I'm a songwriter who enjoys various arrangements of my songs in multiple genre.

THE MUSIC PROJECT STORY

MISSION: Every song I write is good vibration energy dedicated to creative answers and solutions to child abuse and neglect. Every sound, note, frequency, play and listen is energy. I am a Chanupa (Pipe) Carrier for this goal and purpose.

The mision is to have the songs produced, arranged, and performed by as many artists and in as many genre forms as possible.  Please follow the Creative Commons 3.0 license requirements. You can use them for noncommerical purposes and must attribute the music by name to me.

Share all arrangements and remixes by sending the songs to me via email attachments or provide download links to them so I can post links for listeners and fans.  If interested in commercial use of my music in any form, please contact me at: oliver.valerie@gmail.com.

The main Web site for all my projects related to the cause is http://inspiredinsightfulideas.blogspot.com

Thanks to all who join me in this cause!

Originally, I recorded these three songs a capella on cassette tape. Eric Nutter (pianist/songwriter/arranger/producer) collaborated with me on Return as a co-writer and arranger. We recorded the new versions on audio cassette. Eric lost his life in the midst of our sessions. This was a great loss, as I'm a songwriter NOT a singer-performer, and Eric was a singer in addition to his other talents.

Next, I approached Chris White, talented bass player in the industry (Nina Simone, Dizzy, etc.) and director of Bloomfield College's Music Program (my undergraduate alma mater) to establish a business-education partnership for students to get professional experience working on a demo for me. BC Music served as Line Producer and I was the Executive Producer.

All My Life (Contemporary-Smooth Jazz, Instrumental) - Gerrod White

Gerrod White did a totally different arrangement to my original concept vocal track (it was more easy listening or adult contemporary). He did the harmonization and suggested the melody pitches for certain sections of the melody where the melody I presented on my audio track was either “out of tune” or ‘out of the key.” (I'm not a singer/performer.) The MIDI programming that Gerrod created to the audio file I provided proceeded as follows:

-  Synchronized my song file with the sequencers metronome

- Created an arrangement

- Digitized all tracks

The JAZZ INSTRUMENTAL concept with rhythm section only is the result of Gerrod's sessions with the song. He choose to record the track with live acoustic musicians (Chris White III, drums & Quinell Brown, bass). Gerrod is playing piano.

I received the music & words to All My Life after awakening in the middle of the night on the day my best friend, Ann Taylor, died. I didn't learn she died until the next day. I sang it at her memorial, and to my surprise, received a round of applause. Thank you for this beautiful song that shares your loving feelings for me, Ann.

All My Life (Ambient Nu-Jazz) - Clay Corrello, Briareus

This is a remix using most of the content of my accapella, original recorded version on a recorder I like to keep by my bed for when inspiration hits me. You can listen to the accapella version here. Clay is so talented. He jumped right into some uncharted territory under the Nu-Jazz category by using pieces of a variety of genre (ambient, electronic, broken beats) and the vocal track sample creativly-- using my vocal like an instrument ub each genre. His *arrangement* makes me think of a mellow John Cage composing for Nu-Jazz.

All My Life (Downtempo Nu-Jazz) - Clay Corrello, Briareus

Another great version that's more traditional in jazz feel and texture with horns, and that bass and guitar he plays so frettin' well having their playful way with us and each other. It's downtown-tempo scorching with a cool burn.

Check out Briareus at his Web site.

You can access the same sample from my page on ccMixter

All My Life (Country/Alt. Country) - Joe Culling

Another student, Joe, produced and arranged the COUNTRY/ALT. COUNTRY version with lyrics much closer to my original concept vocal track. but we never got to discuss it or work on it further together. So you can listen to that version to hear this song with my original lyrics.

(It Was) Ecstasy (R&B) - Claretha Breedlove

Claretha Breedlove did the initial arrangement of this song and the track was then given to David Beverly to reprogram and more clearly define the parts through orchestration and/or re-writing the parts.

My orginal recording was accapella with little pieces of accompanying riffs and/or bass lines inserted where there was a lyric pause. He choose a rhythmic feeling, programmed the drum tracks, harmonized the melody and orchestrated the sequence.

Claretha’s voice is unusual and both Chris and I were not certain if her voice is the one to use on the demo of this song however we agreed that Claretha should lay a vocal track as well as conceive the background parts and perform them herself. The song represented here is as far as we got with it. 

There is an R&B concept version here that was created when working with another singer named, Nicole, on this tune. Nicole was selected for vocals from auditions we held with women singers. I have two versions with her from studio sessions

Return To Me (R&B/Smooth Jazz) - Sophia Laurencin

Return was the closest to being ready to go into pre-production. Primarily because the musical setting suggested by student,  Sophia Laurencin, works well with her voice and it’s projected personality.

I want this song to have multiple Brasilian, Bossa Nova lives. and am committed to new versions with new producers, musicians, and vocals to bring it home.

Sophia rearranged the song by simplifying the harmonies and chose a more relaxed approach to the accompanying music track and added several keyboard tracks and a bass track. In addition Sophia suggested that I edit the lyrics. She recorded the sonm adding her lead and background vocals. Jared Young suggested a different direction for the drums.

It was then given to student David Beverly to produce as follows:

- The programming for the MIDI sequence including editing and polishing Sophia’s arrangement and its’ orchestration

- Digitizing all tracks, scheduling studio time and supervising the recording of the lead and background vocals and mix.

Lots of light and love to you.

All music is Creative Commons 3.0 Licensed.