These are tracks of me playing along to iReal Pro piano/drum tracks. I've been super busy with schoolwork and this practice allows me to squeeze in a lot of different elements into one short session. I'll generally have about 45 minutes or so to run through a chart and then I record 1 time through the form of the song. If everything goes well with my schedule, I should be able to upload a few short pieces each week. Please let me know what you think of this concept in the comments. I would love to know what people think of this practice session content.

Update: Starting in 2025, I will be adding tracks that include my keyboard and guitar playing along with higher quality drums. The sound quality of the bass will also be a lot better now that I am committing to using a condenser mic for recording as opposed to my old method of using my cell phone.

Jazz Sessions

Jazzbox Corner

I've had the privilege of sharing the stage and studio with some truly talented musicians through the years. Here are some samples of the original music I have put together with these fine folks.

Original Music with Simon on Bass

Ukelele Musings

A collection of my bass playing on various instruments.

Demo Sampler

This is me performing Fred Marshall's bass part to Vince Guaraldi's "Christmas Time is Here". This song was originally written, produced, and published in 1965.

"Christmas Time Is Here" by Vince Guaraldi

I do not own the copyright for this music and I am not profiting from it's dissemination.

"All the Things You Are" is a song composed by Jerome Kern with lyrics written by Oscar Hammerstein II. It was written for the musical Very Warm for May (1939). It appeared in the film Broadway Rhythm (1944), and again in the Kern biopic Till the Clouds Roll By (1946).
The song has been recorded by a great many artists and is considered a jazz standard.

The drums and keys are exported from iReal Pro. I am performing the rhythm guitar, lead guitar, and double bass. The double bass is a 5/8 Shen SB80 with a mixed set of strings. Synthetic core on the highs and steel rope core on the lows. The Guitar is a Godin 5th avenue Kingpin P90 with flatwound D'addario Chromes 12's in all fourths tuning EADGCF with 11 and 15 unwound for the high strings.

Rhythm guitar miced with a SM58 copy by Samson into an ART tube MP preamp along with a duplicate track coming through a Korg Pandora PX4D with a Vox AC15 and matching cab sim. Tracking was done on a Tascam DP-004. Mixing and Mastering on Cakewalk by Bandlab.

All The Things You Are

I do not own the copyright to this music. I am not profiting from it's dissemination. I encourage the listener to seek out versions of this tune on a streaming audio platform of their choosing. "Stella by Starlight" is a popular song by Victor Young. You can find many versions of this tune. It is a jazz standard.

I have used iReal Pro for the drums and piano parts here. I played the guitar part on a Godin 5th Avenue Kingpin. The bass is a Yamaha BB434.

Stella

I do not own the copyright to this music. I am not profiting from it's dissemination. I encourage the listener to seek out versions of this tune on a streaming audio platform of their choosing. "Blue Bossa" is an instrumental jazz composition by Kenny Dorham. It was released in 1963.

Here, Bill and I are jamming with a percussion backing track on iReal Pro.

If you would like to hear more of Bill's awesome guitar playing, check out his soundcloud page:

https://soundcloud.com/baddmonk

Pitstop Jazz Jam - Blue Bossa

This is an original piece. All performed on my Casio keyboard. Effects added in the mix.

4/25/25 Techno in D minor

Techno in D minor

I put this track together with a soundscape loop and delayed snare drum pattern I found on LoopCloud. I then added the the kick drum via midi sequencing, a synth bass line, and synth strings. It was a fun little project on my way to learning more about the possibilities of my DAW. I hope you like it. It definitely chills me out.

Just Chill

This track started out with a sample of a saxophone melody. It is intended as a study. I first listened to the line, using solfege, to identify all the intervals. I then identified common jazz chords changes that would work under the melody. Finally, I went ahead and recorded my take of the sax line on guitar with accompaniment.

Sax 3 in D Study

A bit of a study following the previous Sax 3 in D track. This one features my double bass, Sabrina, in M3 tuning.

Sax 3 in D Study with Double Bass

I think this track is a bit weird. Why don't you tell me what you think of it.

Major Minor in Outer Space

Another take on creating a track from a saxophone line. The original is heard up front. I have also added two drum loops. The bass, guitar, and piano are played by me. I think I have finally found a bass sound for recording. What you are hearing is my 5/8 sized Shen double bass with Corelli strings through a Rode NT1 Signature Series condenser mic placed about 2 feet away from the bridge. It then went into an SSL 2 audio interface with the 4K button engaged. I then added some eq to cut through the mix and a touch of room reverb. What do you think of the sound?

Counterbalance Evolution

This is a stripped down version of Counterbalance Evolution. I pulled out the saxophone and the drums. I wanted to present something that had a little more space and featured the bass more prominently. For the first 8 bars of the track, the bass is in Thirds Tuning ( E G# C E ). I switched tuning in the midst of working on this project. I can hear a subtle difference in the bass being a bit darker in tone for the first 8 bars, but the character of the notes remains remarkably similar. I wanted this track to sound a bit more intimate and therefore minimized the compression on the stereo mix for more dynamics. As before, there is no compression on the bass. Just some eq and room reverb.

Counterbalance Evolution 2

I put this track together in May 25th 2019. Updated it today, on June 23rd 2025. I play all the instruments.

Living Room Ukelele Jam

The original song was written by Redd Stewart and Pee Wee King. This is my version performed on a baritone ukelele tuned in 4ths CFBbEb. I recorded this in October of 2020 and remastered it for this release on June 22nd 2025.

Tennessee Waltz

I originally recorded this track in June of 2022. Remastered it in May of 2025.

I do not own the copyright to this music. I am not profiting from its dissemination.

"Hey Jude" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles that was released as a non-album single in August 1968. It was written by Paul McCartney and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership.


Hey Jude

I originally recorded this in June of 2022. Remastered in May of 2025.

I do not own the copyright to this song. I am not profiting from its dissemination.

"It's Only a Paper Moon" is a popular song published in 1933 with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by Yip Harburg and Billy Rose.


Paper Moon

I originally recorded this in June of 2022. Remastered in May of 2025. 

I do not own the copyright to this song. I am not profiting from its dissemination.

"Dream a Little Dream of Me" is a 1931 song with music by Fabian Andre and Wilbur Schwandt and lyrics by Gus Kahn. It was first recorded in February 1931 by Ozzie Nelson and also by Wayne King and His Orchestra, with vocals by Ernie Birchill. A popular standard, it has seen more than 60 other versions recorded, with one of the highest chart ratings by The Mamas & The Papas in 1968 with Cass Elliot on lead vocals.

Dream a Little Dream

I originally recorded this song on June 8th of 2022. Remastered in May of 2025.

I muted the strings of my baritone ukelele with a foam strip underneath the strings by the bridge to get the effect you are hearing.

Sad Song

I originally recorded this on June 8th of 2022. Remastered in May of 2025.

I do not own the copyright to the melody of this song nor am I profiting from its dissemination. Melody originally written and performed by The Everly Brothers as the song " All I Have To Do Is Dream" in 1958. I encourage everyone  to listen to the original version.

Dream Dream Dream

I originally recorded this in June of 2022 to be part of track with a double bass. I recently found this recording and remastered it as a solo performance of the baritone ukelele. This is a remastered release on May 23 of 2025.

Ukelele Blues

Got up this morning and got this tune stuck in my head. I decided to practice some chord inversions, rootless chords, and chord substitution on the jazz guitar. I used some drum loops from loopcloud on this one, but the guitar and bass is me. Jazz guitar is recorded direct to my SSL2 along with a RODE NT1 signature series, with 4K on, about 16" away from the top. The bass was recorded with just the NT1 about 2 feet away from the bridge. I did use a little bit of compression on the bass here. Low compression ratio. I usually don't like compression on the double bass, but this seemed palatable and got my overall level of the bass track up without a lot of work.

I actually switched to standard guitar tuning for this track. For a while now, I have been sticking to fourths tuning on guitar. I realized, that with just a little bit of effort, I could play my shell voicings on the guitar. Most of the chords on this track are just three notes on the guitar. Primarily 1 3 7, or 1 7 3. Unless I am utilizing inversions or using the guitar register to add tension notes to the overall harmony.

Darn That Dream

I originally recorded this in February of 2022. Remastered in June of 2025. iReal Pro providing the drums and keys. Me on the double bass.

52nd Street

I originally recorded this track back in February of 2022. Remastered in June of 2025. iReal Pro for the drums and keys. I am playing the double bass.

502 Blues

I originally recorded this track back in February of 2022. Remastered in June of 2025. iReal Pro for the drums and keys. Me on the double bass.

A Fine Romance

I originally recorded this track in February of 2022. Remastered in June of 2025. iReal Pro for the drums and keys. Me on double bass.

A Ballad

I recorded this track in February of 2022. Remastered in June of 2025. iReal Pro for the drums and keys. Me on double bass.

A Beautiful Friendship

Originally recorded in February of 2022. Remastered in June of 2025. iReal Pro for the drums and keys. Me on double bass.

A Blossom Fell

Originally recorded in February of 2022. Remastered in June of 2025. iReal Pro on drums and keys. Me on the double bass.

A Flower is a Lovesome Thing

I originally recorded this in December of 2022. Remastered in June of 2025. iReal Pro for the drums and keys. Me on double bass.

Au Privave

This is a track based on the chord changes to a famous jazz standard called Beautiful Love. I recorded this on my Godin 5th Ave Kingpin jazz guitar. One signal sent DI into my SSL2 and the other a RODE NT1 about 8 inches facing the treble side of the plucking area of the strings between the high E and the F hole. There are a few tritone subs and other forms of reharmonization.

Complicated Love

This is an homage to all the cultures that have contributed to my musical journey so far. It is also a bass solo sandwich. Most of the track is a soup of different loops I found on loopcloud. I take credit for the production and the playing of the double bass. The composition is original. All rights reserved. I have a license to use the loops in the composition.

The bass you are hearing is a Shen SB 80 Fully Laminate with 39.5" scale length. It's a 5/8 size. The strings are all Savarez Corelli Medium long scale. The G string is a nickel wound unlike the others which are steel. I recorded the bass with a RODE NT1 Signature Series condenser facing the center of the top approximately 2 feet from the bridge tip. The mic is fed into an SSL2 audio interface with the 4K emulation engaged. There is some subtle eq and a little reverb on the bass track. No compression or limiting on the bass track. There is light compression on the overall mix.

All is One

I do not own the copyright to this music. I am not profiting from it's dissemination. I encourage the listener to seek out versions of this tune on a streaming audio platform of their choosing. "On Green Dolphin Street" is a 1947 jazz standard composed by Bronisław Kaper with lyrics by Ned Washington.

If you would like to hear more of Bill's awesome guitar playing, check out his soundcloud page:

@https://on.soundcloud.com/8qL4O2gBXyRBEB5yds

Pitstop Jazz Jam - On Green Dolphin Street

Music by Brian Easter and Simon Wojcik
Words by Brian Easter

Brian Easter: vocals, keyboards
Tim Filbird: drums
Chuck Lenderking: rhythm guitar
Will Schuyler: acoustic guitar
Mark Terrence: rhythm and lead guitars
Simon Wojcik: bass, vocals


Copyright 2011 LovePoint Records
Published 2011 MindOne Music
All Rights Reserved

Falling Down by Crayonhead

Music: Easter, Terrence, Wojcik
Words: Easter

Brian Easter: vocals, synth, acoustic guitar
Chuck Lenderking: acoustic guitar
Mark Terrence: electric guitar
Simon Wojcik: bajo sexto


Copyright 2011 LovePoint Records
Published 2011 MindOne Music
All Rights Reserved

Lie To Me by Crayonhead

Words and Music by Scott Goodman

Scott Goodman: vocals, acoustic guitar
Josh Ethan: drums
Simon Wojcik: bass

The Journey by Paradox Engine

E TRAIN by Paradoxe Engine

Words by Rob Beiber
Music by Cuozzo, Pascali, Beiber, Wojcik

Alex Cuozzo: guitars
Buster Pascali: drums
Rob Beiber: lead vocals
Simon Wojcik: bass

Burt by White Horse Cellar

This is my version of the tune written by the great percussionist Mongo Santamaria. I play the melody on a piccolo bass as well as the 6 string bass for the groove. I have programmed the percussion and harmonic accompaniment on my BOSS Jamstation.

Afro Blue

Welcome to my SoundCloud page. My tracks are mostly highlighting my bass playing. I also play guitar, ukelele, some keyboard, sing, and whistle. Thanks for checking out the tunes.

Simon Wojcik

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