Here's a recent collection of tunes I have had the pleasure of recording with Germany's superb bassist Mirko Borach - aka, Stringburner https://soundcloud.com/stringburner 

Mirko is a deep funk player, always in the pocket, and has an extraordinary sense of rhythm that he demonstrates with his playing and soloing.   His solos on Sco-Mule and Sharing the Way especially show his command and artistry.   In addition to these tunes, Mirko has recorded with a number of other top electric guitarists here on SoundCloud, including Dan van den Berg.   Enjoy these tunes, which also feature guitarists Justin Valente and Ned Bolle, keyboardists Julien Apelian and Calaminus, and flute and sax player Santi-Caballero Mendez.  

Thanks as always for your time listening, your comments - which you can't add here - and for your sharing of the music and musicians.


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Stretching It Out With Stringburner - Mirko Borach

Here's an original Latin Jazz groove that includes the very fine Spanish flutist Santi-Caballero Mendez https://soundcloud.com/santi-caballero and German bassist Mirko Borach (Stringburner) https://soundcloud.com/stringburner.  Wrote this tune with kind of a Santana groove, and think you will love what Santi-Caballero does with his gorgeous flute playing.  I have the trombone patch solos.  Route 251 is named after the classic II-V-I chord changes around which the tune is built.  Please check out and follow both Santi-Caballero and Stringburner's galleries - you will love their musicianship.

As always, thanks for your time listening, your comments, and your shares.



Route 251 - with Santi-Caballero Mendez flute and Stringburner (Mirko Borach) bass

At the beginning, Jamie and I wanted to create a jam session with 3 keyboardists. We started the track with Calaminus at the organ solo, Jamie at the trombone patch and me at the electric piano. Later, Mirko "StringBurner" joined us on the bass, bring us beautiful bass arrangements and an outstanding solo. Thanks to Mirko and thanks to Jamie Rhind & Calaminus  for their amazing keyboards solos.
Check out those great musicians at:
@stringburner, @calaminus, @jamie-rhind

Sharing The Way - feat. Jamie Rhind - Calaminus & StringBurner

This one is quite a crazy funky fusion track! A great bass player Mirko Borach aka Stringburner(https://soundcloud.com/stringburner )came up with the idea to cover this track by Los Lobotomys, a fusion group that was formed by Steve Lukather in 1989 with some of his friends and talented players, like David Garfield.
Mirko asked Jamie Rhind (https://soundcloud.com/jamie-rhind) and me to join on this one to complete the blend. Jamie brought his Miles' oriented synths, I brought my loud and funk rhythm guitars. We reworked the original, added different sounds and flavours to it, turning it into "Entanglement".  All of us have one solo spot around the main theme. Quite interesting is the turn of events with a more quiet interlude after the guitar solo, something we just had to keep in from the original.

Anyways! We hope to entertain you with this cover of a great fusion track and band. Do check them out if you don't know them already! Los Lobotomys...

Bass and bass arrangements, initial drum programming by Mirko Borach https://soundcloud.com/stringburner

Keyboards, synths and synth arrangements by Jamie Rhind https://soundcloud.com/jamie-rhind

Guitars and guitar arrangements, drum programming, mixing and mastering by Dan van den Berg

Drum samples from Amplitube
April 2015




Entanglement (cover) - feat. Mirko Borach | Jamie Rhind | Dan van den Berg

Here's another collaboration just packed with funk and great players from around the world.  Represented on this tune are musicians from Germany, Spain, Scotland, France and the US (3).  Pretty sure you will enjoy this one.  It's an original funk fusion tune that lets everyone here stretch it out a bit.  Germany's Mirko Borach (Stringburner) holds down the deep groove on bass, with Barcelona's multi horn player Santi-Caballero Mendez creating the head.  Solos from Mike "Land of Orz" Orzek with a fuzzed out wah guitar, Santi-Caballero smoothing it down on sax, Scotland's finest Ian Tait bringing it back up again with his signature electric funk guitar playing, France's wonderful keyboardist Julien Apelian on a great synth patch, and then New Jersey's fine jazz guitarist Stephan "Pinner" Lipinski bringing it home with his serious Scofield funk guitar style.  Wow.  So much playing here.  Great job guys!

Thanks as always for your generous time listening, for your comments and for your shares here on SoundCloud and on social media.  Please check out and follow these superb players. 

Funk The Blues   -  Stringburner, Land of Orz, Santi-Caballero, Ian Tait, Julien Apelian and Pinner

Delay Of Game is a soulful trio interplay between New Jersey's Mike Orzek's bluesy talking wah guitar, Germany's Mirko Borach's funky bass playing and my delayed Rhodes groove.  These guys found the pocket immediately, and together have turned out another fine one...just in time for your weekend listening pleasure.  

If you are not following them, head to their impressive galleries immediately - Mike https://soundcloud.com/lando-orz has a ton of great music across many genres, and Mirko's https://soundcloud.com/stringburner doing his serious funk and slap bass and fusion tracks with other world class guitarists.  

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

Delay Of Game - with Land of Orz / guitar and Stringburner / bass

Here's one For Miles.  For so many Miles Davis has been the ultimate influence on music.  From the 1940s through his death in 1991, Miles changed music no fewer than 5 times, moving it into new and unchartered territories, and bringing along with him some of the most influential players of each generation and ultimately, the 20th Century.  

For this tribute to Miles I have rounded up the very finest fusion players I know on SoundCloud to participate.  These are highly creative musicians, who understand what Miles has meant, the merging of electricity and jazz, and who are all superb improvisers.  

The trumpet is played by Vivek Patel, who brings with him the lonely Harmon muted sound for which Miles was so well known.  Vivek opens and closes the piece with elegance and with a harmonic and rhythmic edge that Miles was known so well for.  What a treat to have him join us.

Mirko Borach (Stringburner) anchors the essential modal bass line here, helping set and keep that funk groove.  During the 80s, the period from which this draws, Miles was playing with the great Marcus Miller and Darryl Munch Jones.  Think you'll love what German's Mirko brings as always.

The ordering of solos is as follows:

LA's Derek Cornet is a consumate musician, recording so many styles and composing significant pieces as well.  After hearing a fusion tune he recorded that reminded me of Mike Stern's playing (Mike was Miles' guitarist from '81 to '83), I wanted to have his playing on this tribute.  What a great start to the tune!

Australia's CHeeZ tackles the second solo and brings the fire and explosive playing he is know for on SoundCloud.  Anthony hasn't done things with other musicians here on SC and I wanted to give him the change to fly with these other heavyweights.  Wow.

New Jersey's Pinner - Stephen Lipinski - sits in for Miles' other famous early '80s guitarist John Scofield.  And does Pinner bust this out or what?  Bringing the same approach to rhythm and angular soloing that Sco pioneers, this solo is a masterpiece.  

Dan van den Berg follows Pinner with exceptional playing and virtuosity.  Listen how he weaves in and out with the moving chromaticism of my backing horn comping, nailing the movement perfectly.  Wouldn't have don't this tune without Dan, one of the true virtuosos on SC.  

New York based Alto sax pro Matt Criscuolo brings his Kenny Garret sound to For Miles, taking it in and out the way that Miles and Kenny did on stage together for so many years.   

Dutch fusion guitarist Rients Draaisma follows, with what is simply a remarkable display of sound and virtuosity.  This powerful solo showcases why Rients for me is at the very pinnacle of progressive fusion anywhere, pushing the very limits of concept and execution.

Spain's fine multi-instramentalist Santi-Caballero is our second horn, showcasing his tenor playing here.  Santi-Caballero takes it out all over the place here, moving in and out of the mode as Miles and his great '80s tenor player Bob Berg did together.

French keyboard player Julien Apelien is the perfect choice to join the team, and brings a great electric keyboard solo and sound in the style of Miles' Adam Holtzman, using fourths to create tension and ambiguity.

Mirko's fine solo technique is featured after Julien, and he just kills it on this one with his slap bass technique.

Italy's Daniele Turani has the concluding guitar solo and in his playing you will again hear a  superb sense of structure and organization, along with his virtuoso playing.  Such a treat to have him joining this Miles tribute.

For Miles concludes with Vitek's beautiful searching trumpet solo, which showcases his deep understanding and appreciation for Miles, as well as a modern jazz conception that also includes weaving patterns in and out chromatically similar to the great trumpeter Woody Shaw.  What a finish to this special tribute For Miles.

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


For Miles: Patel/Borach/Cornet/CHeeZ/Pinner/vd Berg/Draaisma/Apelian/Mendez/Criscuolo/Turani

On this summer track we can hear some awesome musicians:
Acoustic Guitar: Dan Van Den Berg @https://soundcloud.com/danarchx 
Synth Solo: Jamie Rhind @https://soundcloud.com/jamie-rhind
Fretless Bass: Mirko Borach @https://soundcloud.com/stringburner
Keyboards and drum programming: Julien Apelian
I hope you will enjoy!
The picture was taken by Dan in Portugal, Algarve.

Summer Rising with Dan Van Den Berg, Jamie Rhind, Mirko Borach & Julien Apelian

Ever since I saw Jaco with Weather Report with his Word of Mouth Band I have wanted to play this wonderful funk groove, The Chicken.  Jaco Pastorius was the most virtuosic electric bass player of his time, and brought this Pee Wee Ellis tune to life with his funky and soulful playing.   I've asked Germany's wonderful electric bassist Mirko "Stringburner" Borach https://soundcloud.com/stringburner to play the famous baseline, and New Jersey's electric blues rocker Justin Valente https://soundcloud.com/justin-valente to light it up too.  With these players you just know it has to be good:)  Thanks for joining guys!   Serious grooves.

Thanks for your time listening, your comments and your shares.  

The Chicken - with Mirko Borach and Justin Valente

Came across Fluesy Bun, which Scottish funk rocker Ian Tait released last week.  Really loved it but felt it could use some help from Mirko "Stringburner" Borach on bass, and a bit of organ too.  So Mirko and I finished this one up.  I have no idea what Fluesy Bun means - must be a Scottish term -- but dig the music Ian.   It was quickly suggested to me by Peter Bennborn that Ian was having fun with the term Bluesy Fun, which on deep thought is certainly what Ian was thinking.  But since it was after the fact, I will leave up my ignorance and smile.

And if you aren't following Ian https://soundcloud.com/ian-tait and Mirko https://soundcloud.com/stringburner --- you should be.  Great music every time from each of them.  Thanks guys for helping put this together.  

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

Fluesy Bun 2 - with Ian Tait and Mirko "Stringburner" Borach

Redemption is an original track set up by Mirko Borach soundcloud.com/stringburner. In Mirko's words: "The title Redemption aims to signify the balance between the human soul and nature in a spiritual way of life far away from the hustle and bustle and the drab monotony of everyday life.".

This track brings to mind the glorious days of seventies fusion with bands like Return to Forever, the Mahavishnu Orchestra, and Weather Report. Mirko, aka Stringburner, sent us the outline of this track with some splendid bass work and percussion. 

Dan van den Berg soundcloud.com/danarchx on acoustic guitar, Jamie Rhind soundcloud.com/jamie-rhind on synthesizer & Julien Apelian soundcloud.com/jules-keys-1 on piano and keyboards joined in on Mirko's request to really make this a virtual band effort where each player is featured. We are very proud of the result.

We had a great time pulling this together and hope you now will too. The photo of the beautiful waterfall was taken in Costa Rica by Jamie. As always we really appreciate your comments, likes and shares!

Bass guitar, bass arrangements and tabla percussion programming by Mirko Borach
Acoustic guitar and guitar arrangements by Dan van den Berg
Synthesizer and co-production by Jamie Rhind
Synthesizers and piano, drum programming, arrangements, mixing and production by Julien Apelian
October 2015

Redemption - Mirko Borach, Dan Van Den Berg, Jamie Rhind & Julien Apelian

Bass, fretless bass, music and composition: Mirko Borach @stringburner 
Rhythm and lead guitars, co-production: Daniel van den Berg @DanArchX 
Synthesizer, co-production: Jamie Rhind @jamie-rhind  
Drums: A man called Martin @amancalledmartin  
Electric piano, synthesizer, mixing and production: Julien Apelian @jules-keys-1

A message from Mirko:

"The journey continues!

After releasing "Redemption" on SoundCloud which was a full success, we were thinking of a part II to continue the journey into great spheres of fusion and progressive rock. 
This time it should be more intense, more heavy and more mind-blowing than the first part. 
Like a spaceship flight through other dimensions.

With the same line-up as on “Redemption” but now supported by Martin of the British metal band Winterfire on drums we want to enter some parallel worlds of sound.

The title Parallel Worlds should explain our hopes and feelings when we fall asleep.
Falling into a dream our mind is drifting into a parallel universe of different moods and atmospheres.

This track takes us back to instrumental prog rock bands like Planet X with such great musicians like Derek Sherinian, Tony MacAlpine, Virgil Donati and Tom Kennedy.

Again Julien Apelian gives us outstanding key and piano lines and a magic synth solo from outer space.
Dan van den Berg’s splendid rhythm and lead guitar work took us beyond the bounds of universe. 
Jamie Rhind discovers new space at the speed of light with an awesome synth solo.
A man called Martin’s great drums are pure gravity holding it all perfectly together and finally Mirko Borach’s deep bass grooves took us to undiscovered planets and back.

As always we really appreciate your comments, likes and shares!"

December 2015

Parallel Worlds - Mirko Borach, Dan van den Berg, Jamie Rhind, A man called Martin & Julien Apelian

Bass and bass solo: Mirko Borach @stringburner
First guitar solo: Dan van den Berg @danarchx
First synth solo: Jamie Rhind @jamie-rhind
Second guitar solo, brass and brass arrangements: Calaminus @calaminus
Second synth solo and clavinet: Simon Reich @simon-reich
Composition, third synth solo, electric piano, drum programming, additional trombone and trumpet: Julien Apelian @jules-keys-1

Following the recent track "Mr Big Stuff" that includes the awesome vocals of NayJ, here's a follow up funky jam on the same track with more fine musicians and friends.

We wish you a lot of happiness for this New Year!
Thanks for your listening!

Your Happiness with Mirko, Dan, Jamie, Calaminus, Simon & Julien

Sometimes things can get rough... and for this heavy one, we have Germany's fantastic Mirko Borach (aka, Stringburner  https://soundcloud.com/stringburner ) anchoring that deep grinding bass.  Check out Mirko's burning and grooving recordings.  I've been so fortunate to now have worked with Mirko on almost 20 tunes so far - many of my very favorite tracks here on SoundCloud. 

Secret Service was recorded all on keyboards and bass.  No guitar.

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

Secret Service - with Mirko "Stringburner" Borach / bass

Here's Stringburning, a funk groove that features my favorite electric bass player on SoundCloud, Stringburner - Germany's Mirko Borach https://soundcloud.com/stringburner.  I created this tune to feature Mirko, who has recorded some of the baddest bass lines and grooves I've heard here over the past two years, and conceived of many more tunes that we've played on.  We're all so fortunate that Mirko's been around to lay down and to contribute his great playing to so many incredible funk, fusion, rock and progressive rock collaborations.  Please check out his gallery to hear more.  You will love what you hear if you are into serious bass and instrumentalists.

The beautiful sunset photo was taken in Italy's Tuscany region, in the famous wine town of Montalcino, where Brunellos are the drink of choice. 

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

Stringburning - with Mirko Borach / bass

In poker, you double down when you get two aces.  And that's just what we have here...two aces.  Scott Nelson and Mirko Borach.  Both superb musicians and guys who you put money on.  So fortunate to have both here on SoundCloud - Scott https://soundcloud.com/scott-nelson-364333064 is from outside of Philadelphia, and is a complete master on guitar.  We had to team him up with another master on bass, Essen Germany's Mirko Borach, who is well known here on SC as Stringburner https://soundcloud.com/stringburner.  Full credit to these wonderful players as they bring our original Double Down to life with me.  Follow these guys and head back into their galleries here for so many exceptional pieces.  I've recorded over twenty with Mirko and now five with Scott.  Loved each one and hope you will too.

Thanks to all for your generous time listening, for your comments and for your shares.

Double Down - with Scott Nelson / guitar and Mirko "Stringburner"  Borach / bass

Let us look to the future with optimism and hope.  Many thanks to Mike "Land of Orz" Orzek and Mirko "Stringburner" Borach for helping me build Future Opportunity.  It's my 10th recording with Mike and 23rd with Mirko, and always a thrill when we complete these. It's great to have Mike's great sound back again after a few months away from SC, and whenever we look for deep fusion bass, Mirko is filling the part so well:
https://soundcloud.com/jamie-rhind/sets/messing-around-with-mike-land
https://soundcloud.com/jamie-rhind/sets/stretching-it-out-with

Check out their outstanding SoundCloud galleries to hear more of their superb music.
https://soundcloud.com/lando-orz
https://soundcloud.com/stringburner

We thank you as always for your generous time listening, for your comments and for your shares.

Future Opportunity - with Mike "Land of Orz" Orzek / guitar and Mirko "Stringburner" Borach / bass

What it Is was one of Miles Davis’ hottest grooves from his early ‘80s band. Recorded on his classic ’83 album Decoy, it featured the driving bass of Darryl “Munch” Jones, who went on to play with Sting and still now the Rolling Stones, and the unreal two guitar lineup of Mike Stern and John Scofield.  I was able to see this seminal band with both guitarists in Chicago, and it stays in my mind to this day as one of my favorite concerts of so very many, including 10 of Miles.  

Germany’s wonderful slap funk bassist Mirko “Stringburner” Borach came to me last year to ask if I could join him on What it Is, sending me the  outline recording we have here of this heavy chromatic funk fusion classic.  I was thrilled and quickly asked the superb fusion guitarist Stephan “Pinner” Lipinski to join us, with his perfect Scofield sound and approach.  But we needed a second guitarist to take Mike Stern’s place, and the remarkable Scott Nelson accepted.  Check out the incredible lines that Stephan and Scott create here for this.   Miles’ band at the time also featured Bill Evans on saxophone, and so we’ve grabbed the finest alto player I know to join us, recording artist Matt Criscuolo, who is just all over this.   As luck would also have it, my brother David Rhind is a fine trumpet player and Miles lover at the highest level - he has more than 400 Miles CDs in his collection - volunteered to handle and create the opening and closing trumpet lines.

Our recording of What it Is is truly special to me because of significance of Miles in my musical growth, and also because of what each of these superb musicians and friends means to me.  Please stick through to the very end to hear exceptional musicians playing their hearts out:

In order of appearance:

Mirko “Stringburner” Borach - bass  https://soundcloud.com/stringburner
Jamie Rhind - keyboards
David Rhind - trumpet
Stephan “Pinner” Lipinski - guitar (head)  https://soundcloud.com/pinner
Matt Criscuolo - alto saxophone  matt criscuolo
Scott Nelson - guitar  https://soundcloud.com/scott-nelson-364333064
Stephan “Pinner” Lipinski - guitar

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

What It Is - with Mirko Borach, Matt Criscuolo, Stephan Lipinski, Scott Nelson and David Rhind

More fun here with the outstanding Scott Nelson and Mirko "Stringburner" Borach.  This original is named after Scott, after he forwarded the guitar track to this piece...I simply had to name it Great Scott, a dated exclamation of amazement.

Hoping you too will be amazed by what these guys bring again to our music.  Two of my very favorite players on SC and I hope you agree.  Please check out more of their music and follow them:

Scott Nelson:   https://soundcloud.com/scott-nelson-364333064
Mirko Borach:   https://soundcloud.com/stringburner

Thanks as always for your generous time listening, for your comments and for your shares.  The photo is of the beautiful Islands of Lofoten, Norway, above the arctic circle.

Great Scott! - with Scott Nelson / guitar and Mirko "Stringburner" Borach / bass

Sometimes that workload just gets a little heavy.  This is one of those times.

Joining us here is SoundCloud's finest blues rocker Justin Valente and slap bassist extraordinaire Mirko Borach.  Check out their deep galleries with other fine musicians:

Justin Valente:  https://soundcloud.com/justin-valente
Mirko Borach:  https://soundcloud.com/stringburner

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

Heavy Workload - with Justin Valente / guitar and Mirko "Stringburner" Borach / bass

Back with Scott Nelson on guitar and Mirko Borach on bass for some heavy funk.  This time we're doing Heavy Duty Judy, another original.  Gotta love Mirko's wonderful slap bass technique and lines, and when Scott's solos come in we are taken for a Heavy Duty Ride with Judy.

Follow these guys on their SC galleries:
Mirko Borach:  https://soundcloud.com/stringburner
Scott Nelson:  https://soundcloud.com/scott-nelson-364333064

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

Heavy Duty Judy - with Scott Nelson / guitar and Mirko "Stringburner" Borach / bass

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.