I'm posting this in honor of the great jazz fusion keyboardist George Duke. originally from Billy Cobham's "Crosswinds" record, this tune became a staple of NAIL shows in the last few years. This is from a 2010 show with Nadav Zelniker (drums) & Jim Cammack (bass).

Heather (Billy Cobham)

Whisper Of Angels (uptempo version)

More fun with Ableton LIVE and various controllers...
I was working on something else, looking for sounds. Sometimes you find a sound that inspires....something else. :)

Dialog with insects

Here's a classic tune from the Mahavishnu Orchestra, penned by drummer Narada Michael Walden called "Cosmic Strut", here performed by the group "Piktor's Metamorphosis" - Brian Mooney (bass), Danny Pagan (drums), Monroe Quinn (guitar) and myself on keys. Performed live at the Salem Roadhouse Cafe on Feb 8th 2014.

Cosmic Strut (Narada Michael Walden)

Another live track from our recent show at UpFront in Port Jervis. 
This is for all of us who've ever worked 14+ days in a row.
Neil "Nail" Alexander - Keyboards
Brian "Moonstone" Mooney - Basses
Nadav "the Z" Zelniker - Drums
Composed By Neil Alexander/Meate Dream Music B.M.I. cp 2018

The Album That Never Was: Live Tracks 2022

The Album That Never Was

Supertoast - Upfront Exhibition Space 9/30/22

This well known track by Zawinul (originally from Weather Report’s “Tale Spinnin’” record) is one of our favorites. This was our encore at UpFront on 9/30/22.

Badia (Zawinul) - UpFront Exhibition Space 9/30/22

This arrangement of the classic Americana song "Shenandoah" has become our standard show closer, giving everyone the warm fuzzies. Featuring the voice of the great Pete Seeger.
Neil "Nail" Alexander - Keyboards
Brian "moonstone" Mooney - Basses
Nadav "The Z" Zelniker - Drums

Shenandoah - UpFront Exhibition Space 9/30/22

This is the most recent recording of "Whisper of Angels", which I wrote in 1996 at the birth of our child.
Neil "Nail" Alexander - Piano/Keyboards
Brian "Moonstone" Mooney - Electric Bass
Nadav "The Z" Snir-Zelniker - Drums
©1996 Neil Alexander/Meate Dream Music B.M.I.

Whisper Of Angels - Upfront Exhibition Space 9/30/22

I recorded this heartbreakingly beautiful ballad in 2012. Composed by John Mclaughlin, it appears as a bonus track on my first solo piano CD "Darn That Dream: Solo Piano Vol1". I am posting today (1/4/2023)in honor of John McLaughlin's birthday (Jan 4th 1942).

Darn That Dream: Solo Piano Vol. 1 Bonus Disc

Brise De Coeur (John McLaughlin)

Another journey to Weirdness, with old friend violinist Rachel Evans.

Weird Wednesday Session 6: W/ Rachel Evans (Violin) excerpt 1

Composed by Rob Michaels. Recorded Live in Petaluma 5/24/14. Rob Michael (Guitar), Darin Wilson (piano), Neil Alexander (Synthesizer), Steve Uccello (bass), Michael Frietas (drums).

Secret Society: Mr. Tippi Toes

Just discovered this version of Jaco's "3 Views Of A Secret" I recorded for a project in 2012 (it was never used). Thought it worth posting. :) 

3 Views Of A Secret (Pastorius)

Mr Gone Live at the Falcon in Marlboro NY 11/26/23. Pete Furlan (Saxes), Neil 'Nail' Alexander (keyboards), Charlie Dougherty (bass) Bryan Kopchak (drums).

Sightseeing (Wayne Shorter)

Written by Jim Decrescenzo in 1980, this tune has stayed with me. This is a new file, mixed by Ryan Ball at The Gearbox studios. 
As on the previous mix, I rendered all the tracks via MIDI; Dave Lewitt played the live drums.

Box  555 (New Mix)

Live performance of 2 iconic compositions from Wayne Shorter - "Infant Eyes" (from 1966's Speak No Evil) and "Lusitanos" (from Weather Report's 1975 Tale Spinnin').

Infant Eyes / Lusitanos (Medley) (Wayne Shorter)

Harlequin (composed by Wayne Shorter) originally appears on Weather Report's 1978 record "Heavy Weather".

Harlequin (Wayne Shorter)

Vein Melter (Herbie Hancock)

Sly (Herbie Hancock) is the first tune on side 2 of "HeadHunters", Herbie Hancock's groundbreaking 1973 record. Mr Gone is celebtrating the 50th Anniversary of Head Hunters with concerts of the complete album. With Peter Furlan (sax), Bryan Kopchak (drums), Charlie Dougherty (bass) and Neil 'Nail' Alexander (me, keyboards).

Sly (Herbie Hancock)

NAIL recorded live at Benji &amp; Jakes in Upstate NY on 4-18-09. This is with Nadav Zelniker on drums and Jim Cammack on bass, with yours truly on synths &amp; samples. I have several different live versions of this tune, which is my take on the classic American folk song Shenandoah. None of them are perfect, but this one came up on the iPod and I found it to be acceptable (I liked it a lot just at that moment). The voice is none other than the great Pete Seeger, appearing here via a sample from his "American Favorite Ballads" recording.

Shenandoah (Live) Featuring the voice of Pete Seeger

My band "A. Animal" , a prog-rock jazz fusion power trio, ran on & off from 1979 - 1994.  "Overhaul", recorded originally in 1990, is our one & only CD. It sat in the vault for 12 years until I finally digitized the tapes. This is the original mix (Robert Musso) and mastering (Howie Weinberg) from 1990. You can find the whole cd on my band camp site at https://nailmusic.bandcamp.com/album/overhaul.
C P 1986 Neil Alexander/Meate Dream Music B.M.I.
A. Animal is: NA - Keys; Conrad De La Cruz - Strings; Lou Magliente - skins.

Overhaul (Remastered)

Prologue/Overhaul Part 1

It seems using Ableton LIVE to emulate the Zawinul Syndicate is quite fun, actually. Featured synths include the Minimoog Voyager (lead), Nord Electro 3 (processed Rhodes) and Roland XV5050 (Fretless bass). Other sounds were LIVE instruments. Still editing; this is rough mix # 1.

Still In Syndication

Song #1 of Supercluster live at Quinn's in Beacon NY (Week 2). Neil A (keys), Robert Kopec (bass) Dean Sharp (drums).

Plesiosaurs Of Paris

Composed in 2006 by Neil Alexander. 
From a collection of music performed by the X Ensemble in concert. 
All compositions by Neil Alexander / Meate Dream Music B.M.I. except where indicated.

Inner Journey (Live)

First try at creating a track in LIVE 10 with Push 2. Done in about 45 minutes. Then reworked a week later. Needs a better mix eventually.

A Time for Breaking

"Everyman (the flight of the Falcon)" composed by Neil Alexander ©2006.
Seeing as how the Solo Piano CD is almost complete (WOOOT!!!), I have removed the premixed trax and posted this track (post mix & post mastering), a version of my tune "Everyman". Stay tuned my friends, we're really almost ready!

EVERYMAN (Mastered; prerelease)

So...this is my life, basically. Repeat ad infitum for 90 minute intervals, with slight variations in tempo and time signature.

The other Dance Class music: Ballet

This is probably the closest thing to a "hit" I've ever written; and I maintain it "wrote itself" back in 2004. It took 3 years to get recorded, ending up on our "Tugging At The Infinite" CD. The track is a blend of Metheny-esq jazz fusion with a dose of Hendrix and a taste of Americana. Not sure why I never posted it here before, but here ya go. :)

Everyman (The Flight Of The Falcon)

"Lookout for Hope" (Bill Frisell) from a recent show at Dogwood in Beacon NY,  Robert Kopec (basses), Dean Sharp (drums), Neil Alexander (keyboards).

Lookout For Hope (Bill Frisell) (Live)

By John McLaughlin / Borderline Music B.M.I.
My Solo Piano CD "Darn That Dream: Solo Piano Vol 1" is now available [Here: http://www.music.nailmusic.com]. And if you download the whole disc you get 5 (FIVE!) Bonus Tracks, including this one. Composed by guitarist John Mclaughlin & long a favorite of mine, 'Brise De Coeur" is an amazing composition that shows just what a brilliant composer he is. 
Thanks for listening - please share!

Get the CD on Bandcamp

Brise De Coeur (Bonus Track) (John McLaughlin/Borderline Music B.M.I.)

Recorded in a late night Frankfurt, Germany hotel room while on tour with "The Machine", this track is both about my hopes for the unification of our species and the special kind of loneliness that comes from being on tour. It's also a pretty good example of what you can do with a single synthesizer (Roland XV5080) and a laptop. A pair of drum loops from my friend Mechanism were added a few weeks later. 
The opening music is a homage to Jeff Beck & David Gilmour, while the 2nd half is heavily influenced by Zawinul's music.
As yet unreleased, it's part of a collection of such tunes I call "Choice NAIL".

One Earth, One Sky

Recorded Live at the Hopper House "Jazz In The Garden" Series, October 1st 2020. This is a preview of the full concert which will be released on my Bandcamp page later this month.
The performers are Chris Pasin (trumpet), Neil Alexander (keyboards & synthesizers) and Bob Meyer (drums & cymbals) with special guest Joel Newton (guitar).

Pasin/Meyer/Alexander: In A Silent Way (Zawinul)

Jazz pianist, synthesist and composer Neil Alexander has been performing, composing and arranging since age 14. Thriving on Variety, Neil has explored many different styles as both a composer and performer: Jazz, Progressive Rock, Ambient, Electronica, Minimalism, Contemporary Classical, and more.
In 2012, after many decades of electric ensemble music, he released his first solo piano cd - continuing his musical journey to find new challenges. His prior release was “Tugging at the Infinite” (2007), his 4th CD as bandleader with his contemporary electric/acoustic jazz ensemble “NAIL”. He does sessions as both player and programmer, and leads the Hudson Valley Ableton LIVE group (AbletonHV). He works as a composer and/or musical director for a variety of NYC based Modern Dance and Avant Garde theater companies.  He has received grants from Meet The Composer; performed works by Stravinsky (including his solo piano transcription of "Rite Of Spring"), Ives, & Cage; managed his own ensembles both electric and acoustic; teaches music clinics at both high school and college level in music technology produced concerts in both small venues and large outdoor settings; and done sound design and music concrete. 
Neil has composed more than 200 works for small ensembles of various instrumentation, and performs solo in both acoustic and electronic formats, and is involved with several different musical ensembles including the “Mahavishnu Project”. He also spent ten years touring with the Pink Floyd Tribute "The Machine", where he contributed significantly to their signature live sound and subsequent success. Neil is a member of Chamber Music America, and is involved in various educational programs on both the High School and College Level.

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