Jazz and Blues

All the recordings in this playlist include at least one track played on a Korg Volca Keys. 

Other instruments used on some tracks include Stylophone S2, Nord Electro 3, iPad autoharp app, electric upright bass, bass guitar and programmed drums and percussion.

All tracks arranged, programmed, performed and produced by Simon Beck. All material composed by Simon Beck except "Popcorn", composed by Gershon Kingsley.

Recordings using Korg Volca Keys

1960s-style secret agent theme. Organ, Mellotron strings, synth, lead bass guitar, autoharp, double bass, Latin percussion.

Organ and Mellotron strings: Nord Electro 3
Autoharp: iPad app
Double bass: Stagg EDB 3/4
Lead bass guitar: Encore Precision copy
Synth: Korg Volca Keys

One Of Our Agents

An experimental composition using synchronised sequences whose lengths are derived from prime numbers; 3, 5, 7, 11 and 13. The sequences are fragments of a C Major scale, all ending on the same highest note. 

Past My Prime

Another experimental piece based on prime numbers, The notes of a C7 chord (C, E, G, Bb and C') are repeated with spaces forming sequences of 3, 5, 7, 11 and 13 beats respectively, weaving a complex pattern that seldom repeats exactly.

Programmed using a Korg Volca Keys synthesisier and recorded on a Fostex MR-8 digital multi-track.

Primal Dance

A cover of Gershon Kingsley's iconic instrumental "Popcorn", played using sounds from a Korg Volca Keys synthesiser and a drum track programmed and arranged on a computer.

Popcorn

A blues improvisation... with a couple of Korg Volca Keys synths thrown in! The Wurlitzer piano is from a Nord Electro 3, the bass is a Stagg electric upright and the drums were programmed in HammerHead 1.0.

Volca Shuffle

Big-band jump blues... played on analogue synths and bass guitar! Kick and snare drums are Korg Volca Keys, hi-hat, brass and woodwind are Yamaha Reface CS. Backing is a mixture of a sequenced riff and real-time improvisation. Notice the "Doppler shift" at the beginning and end!

The ADSR Express

Hoagy Carmichael's famous standard, played on Wurlitzer piano, saxophone, double bass and programmed drums.

Georgia On My Mind

An instrumental version of the murder ballad "Frankie and Johnny", one of the earliest examples of the 12-bar Blues.

I'm playing 6-string banjo, piano (Nord Electro) and electric upright bass. Drums are from a Korg KR Mini drum machine.

Frankie and Johnny

An up-tempo 12-bar blues, using the Wurlitzer electric piano sound from my Nord Electro 3 73, with drums from a Casio WK-3000 home keyboard and electric double bass played by myself.

Wurly Boogie

Just an instrumental version of Gershwin's standard "Summertime", featuring alto sax, organ and double bass.

Summertime 2020

I'm a self-taught multi-instrumentalist living in London, England. My main instruments are keyboards, bass guitar and double bass, but I also play electric and acoustic guitars, ukulele, 6-string banjo and chromatic harmonica, and I will have a go at anything else that makes a noise.

My musical roots are in the Blues, but my recordings range in style from country to punk to experimental, with bits of funk, jazz and retro movie soundtrack thrown in. And hopefully a bit of humour...

The ADSR Express

Simon Beck 3