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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926
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Veteran
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926 |
Quote:
There are blues bands in virtually every country in the world, and many of them are excellent.
About a year ago, I recommended an internet station (polskatstacja.pl/Blues) as the best blues program I had ever heard. They've changed and I no longer make that assertion. Part of the reason is that they have shifted more to R&B and rock, with far less diversity than they had before.
The other part is that about a third of the programming is now Polish artists. Most is blues; some is, erm, just . . . different. It is interesting how all the feeling comes through in the True Blues, even in an "unknown tongue." Blues music truly transcends language, borders, and culture.
R.
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 280
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 280 |
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I suggest moderate discussion. Note that to some of us 'american' includes Canada. And more.
I always wondered at the Columbus Day thing. He landed in Cuba at one point, and I guess some people think that was the US, but....
One needs a broad perspective. The music of the Canadian Mid West is not much different from the US, nor is the NE music, or the NW music. And as to 'black' or 'african' or whatever term is proper these days, the end of the underground railroad was just south of me. Where my wife's family is from. They have at the local university glowing reports of the new postman and his bike, worked for my wife's family who ran the post office. They use the dreaded N word, but in the same phrase talk of him being a great gentleman, and it was the early 1800's when most Canadians had not seen someone of colour.
We need to think of music globally, and understand who and what made it what it is, in the spirit of harmony. As to the man in question and his angst, or leanings, well I know far more about Mr. Mozart than he, and far more about the music of the 1700's to the 1800's. But I like to listen.
This was posted for intelligent discussion, not 6 shooting.
On another note, after 8 weeks I got from the UK the Best of Vera Lynnn, and have been reading the era and listening to her. My 88 year old RCAF then RAF officer from WW2 told me last night, "she thought her job was to make me cry and she did a darn good job of it." Interesting...
I wondered about Columbus day even when I was a little kid. It's not like he founded NYC or something.
And Thanksgiving - our ancestors were probably thanking God the Indians were so primitive it would be easy to kill them and take their land!
We're funny people.
Like the man said, "ain't that a kick in the head!"
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 280
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Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 280 |
I watched the entire Burns special. Didn't get so much that it was talking a lot about racism. I think he did focus a little much on Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. Great artists of course, but not the only ones.
Like the man said, "ain't that a kick in the head!"
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 98
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 98 |
Music may be the single element in human culture which can truly transcend race, religion, nationality, and ethnic origin. As such it is really magical and profound. I don't have to like or enjoy all forms of musical expression, but I should have some respect for all of it - excluding, perhaps, some hateful lyrics.
Recently scientists obtained DNA samples form over 250,000 folks worldwide in as much of a diverse spread as possible. They found [ no surprise ] that humans share about 99.9% of their DNA...we are all a single race, and very much alike. It's our various cultures and sub-cultures which set us apart, not race.
My wife doesn't like hip-hop music at all -- she maintains that it's just noise. I don't care for it myself, but I certainly recognize that it is music, and as such has an emotional message, verbal or not, that all music has. I've heard some free-flowing jazz that sounds like a flock of seagulls being sucked into a shop vac, but it's still music, whether I like it or not. I've been told that I lack the musical sophistication needed to appreciate that kind of avant garde performance, and that may be true, but I certainly won't deny that it's music.
It has always amazed me that people are compelled to make music. Whistles have been found in Cro Magnon digs that were made from a bone and showed a series of holes which suggested a diatonic scale...30,000 years ago.
I like some forms of music and dislike others, but I do admire those that invent, compose and play it. Music is the one really magical thing that we humans do. If some software can do it also, that's great, as some humans somewhere had to program that software in any event.
No music is 'owned' by a certain race or nationality, nor is there a race which is inherently 'better' at some forms of music than some other races. The attributes all come from the various cultural differences. We can see all races, religions, and ethnic peoples playing 'classical' music with great feeling and expertise, for example. I don't think we should call this music 'dead European white-guy music'.
Perhaps I can understand the feeling that wants to protect cultural aspects which have come under unrelenting attack in times past, but that desire can be misplaced in today's world. Instead we should rejoice in the playing of music, regardless of the racial origins of those performing it.
Fire, the wheel, and the I IV V -- foundations of civilization.
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Joined: Dec 2008
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 280 |
Roger that axegrinder!
I read about that bone-flute with the diatonic holes. Kind of gives you chills.
How lucky are we humans to find it pleasing when certain sound waves strike our ear drums.
That DNA stuff also gives you chills. I read a story where they found a body preserved in a bog, near a smalll village in England. It was 10,000 years old. They checked everybody in the village and found a man who was related to the bog person! Way distantly of course, but related. I guess that made him the elder of the village!
Like the man said, "ain't that a kick in the head!"
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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Peter Gannon Talks Band-in-a-Box with zplane
zplane recently interviewed Peter Gannon, the founder and creator of Band-in-a-Box, about the software's early days, what sets it apart from AI, how zplane's audio algorithms are used in Band-in-a-Box, and more!
Special thanks to the team at zplane for their continued support.
Check out the full interview here: https://products.zplane.de/blog/peter-gannon-interview-pg-music
Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PDT today!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
Another exciting new addition is the amazing new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. View the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to transcribe an entire track or transcribe specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, and much more!
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!
Good news- we've extended our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® special offers until May 31, 2026!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 is packed with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can transcribe an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PDT on May 31st, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Check out the Band-in-a-Box® for Mac packages page to find the best package for you.
Holiday Weekend Hours
It's Victoria Day Long Weekend in Canada. Our Customer Service hours are:
Saturday, May 16: Closed
Sunday, May 17: Closed
Monday, May 18: 8:00am - 4:00pm
Regular hours resume Tuesday, May 19th!
Today's the Last Day of the Band-in-a-Box 2026® for Mac Special!
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
Order before 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th and SAVE up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 for Mac Upgrade packages... and that's not all! With your version 2026 for Mac purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks... that's 222 NEW RealTracks available with version Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac!
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® today for as little as $49! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all available purchase options.
Learn more about the Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK here.
If you have any questions about which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We're here to help!
202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
Check out all the 202 new RealTracks (in sets 468-488)!
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!
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