Purple Dead Nettle is a collection of tracks with subtle nods to a few artists that have passed away.  Named for a beautiful yet invasive weed that manages to find a way to sprout in my yard each spring and spreads each year if not given the proper focus in the preceding fall. As we try to get back to "normal" after surviving this pandemic, something slightly more accessible jazz and jazz\funk fusion for your entertainment. This includes a re-recording of a previous track. Renamed after the passing of its inspiration.

Purple Dead Nettle

A collection of instrumental jazz tracks I've recorded over the years including "Quiet Monday" the closing credits track from the documentary "Facing the Façade" directed by Jerald Harkness.

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Jazz?

Sydney Kay - Clown

A couple of late 80's early 90's throwback songs.  One to the old band in high school and one to the new jack swing.  Also added a throwback to the classic almost anonymous big beat 12" tracks of the early to mid 80's like "Yum Yum Eat Em Up" and Art of Noise "Beat Box" with a taste of Newcleus "Jam on Revenge" at the end.  

Late Eighties Throwbacks

Forever's Return

Chimera

P.D.N.

Five Dollar Cut Out

Time Revolution

Second song for the George Hill Rising Stars (G3) Basketball team.  This one is co-written and performed by the ChocoGeek and his daughter Sydney Kay.  It includes a sample from the parents recorded at Conseco Fieldhouse Jan 6, 2011.  Geeeee Threeeeee.  Yoooooouuu Knoooowww!

Rise Up!

Oblique Beat

This one is my Ode to the New Jack Swing.  Yep Yep. 

Return To New Jack City

Bring Back That Boom

An original track I wrote used as the closing credits track from the documentary "Facing the Façade" directed by Jerald Harkness.

Quiet Monday

Cover of the Duke Ellington classic slowed down with that "dinner at 4 PM on a cruise ship" funk.

Caravan (Duke Ellington Cover)

This one started from humming the bassline to almost writing itself. So hopefully I didn't just subconsciously recreate someone else piece but to the best of my knowledge this is original with many, many influences, hence the title.  The 76 references a 1976 Jaco Pastorius, Albert Mangelsdorff, Alphonse Mouzon live show I watched on YouTube recently.

76 Miles to Mingus

Written and recorded in 2011 when she was 13 years old, this was a combination of an instrumental I had created and Syd saying "I've got something for that!" She took maybe 3 takes total to lay down the verses. This version is a remaster of the original 2011 version.

Junior High Chronicles

Clown (Remastered)

This is the remix that we forgot existed of Sydney Kay's Clown written and recorded in 2011 when she was 13 years old.

Clown

Clown (Extended Mix)

This is the 2013 mashup of Sydney Kay's Clown X Radiohead's Creep

Junior Hgh Chronicles Remixed

Clown (Creepy Clown Mix) (Radiohead Cover)

My 2 semesters of French played zero part in titling this instrumental jazz track recorded and mixed in a single session July 2020.  I've rarely recorded anything in 3/4 so this was an interesting departure from anything I'd recorded in the past.

La Licorne

A slight tip of the hat to Branford Marsalis' "Crazy People Music" which I recall Branford stating was titled because someone had described his music and jazz as what it would sound like if you gave "crazy" people instruments and recorded them.  Also the second track of "Crazy People Music" is titled "The Dark Knight." Otherwise, probably more influenced by having recently watched "Miles Davis: The Birth of the Cool" documentary.  Stepping way outside my comfort zone on this one.

Arkham Talent Show

Another version of La Licorne, the 3/4 time jazz track I wrote and recorded July 3, 2020. This one changes out the lead instruments and attempts a more quiet club feel.

La Licorne (Acoustique)

One more time "Make my funk the g33k funk. I wants to get funked up!" This is another version of this song with a little more of that synth jazz funk feel. Channeled those "irascible" puppies just a bit in this one.

One More Time Around The Loop (Irascible Funk)

I've sat on this one for years, just recently remixed and remastered it. Tried to be ambitious in this one including using taiko and timpani drums, a tempo change, and finished with a quiet solo piano.

Black Cowboy

An updated cover of John Coltrane's Naima played with a driving slap bass over a cascara drum beat and with Coltrane's sax lead replaced with electric guitar.  This version is more of what I envisioned when I covered this song 9 years ago.

Naima

Naima (2020 Coltrane Cover)

This site is just a place for me to share some thing I've either created or helped create over the years.I've been a DJ, bassist for an R&amp;B group, bassist for a gospel choir, pianist at a small church, and dabbled in production/engineering.When my oldest child showed an interest in music, it rekindled that spark in me as well.  I'll play pretty much anything that sounds good to me and am pretty thick skinned (and thick headed) so feel free to take a listen and leave a comment if you'd like.I am the ChocoGeek.


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