Sometimes it takes me a little longer to make these recordings because I play all of the instruments (except EZDrummer and OddGrooves) myself. In the original short version, someone asked for a longer version, so here it is. I can support on the other instruments, but the quality of improvisation isn't up to my standards, so I don't do it.

Desire - longer version

Insights

COVID hasn't been easy for any of us. I feel like Ive lost something, not just the time or the interaction. Listen to how the melody subtly changes as it is re-harmonized.

Loss

Here's the live (Zoom H2) recording of Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird with wonderful Chris Philpotts on English Horn, the incredible Steve Rosen on viola and the phenomenal Julia Spangler on piano. I got to narrate the poem and give a little insight into my compositional intent. Enjoy!

"Thirteen Ways ..." live at Mayerson Hall with Chris Philpotts, Steve Rosen, Julie Spangler and me!

This is a modern take on a John Philip Sousa-style concert march. Of course, I've played havoc within the rules of the form and jazzed up both the harmonies and the drum parts, though the snare sticks to established rudimentary drumming. I learned LOTS working on this piece. I hope the band will play it next season. Dig the Grandioso - just when you thought there couldn't be one more thing going on!

Ahwatukee Foothills Concert March

At 3:29, the sax almost says "lovers nevermore"

A Day That Never Was - Garry B with Joe Drzewiecki

This track is from back in 2011, but there I wanted to treat Emma's lovely voice a little differently. I hope you like it on a Sunday.

Lamb Of God - ft. Emmazen

This track is from 2012. I remastered it, to give it a little more verve. Lots of people seem to like it. I hope it's not like the DVD version of the Star Wars trilogy. ;) - Joe

My Favorite Things 2014

I've been talking with an old friend in Seattle and I had these impressions, which he says really reflects the Seattle he knows. I'll have a more polished version after I move.

Seattle Reflections - rough cut

If You Never Change Your Ways - 2014 remaster

Peito Vazio - 2014 remaster

Eternally indebted to Eliane Radique, I endeavored to combine her ideas with my concept of cellular composition. The art is "Oneness" by my partner, Morgan McQuillan.

Hacceity

As I recall it, the day my daughter left home was Palo Verde season, when they bloom in the spring and carpet the world with golden flowers. That was my wish for her in her adult life - golden flowers upon her path.

John provided the obbligato and the rest flowed quickly and effortlessly from there.

Golden Flowers Upon Her Path - 2014 remaster

Another Cartola song John brought to the group. Steph's vocal is beautifully plaintive and reflects the heartbreak in the song.

As Rosas Não Falam - 2014 remaster

An old song given new life by Emmazen and Asacko. The latest Miss No One's name was Patterson. This song really captures the loss that I'm feeling right now. Asacko's beautiful orchestration brings out beautiful subtleties from my tired old piano playing.

Miss No One

This is the duet with myself on Shorter's great line "Virgo." I gave the bass its proper place in this remix and remaster. Enjoy!

Virgo - 2014 Remaster

A segment seed that I won't be using on my current film project, but still sounds fun. Enjoy!

Seed 3

This quartet has been together for about three months and we finally got together in my home to record a few things. This is a run-through of the Joe Henderson classic. Enjoy!

Recorda-Me - Live Loft Recording

This is Bennett's song "Quantum Dot." It's new! This was the best of the tracks we recorded that day. There's still work to do with microphone placement and stuff, but still ... 

Quantum Dot - Live Loft Recording

Monsoon Morning

Here's the latest incarnation of my first post to Soundcloud. These are all live musicians, my friends from the band Klee.

Flying Over Queensland 15 Apr18

I was lucky enough to find Thom Jamieson's deep poem "Invisible" to go with a track I was working on. His words, my music.

Invisible

Hoagie Charmichael-style jazz ballad, recorded with modern equipment. John Hollingum provides the words and the vocals. I did the rest.

Soft & Gentle

Given the current situation in the world, it seems quite apparent that not all is as it seems. Taking Pierre Boulez work with real-time electro-acoustic manipulation as a starting point, and given that I found out that there's a harpist who lives down the street, I composed a duet for alto flute and harp that has a troubling sub-text. There is no "noise in the background (at least from a recording cleanliness standpoint)." Those are manipulations of the flute and the harp.

Not All Is As It Seems

My arrangement of the chestnut "My Favorite Things" paying homage to the interpretations of Julia Andrews, John Coltrane and Pomplamouse. Big thanks to Eliie (https://soundcloud.com/eleingel) for the gorgeous vocal and Nathan (https://soundcloud.com/a-collection-of-fragments) for the mix and master. A big shout out to the Ahwatukee Sinfonietta for their lovely backing.

My Favorite Things - Featuring Eleonora Gravagna

A huge collaboration starring Jof (https://soundcloud.com/the-always-unprofessional) on vocals, Fabio (https://soundcloud.com/blu3sman) on guitar solo and bass, Jesús (https://soundcloud.com/asacko) on piano, Derek (https://soundcloud.com/derek-cornett) on rhythm guitar, and the Real Deal Horns: Kevin (https://soundcloud.com/kevin-seeley) on lead trumpet, Takashi (https://soundcloud.com/pines-1) on trombone and Dave (https://soundcloud.com/dave-mckeown) on bari sax. I play alto, tenor (solo) and did the drum programming. Please enjoy this "just like in the studio" track.

Possum in the Road Blues - ft. Jof and the Real Deal Horns

This COVID thing has tested us all. I hope this brings a little light into your life and that even if it finds you alone, you are not lonely.

Alone, Not Lonely

I wrote this lullaby for my daughter and I arranged it using current technology, including the insane emvoice vocal plug-in. That's right, the voice is software.

Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel

My wife Mary wrote the lyrics and I put them to music. This is my second track using the incredible emvoice vocal plugin. I shifted the formant two steps down on the alto/harmony voice which scats the duet with the saxophone.

Dream My Life Away

A sax quartet version of the wonderful and accommodating traditional tune "Amazing Grace." Georg and I both play two parts, can you tell which is which? We met in the Große Musikvereinssaal to record this - at least that's what impulse went into the convolution reverb.

Amazing Grace - Georg And Joe

The river's wide, and the flow is fearsome.
The valley's low, but the air is sweet.
The mountain's high, on the path to freedom.
The journey's long, on the road to love.

In specific, this was written for some friends who opened an innovative piano studio a few months before COVID hit. Like any business, it's taken a bruising, but through hard work and creativity, they're keeping it afloat.

In general, this is a message of hope for all of us. We have a big, nasty obstacle in the way. Where we are has a lot of inertia, but it's not where we want to be. If we want to be free, we must climb the mountain, because where we want to be is in an environment of love. My daughter asked "How do you get from freedom to love?" My answer was "Love is freedom is love. Freedom isn't about carrying guns, or hating people who are different from us. Freedom is about love.

The River's Wide - a spiritual for the new year

Desire

I'm available for collabs and arrangements. Please listen to some and message me if you're interested.

Joe Drzewiecki

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