USA Projects

"Pretty Melodies, for people who dig that sort of thing" is the title of an original collection of tunes I hope to record this spring. It is a set of new pieces written in effort to cultivate a greater melodic approach for me as a composer and improviser. Working toward this goal will not only further my creative skill as a jazz pianist but also be a rewarding project to complete.

One consideration I set when composing for this project was that all of the melodies needed to come to me spontaneously, either by improvising at the piano, driving to work, or just walking my dog. I knew a particular melody would work or be compelling enough to continue developing, if I found myself humming it after a period of time or recalling it out of the blue. The best of these melodies were the ones that I caught myself singing, but forgot that I had written. Another consideration I set for myself was to write tunes without any arrangements, grooves, bass lines, etc. This approach allowed the melody to be the sole entity that would influence the performance.

The recording will feature colleagues of mine from Bucks County Community College whom I’ve gigged with for years throughout Philadelphia. They are Paul Gehman on bass, Mark Pultorak on drums, and Lenny Pierro on saxophone. Only a few rehearsals will be scheduled to keep the music fresh. We’re going for a “live” sound in the studio, relying only on musicianship and a shared ensemble goal. The project will be recorded, mixed and mastered at Morning Star Studios in East Norriton, Pa. Liner Notes will be written by John Kelman, Senior Editor at All About Jazz.com. 1000 CDs will be printed and used to document the work. 

Any donation possible will help bring this project to life. To get the ball rolling, we need to raise about $3500, which will cover the initial studio and post-production fees, as well as CD manufacturing. Additional funding will be put towards musician fees, artwork, and concerts.

Thanks for your support.

Sincerely,

Jeff Baumeister