recording & arranging

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Please choose from the following three categories: Production & Recording Work, Arrangement/Chart Preparation Work, Instructional Work.

Congruent Music Co. serves as a "one-stop-shop" for my music production, recording & arranging skills and services. These services, provided through my home studio, include chart and score preparation, MIDI track sequencing, pre-production song demos, electric and upright bass overdubbing, and more. All production work is generated in a timely, professional manner, and exhibits the highest standards of musical and technical integrity.

Description: As with my skills as an arranger (see page on "Arranging/Charting work"), an extensive performing and recording resume have provided me with invaluable preparation for the role of Producer. The maxim holds true that "the best studio players always play with the mind of a Producer." I have been honored to have opportunities to work with numerous songwriters to help bring their music to life, and to present it in a way that both captures the intent of the artist at the same time as raising it to higher levels of musicality and interest. Production work can involve any combination of sequencing and pre-production work at my home studio, chart or lead sheet preparation if needed (see the "Arranging/charting work" as well as the next two sections of this website), and overseeing recording and mixing sessions at rental studio facilities and delivering a finished master.

"Producing, Co-writing, & Engineering" examples:
1. Contemporary Country Ballad
2. Swing/Jazz vocal
3. Smooth-Jazz/Bossa Nova vocal
4. Smooth-Jazz vocal
5. New Age/Smooth-Jazz instrumental
6. Smooth-Jazz instrumental
7. Smooth-Jazz instrumental
8. TV theme (Swing/ Smooth-Jazz)
9. TV theme (Smooth-Jazz)
10. Classical/New Age/Acoustic
11. Classical
12. Jazz/Dixieland
13. World Music/Eclectic
14. Pop/Rock; fretless bass solo
15. Pop/Rock

My home studio provides a comfortable and efficient setting for the preparation of audio and midi-tracks to be used for song demos, or as the pre-production or overdubbing and/or "sweetening" stage for projects to be completed at larger commercial studios. My sequencing work combines technical skill with a rare sense of musicality so that tracks and sequences have a warm, "human" quality to them. Additional reference may be made to the charts/scores that are available for a few of these examples in the "Arrangement/Chart Preparation" section of this website.

"Arranging, Sequencing, & Orchestration" examples:
1. Pop/Contemporary Christian Music
2. Pop Ballad/Contemporary Christian
3. Pop Ballad/Contemporary Christian
4. Pop/Dance/Disco
5. Big Band/Swing vocal
6. Motown/Old R&B
7. New Age/Smooth-Jazz
8. Smooth-Jazz/Funk instrumental
9. Movie Theme/Americana - orchestra with rhythm section
10. Movie Theme/Americana - orchestral version
11. Smooth-Jazz/Funk instrumental
12. Contemporary Christian Music/Pop
13. Contemporary Christian Music/Pop Ballad
14. Pop/Contemporary Christian
15. Pop/Rock; fretless bass solo
16. Pop/Rock

With 27+ years of studio session experience, my recorded work is known for its broad versatility, creativity and musicality. A large reservoir of basses and bass "sounds," from modern (i.e. Ken Smith, Modulus, etc.) to classic (1962 Fender Jazz Bass), make my bass work an asset to any recording project. Those interested in my (bass) studio work may also want to review some of the excerpts from my released CD's in the "Recording Label" section of the website (cross-linked to Congruent Music's section on CDBaby.com)

"Bass Session work" examples:
1. Pop/Funk
2. Pop-Rock/Ballad
3. Pop-Rock/Contemporary Christian
4. Pop-Rock/Contemporary Worship
5. Pop-Rock
6. Pop-Rock/Contemporary Worship
7. Contemporary Country
8. Contemporary Country
9. Smooth-Jazz vocal
10. Contemporary Country
11. Country (acoustic)
12. Smooth-Jazz instrumental
13. Smooth-Jazz/Funk instrumental
14. Jazz instrumental
15. Pop/Contemporary Christian
16. Pop Ballad/Contemporary Christian
17. Jazz/Funk; fretted bass solo
18. Jazz; acoustic bass solo
19. Pop/Contemporary Christian
20. Rock/Alternative
21. Rock/Alternative
22. Rock/Alternative/acoustic/fretless bass

Though I am frequently called on for recording sessions at commercial studios, my skills and sounds as a session bassist can be utilized "remotely" through the use of my home studio. In this current "digital age" individual parts of a production are increasingly often recorded at multiple studios, including home ones and combined for mixing and completion elsewhere. I have been called upon to add bass work to projects for clients within the DFW-area and in other cities including Nashville and Houston, and other cities in the Southwest. The re-cording formats do not even have to be directly compatible. For those interested in using me in this capacity, an initial conversation would include a discussion of the technical options available. The bass playing on all of the tracks linked and listed below were done at my home studio. Note that in some cases the track is a "rough mix" if the track has not been fully mixed and completed yet (at the time of this website preparation).

"Bass (Home Studio) Overdubbing work" examples:
1. Pop-funk/Contemporary Christian
2. Latin-funk/Pop/Contemporary Christian
3. Contemporary Country Ballad
4. New Age/Smooth-Jazz instrumental
5. Smooth-Jazz/Funk instrumental
6. Movie Theme/Americana - orchestra with rhythm section
7. Smooth-Jazz/Funk instrumental
8. bowed acoustic (upright) bass/Pop Ballad
9. TV theme (Swing/ Smooth-Jazz)
10. TV theme (Smooth-Jazz)
11. bowed acoustic (upright) bass feature
12. plucked acoustic (upright) bass feature
13. fretless and fretted bass duet

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With over 30 years of professional arranging and performing experience, in a wide range of genres, I can provide arrangements, scores and/or charts in a quick and professional manner. My skills using the latest version of Finale (the music writing software program) combined with exceptional musicianship, and extensive knowledge of counterpoint and musical styles have given me a growing reputation as a first-rate arranger. Chart preparation can also be combined, if needed, with sequencing/midi-programming and producing for many types of pieces (see the page on "Production/Recording Work"). Compensation for arranging work can be done by hourly rates or, as circumstances may dictate, by flat fees.

Examples:
1. Best of My Love
2. Think
3. Mack the Knife
4. Waltz for Julia
5. Amanda's Song
6. The Reason for Music (vocal)
7. The Reason for Music (rhythm section)
8. Twinkle, Twinkle (for intermediate guitar student ensemble)

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Drawing from 14 years of university and junior-college teaching experience and 25+ years of private instruction, I currently maintain a limited schedule of private lessons in my home in Richardson, TX. A large body of rare unpublished, detailed bass transcriptions and technique worksheets which were developed during these years of college instruction, are passed along free of charge to students as needed. Inquiries regarding lessons and openings may be made via email (john@congruentmusic.com) from this website. On a periodic basis, other (non-bassist) musicians and or vocalist/song-writers of any type may receive instruction in any of these additional areas as well: Improvisation, Music Theory, Composition, and Arranging. Potential students with those interests may want to peruse the "Production and Recording Work" sections of this website.

In addition to the years of classroom and private instruction, I have also had numerous opportunities to do clinics and master classes at universities throughout Texas and the Southwest, as well teaching at numerous workshops and conferences around the U.S., including: Jamey Aebersold's Summer Workshops, The University of Wisconsin Summer Music Clinic, I.A.J.E. and I.S.B. conferences, and UNT's Summer Jazz Workshops. I always try to make a point of creating an interactive and stimulating atmosphere in workshops and master classes. The topics to be covered can include any of the instructional areas indicated in the "Private Instruction" section above: bass concepts and techniques, jazz, improvisation, composition, arranging, and/or ensemble & performance coaching. Inquiries for this area may also be made via email to john@congruentmusic.com.

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