Rainbow Skies (from the 2022 Album, "What Was Can Still Be") went through several name changes and mood swings since I first composed the song in 1972. It was originally written as a solo vehicle for jazz great Gene Bertoncini, whose guitar I wrote for several times during the Arranger's Workshop Sessions at the Eastman School of Music. The next year, it was transformed into the second movement of a suite for Studio Orchestra called, "Divina Luz" and performed on that year's Arranger's Holiday concert. That version was a slow ballad featuring solo piano. One more time as "Slow Flight to Alpha Centauri," a rock ballad for the quintet I had while living in Grand Junction, CO in the early 80's before creating this last version with its final title, as a jazz samba for vocal and combo. Sometimes, you can get a lot of mileage out of one idea!

Composition-wise, it is one of my best pieces. Rhonda L Thomas did a fabulous job, giving it life through her golden voice, and I played Fender Jazz Bass and Fender Rhodes electric piano on it. Once again, John Pierce gave a stunning performance on guitar solo, followed by myself on the Fender Rhodes. The instrumentation was pretty straight ahead, as it was only rhythm section and vocal. The drums and congas were virtual instruments, the rest live.

This composition marks one of the only times I attempted to write a set of lyrics (and definitely the only one that will be released as a vocal). I wanted to have the listener immediately get a sense that in order to deal with the madness of the world (like some of the insanity we are dealing with at present), all we have to do is go into our own imagination and create something more charming. 

Composed & arranged by Tony SingingEagle.
Rhonda L Thomas – Vocals
Tony SingingEagle – Fender Fretless Jazz Bass; Fender Rhodes Electric Piano; Shekere; VST Drums & Percussion.
John Pierce – Guitar
Copyright © 2022 Aspen Danse Music, ASCAP. All rights reserved.
IRSC# QM-EU3-22-05826

What Was Can Still Be

Rainbow Skies

Suddenly (from the upcoming 2023 album "Twice Around") is a Latin-jazz composition in the classic Bossa Nova style. It is scored for small studio orchestra (flugel, alto flute, French horns, trombones, woodwinds, strings, and rhythm). I used a delay on the alto flute solo because...well, because why not? The chord changes are rich with upper extensions, while the various instrument sections trade playing lead with the melody. Definitely a feel-good piece to be enjoyed with a glass of wine and some good friends. 

Composed and arranged by Tony SingingEagle. Produced by Mark Blumberg.
All VST instrumentation performed by Tony SingingEagle.
Copyright © 2022 Aspen Danse Music, ASCAP. All rights reserved.
IRSC# QZ-TAX-22-42728

Suddenly

I have been a “music arranger for hire” for over 50 years. Bachelor of Music with a Composition Major (MSU, 1977). Five summer sessions at The Eastman School of Music (Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media program under Rayburn Wright and Manny Albam). In 2020, I decided it was time to start recording and releasing my own (backlog of 25+) compositions. My style is mainly Jazz in its many sub genres, scored mostly for Jazz Ensemble and Studio Orchestra. My main goal is not to “make it big” either reputation-wise or monetarily. I simply want people to hear my music and, perhaps, be affected by what they hear in a positive way—and maybe even share it.

Rainbow Skies

Tony SingingEagle

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