11 Feb 2008, #8a. "Madeleine Brand" - 5m02s

(This is a repost, with repaired URL's for the correct mp3. Take another listen!)

I felt like I needed something firmly in a minor mode. How much more minor could I get than C# minor? The answer is none. None more minor.

Spinal Tap references aside, this piece is interesting mostly because I played it all with my left hand, partly as an exercise, and partly because my right was exhausted. You can hear the one-handedness in the deliberate feel. My left fingers are definitely not as dexterous or gentle as my right. Also (obviously) there is a little pause in the treble whenever I have to jump down to play a bass note. The melody, when there is one, is quite fractured because of this. It makes for a unique texture.

download (option-click for Mac users, right-click and save for PC users)

Recorded on February 11th, 2008, at Peace Church of the Brethren, in Portland, OR, with a Zoom H4 Digital Recorder. Edited with Audacity music software.

11 Feb 2008, #7. "Michele Norris" - 4m08s

After the tango, I stick with a Latin feel (with a little Mario thrown into the intro). Unlike most of my improvs, this has very traditional phrase lengths and harmonic structure. It sounds like I'm playing from a chart.

download (option-click for Mac users, right-click and save for PC users)

Recorded on February 11th, 2008, at Peace Church of the Brethren, in Portland, OR, with a Zoom H4 Digital Recorder. Edited with Audacity music software.

11 Feb 2008, #6. "Mara Liasson" - 3m50s

After a herky jerky start, I fall into a little tango number. I realized after the fact that it is a reimagining, one half step down, of a previous improv ("Beatrice," from the January 7th group). Compare the two – it's interesting to see the similarities.

This is for all my good friends who like to dance a fine tango now and then. You know who you are – can you dance to this?

download (option-click for Mac users, right-click and save for PC users)

Recorded on February 11th, 2008, at Peace Church of the Brethren, in Portland, OR, with a Zoom H4 Digital Recorder. Edited with Audacity music software.

11 Feb 2008, #5b. "Ira Flatow" - 3m01s

I find this to be Satie-esque, with little modules barely tied together.

#5b. "Ira Flatow" (to download: option-click for Mac users, right-click and save for PC users)

Recorded on February 11th, 2008, at Peace Church of the Brethren, in Portland, OR, with a Zoom H4 Digital Recorder. Edited with Audacity music software.