Time for a slow Hammond blues.  Joined here by the wonderful trio set up by Jamey Abersold on piano, bass and drums.

Blues for Jimmy Smith

New Single "Codes Within Continuum" - June 30th release!
Thank you for stopping by!  Have a great spring and summer!

It is exciting, special and meaningful to create original music. If we don't create, then who will? We are the creators and we will continue to create innovative music that benefits and uplifts humanity. We must continue to create, evolve and revolutionize the world through music!

My music adventure started in 1996 on Amiga Demoscene, where I was active until 2004. I had the opportunity to be there, on the real DemoParties and CopyParties :-) where I used to compete in MOD and XM Tracker Music. 

By hitting the "Like" button, leaving a comment or just reposting - you are already supportive and many thanks for that in advance  :-)

Jazz/Fusion keyboard player, composer and producer.  Marketing, advertising, publishing and sales career.  Originally from Chicago, where I developed a strong appreciation for the blues and classical, and moved to New York, where jazz and the fine arts are so deep.  Key musical influences include Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Jimi Hendrix, Joe Zawinul and Weather Report, Chick Corea and Return to Forever, John McLaughlin and the Mahivishnu Orchestra, Stanley Clarke, Scott Henderson and Tribal Tech, Jeff Beck and Jan Hammer, Mike Stern, John Scofield, Pat Metheny, Emily Remler, McCoy Tyner, Bill Evans, John Coltrane, Jimmy Smith, Joey DeFrancesco, Larry Young, Buddy Guy, Santana and Earth Wind & Fire.   Former classical clarinet and piano player.  Unless noted, my music on SoundCloud was composed, recorded and performed using only keyboards.  An avid photographer.  Many covers here are my shots.  To see my photography look for Herbiejazz on Instagram or search for Herbiejazz on Google.  And a big thumbs up to SoundCloud and the SoundCloud community, and so many friends who have joined me to create.  Thank you all.

"To my mind, a BLUES doesn't have to be a 12-bar progression. To me, if a song has the right emotion then I accept it as BLUES" - PETER GREEN

"I go by feel, I go by feel. 
The only way I know what's real" - BUDDY GUY

Mostly, as a self-taught guitar player (maybe not... considering all the influences and internet/book resources I've come across lately!)  and rather than trying to be anything remotely near a good player of any great technique, I'm not bound by genre or clichés; I just like to go for it. It's a whole lot better that way. 
Blues is a human expression of emotion. That may explain why I felt called to blues music, even though, I grew up in Europe, a continent apart from the music’s heartlands in America’s Deep South. And that may also be the reason for the great Portuguese Bluesmen we have nowadays (The Legendary Tigerman/Frankie Chavez/Budda Power Blues/Rui Veloso/Dead Combo/The Black Mamba/Mazgani and many others...)

I’m a fan of raw guitar players who aren’t really polished… you’re not sure if it’s all going to fall apart.  Those who, rather than trotting out a collection of preconceived practised licks and lines, take some chances along the way, creating ideas on the spot. IMHO they sound more exciting and impressive for it. I play whatever comes into my head. It's an adventure because when I do a breakdown or a solo, it's new each time and I just let it go... The majority are first take. I just turn it on and press record...they are mostly one moment in time. I’m always looking for something. Sometimes I’m not quite sure what, but you just have to keep looking...
The real beauty is playing without thinking and once you have some concepts down, what comes out, is from the heart.  It's second nature. 
I just enjoy listening and playing some music, in honour of that timeless way of killing time (just for the fun of it...and whenever inspired: "If you're not feeling it, don't play it!"). I'm happiest picking out a blues tune to a suitable backing track. After all, simple music is the hardest to play...
For me, half the battle is to get the right sound. And that, in turn, inspires how you play.
As a tone fiend, I like to let those bluesy guitar tones breathe a little bit. But, almost everything I play, it never, ever comes out quite the way I heard it in my head. Sometimes I end up with something that's kind of close, but it's not quite what intended originally. These uploaded tracks are no exception... They are far from being perfect. First of all, I'm not a fan of perfection when it comes to music...it may even compromise the tone, but if the tone is there, great! It sounds like a human being playing guitar. 
As Dan Patlansky once said "I would rather hear an average player with a great guitar tone than a great player with a bad tone".
 I love stuff that sounds like a spontaneous real-life experience. Playing music is a human activity, and we humans are far from perfect! There is a certain charm in something that feels human with the flow of a spontaneous performance. It's that spontaneity that makes for the magic... 
Feel free to comment good, bad or indifferent and do not hesitate to share any ideas you might have. 

Favourite guitarists (old school suspects apart):
Matt Schofield;  Jim Campilongo;  Walter Trout; Robin Trower; Joe Bonamassa; Andy Timmons; Gregor Hilden; Robben Ford; Larry Carlton (among others)...

HELP!!! Chris and Shael are stuck on this Island in the Pacific Northwest, nuthin' but a baguette, a 1/2 bottle of Tequila, and a recording studio. Just a few more followers, we'll buy a xylophone, and topple the music industry!!!!  
All songs written by Shael Wrinch and Chris Herbsen. Recorded and produced by Shael Wrinch at Stone Hill studio on Bowen Island B.C.

The Cat is currently sleeping while I look for a singer....
If you're interested in being part of Cat Came Back V2.0......drop me a line.....

Cat Came Back (up to 2023) were:
Gina Graham - vocals 
Graeme Mc Pherson - bass, keyboards, samples, beats, production. 
Music written by Graeme, words by Gina.

Our music can also be found on most of the popular streaming platforms but I can't guarantee it will always be there or even here on Soundcloud for that matter.... 
So if you really liked anything you heard here and want to keep it, please visit our Bandcamp page. Or if not ours, support someone else's music you've heard here - it's a tangible gesture that will make their day. 
There's a link below to my personal Bandcamp purchases and recommendations, many of which were artists I discovered here on Soundcloud.

Thanks for listening, Graeme.

Blues for Jimmy Smith

Jamie Rhind