoustic Bass. Steinway Acoustic Piano Rhythm. String Quartet, Violin, Viola, Cello, Bowed Contra Acoustic Bass. Trap Drum set. Percussion Congas, Bongos, Bells, Cowbell, Tambourine, Zildjan 22" Crash & ride  Cymbals.

Cannery Row

Reflections

Copyright 2023, 2024 Brian James McDonald (ASCAP)
Copyright Hoon Toons Publishing (ASCAP)
All Rights Reserved Worldwide

Coatbridge, Scotland 1901 (Piano Improv)

Jonas Brogren: keyboards & production
Dan Boissy: tenor sax
Luke Markham: drums
Jens Fredholm: guitar
Karl Hugosson: bass
Magnus Brogren: percussion

Fuse

Frans Beelaard...tracks, Recorded in Modesto, Ca.  Steve Roy...Bass, Drummondville, Canada. Sergio Parraga... Percussion, Spain. Horn Section, Trumpet, Alto, Tenor Saxophones. Fender Rhodes Electric Piano solo. Roland Bass Synthesizer. Vibraphone Rhythm. Fender Rhodes Electric Piano Rhythm. Gibson 335 Electric Guitar solo. Trumpet solo. Trap full kit Drum set. Percussion, Timbales, Cowbell, Tambourine, 22" Zildjan Ride & Crash Cymbal.

Power House

Oh yes i think this stuff is grooving, great work from my 
Friend Joerxworx,https://soundcloud.com/joerxworx
Some old guys shaking there Bones, yeeeaaarrrr, 
Thanks to the big Fish Orchester

Lunatics 127 Some OGs In Town joerxworx & Ratzzz

THE BLUE DREAM

In a dream-like world this track finds it's place, in a way it made me think of the surrealist works from the twentieth century by artists like Dali, Magritte, de Chirico, and Dutch painter Carel Willink, for whose nephew I have worked as architect. I hope I can take you along this little dream journey...

-Dan

Original music played, written and arrangement for three acoustic guitars by Daniël van den Berg, December 2023.

Guitar: Joan Cashimira, modelo 145, spruce top w/ cocobolo sides and back, Gata de Gorgos (Alicante), 2015 Recorded using an Apogee MiC. Mixed in Auria, masterered in Auria and Final Touch
Cover Art made using Midjourney AI

The Blue Dream | Dan van den Berg

Some more fun with Pinner to start the new year.  Check out and follow all his guitar goodness - https://soundcloud.com/pinner  we've recorded over 100 tunes together and always a great time.\:  https://soundcloud.com/jamie-rhind/sets/smokin-with-stephan-stephan

Thanks as always for your generous time listening, for your comments and for your shares

Rain Dance - Stephan Lipinski / Jamie Rhind

Where You Least Expect It (for Piano)

In The Early Hours (for Piano)

Copyright 2024 Brian James McDonald (ASCAP)
Copyright Hoon Toons Publishing (ASCAP)
All Rights Reserved Worldwide

Lost Summer Night

Yutori is the Japanese concept of consciously slowing down to allow us to savour the world around us.

Yutori

Piano Fountain

Somerled

"Silhouette" Poem: Peter aka @user-264930040
Piano and Arrangement of Astor Piazzolla's "Oblivion" : Debra Bueskinghttps://soundcloud.com/debra_buesking
Vocal Composition and Vocals: @Oddrun-Eikli
cover design: Debra Buesking.
Studio Mix: @Arne-Hiorth

Thank you Peter, Debra, and Arne for this moment to ponder "Life's Silhouette" together but from different vantage points. 

Silhouette

Like the fjord, edging my eye
Material reward can pass me by.
Ice to sea, slowly but sure,
Floating free, flowing pure.
Whispered smile, bears no regret,
Ponder a while, on life’s silhouette.

Solace of breeze, whiffles my hair.
All at ease, by waters fair.
Mirrored of cloud, sparkled of sun,
Where two is a crowd, I’ve a table for one.
Nature’s fine art, devoid of defect,
Embraces my heart, through life’s silhouette.

Treasured time, in mind’s recall.
Love sublime, in its rise and fall.
Flickered glints from glistened waves
Fall distinct, and light the way.
As morning rays shall yet reflect,
Of peaceful days in life’s silhouette.

Silhouette.  Debra Buesking. 1234567890. Oddrun Eikli.

The movie Brazil by Terry Gilliam has an important memory in my heart and the lyrics came from that story here the lyrics : 
Punch in an office of boredom 
That outmarchs your identity 
Obvious powers that command you 
Without a bit of humanity.  

Controlled lives by day 
Controlled dreams by night 
Illusion of a total control that will annihilate us.  

Your Angel Grows in you 
Blue eyes that caress you 
Make of you 
The Strength and courage and risk 
That was in you Sweet union always dreamed of 
Lives in you.  

Routine broken cleanly From a desire for freedom 
Madness and blood that threaten you 
From a system of stamped sheets  
Life resurrected from a desire 
Hidden in a corrupt office 
Leviathan greedy for stolen lives 
From a work of sheets and drafts  
Your Angel Grows in you Blue eyes that caress you Make of you.

Song sung By Luca Giordano Backing vocal By T.Giannini

Il Corriere Smarrito

Zilbra

Mark says,
"Making music with Rodolfo is always exciting and often a challenge, although I know we both find it stimulating, as we always aim to reach high and this post is no exception. This new song, started its gestation almost a year ago, instantly showed a lot of promise and since has been through many stages of exploration and rounds of problem-solving. The painfully blunt lyrics were initially inspired by a friend's brutal relationship break-up, but the final result is much heavier. I hope you find it moving rather than disturbing, I was trying to match the mood of Rod's deeply dramatic music."

Rodolfo says,
"I think it's a fantastic song and you've done an amazing job on both the story and the vocals, especially those tough lines. When I was writing it, I just felt like a modern blues with a techno vibe was taking shape. The final sound was defined by the story and those really dramatic, emotional lyrics. You might want to make it clear that it's a fictional story to avoid giving our friends heart attacks."

We appreciate all of the kind support that the Soundcloud community has given our collaborations. Thanks for listening and sharing your thoughts, Mark and Rodolfo

Rodolfo Planes - Music composition, instrumentation, arrangement, production and mix https://soundcloud.com/rplanes
Me - Vocals and lyrics

Moments of stress,
How did you deal with the rest?
All that is left of you and me,
Is wrecked.
How can we expect,
To go on when there’s nothing at all left?
 
…Left in the lurch,
You should have done more research.
I was truly never a safe bet for you…
For you could have made,
A much better match than you did with me.
 
Open your eyes,
I promise you won’t be surprised,
It’s been there before you,
All along, all of the way…
…Way before you had sensed,
That we had got it all so wrong by then.
 
Moments of stress,
All such a mess,
It’s anyone’s guess,
How it all went so wrong?
Moments of stress,
No more nor less,
Need I express,
How it all went so wrong?

Moments Of Stress - Continental Collision (by Rodolfo Planes/Mark J Bennett)

'One More Breath' is a Jazz Fusion track inspired by the practice of breathing exercises. Chi-gung, meditation etc. When one arrives at their limit, can one relax and add "One More Breath". Through weeks, months and years of practice, one slowly improves and progress is made. So then "One More Breath" is the inspiration in all activities, to not give up at "the final hurdle".

Walking The Straight And Narrow

One More Breath

A song that we wrote and recorded around three years ago. It was always a favourite of Nooblys so he has remixed it and gave it  a new lease of life .
The lyrics are based around a friend who got stuck out in Japan in lockdown. He was out there visiting his young son and couldn’t get back to England due to all flights being grounded.
This was a regular journey he had to make to stay in his sons life. 
His ex partner of many years decided to return home to her native country and took their son with her after the split. 

Stop Digging Me Out 

V1
I’ve travelled over 5000 miles
Just to see one of your gorgeous smiles
This is the hardest thing I ever can do
Spend all my time away from you

Bridge
I will ask you once
ask you twice
ask you till the
morning light 

Chorus 
Please……
So stop digging me out
You know why I’m here
Stop digging me out
I’m trying to be sincere 
Stop digging me out
This is harder than before 
Stop digging me out

V2
I have deep routed emotional rscars
These are there visible from  the highest stars
Our young child plays now alone
Cause you took him 5000 miles from home

Bridge 
Chorus 

Middle8 
The time as come for me to leave 
Another sinking feeling time to grieve 
Another carbon footprint left in the sky
Me holding back tears  from my eyes

Lead break 

Bridge 
(Till I catch my flight )

Chorus to finish…..  
I’m hurting through to my core

Stop Digging Me Out ~ Conscience Of Kings

Not One Is Insignificant (Piano Improv)

Treasure

Here is another track produced with https://soundcloud.com/joerxworx. On an (not too) old piano base of mine (https://soundcloud.com/michele-ansani/kepler-1649c-draft), he did his usual excellent work with his saxophones, then I finished the arrangement with some keyboard phrases.

Dedicated to the comet of the century.

Piano and keyboard: Michele Ansani
Alto and tenor sax: joerxworx
Posted on SoundCloud: 2024, October 25

Tsuchinshan–ATLAS

Buy by Apple Music

Preludio

THE HYPERSONIC FACTOR 
Danny Handler - Drums 
Mirko Borach - Bass 
Jason Rubenstein - Piano, Synthesizers, Samplers 
Dan van den Berg - Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Samplers

Recorded in San Francisco, Rotterdam, Dinslaken, Austin

Recorded 2017-2018 
Producers: Jason Rubenstein, Dan van den Berg, Mirko Borach, Danny Handler 
Mixing and mastering: Jason Rubenstein, Danny Handler 
copyright 2018 
Danny Handler proudly endorses Vic Firth and Aquarian Drumheads.
license
all rights reserved

Inventions of Diffusion

SadHappy

Download

Olores y Colores

Painting a vivid picture in music.
In this track I explore the link between the flamenco style or palo of Tangos and the more Argeninian Tango. Although being linked in name they are very different. A Tango flamenco is more closely linked to the rumba flamenca. Its rhythm is the same as farruca and very lively. The Argentine tango shares a common ancestor, but went its own way. However, it was fun developing the transition between styles. I do that by a dramatic interruption in a Solea por Buleria. It repeats three times with the outro slightly different from the intro and interlude. 
I play three guitar parts here, one in flamenco finger picking style, the others more like the guitar trio with an alternate picking style.

I hope you will enjoy this one and as always greatly appreciate your likes, shares and comments.
-Dan

Data:
All music, arranging, composition, percussion programming and guitar by Daniël van den Berg, September 30, 2018
Guitar: Joan Cashimira, modelo 145, spruce top w/ cocobolo sides and back, Gata de Gorgos (Alicante), 2015
Recorded using an Apogee MiC.
Percussion arranged with samples from Sampletank and Flamenco Loops.
Mixed in Auria, masterered in Auria and Final Touch.

Olores y Colores

Olores y Colores | Dan van den Berg

Check out this new original Right There with Craig Schmoller doing his beautiful thing on both guitar and bass.  Cooking from the opening, Craig takes off with an incredible series of solos.  What a player.  And when he heard the track I sent him, laid down such a fine bass line to complement the track.   This is Craig's mix.  We're digging the sound!

Follow Craig's sweet music:  https://soundcloud.com/craigschmoller and his superb YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/user/grov6land

Thanks too for your generous time listening, for your comments and for your shares

Right There - with Craig Schmoller / guitar and bass

Music, lyrics and vocals by Irina

When the stars are out
And the night is new
I can see no stars
All I see is you
I can see no moon
Gliding through the skies
I'm forever lost
In your magic eyes

If you just say
I'd run away with you
I'd give my heart
I'd risk my life for you
But I'd stay away my love
If you only say my love

When the sun is up
And the day is due
I can see no sun
All I see is you
I can see no clouds
Gliding through the skies
I'm forever drowned
In your magic eyes

If you just say
I'd run away with you
I'd give my heart
I'd risk my life for you
But I'd stay away my love
If you only say my love

Magic Eyes

Midnight Lullaby

Proud to present my new collaboration with my friends 
IPG1 and Paploviante "NOW OR NEVER"
Vocals and Verses : IPG1 - Ian Greaves
https://soundcloud.com/ipg1
Bass : Paploviante - Paul Racle
https://soundcloud.com/paul-racle
Music : Paploviante and Lillithe
Production and Arrangement : Lillithe - Dominique Amaudruz
Verses :
------------Still me——(Smile!!) always data mining Crafting and designing Breaking all the rules with the styles I'm combining bending words round bars with impeccable timing Beats getting lit by the rhythm and the rhyming If it all out---I'm in----ain't no declining Polish off another beat and leave the track shining  Feel the vibe on the cloud another silver-lining  Time out mother fuckers it's my time I've been grinding Day to day hustle now the stars are aligning
like its meant to be cosmic energy Time's changing Destiny yeah! that's the real key Climbing to the next level totally free Cutting straight to the chase skip the pleasantries A force to be recon with you can't ignore me Staying true to myself-----Staying true to myself -------game's locked but still free-------game's locked but still free ------got game but still me------got game but still me
This is pure heat a pen---a page---a beat Engraving these lyrics so they penetrate deep  gimme the mic pull up a chair go ahead and have a seat Recognize technique that makes you wanna move your feet Verse after verse hitting like concrete  spitting these cadres so they reck another beat Flavor on the mic makes it sound so sweet that lines so dope let me just repeat  Flavor on the mic makes it sound so sweet  I'm bouncing off the rhymes eat it up it's a treat  I can't be beat Boss on the street Elevated status known as elite haters obsolete they can't compete  when I touch the mic they defecate and excrete
reborn hard corp vicious yeah!!! even rougher  Can't get enough of this style Don't suffer----------- smoother than butter---But a lethal as a motherfucker Traversing these barzzz not a cookie cutter Crush another track murder that's right slaughtered  It's IPG1 Aight!! way to clever step to my mic Don't think so never Switch it up now different style and technique  Double time double down Bet it up sweet Conceive a new melody before I even speak Verses seem to bend around the bar and drum beat  Flow on point neat and unique  Cadres that got you rocking out of your seat All respect due to the Class elite  ones gone before but Who'd expect not just open up but also held the door
Much respect!!!
Peace!!!✌🏽

Now Or Never -  IPG1 / Paploviante / Lillithe

It's just jazz and nothing conceptual) With some desire, you can even move your hips to this music)) Music Composed/Produced by Guitarbeard © 2021

Buy https://guitarbeard.bandcamp.com/track/brew-2

Brew

Oh Christmas Tree

Since I started one-man band music on SC, I realized how exciting it is to play the bass. So I wanted to compose and play a song in which the bass plays the lead.
Although it took some effort, I really enjoyed playing. 
I used Jazz base made by Fender Japan.

Bass Heaven

OCHTENDGLOREN | Short Tales Part V

“Ochtendgloren” is a great Dutch word meaning “Dawn”. But in a more poetic sense, it has a sense of optimism, it holds a promise of a beautiful day to come. The morning dawns on the horizon...
The track travels through several different fields and textures, traveling acoustically through many different styles, I feel it’s hard to categorize where this would land in an overall description, but I guess World fusion comes closest. But it contains elements of classical, Jazz, flamenco, Latin, pop, rock, blues.

I play my Flamenco Negro guitar again in a setting of a guitar trio. In form it can be considered as a continuation of my Short Tales series. The lead guitar has long sections that are improvised over the bed of the two accompanying guitars.

I hope you will enjoy this fifth Short Tale and as always I really enjoy your likes, comments and shares. -Dan

Data:
All music, arranging, composition, guitars by Daniël van den Berg, November 28, 2020
Guitar: Joan Cashimira, modelo 145, spruce top w/ cocobolo sides and back, Gata de Gorgos (Alicante), 2015
Recorded using an Apogee MiC.
Mixed in Auria, masterered in Auria and Final Touch.
Photo edit by Dan van den Berg, 2020