"Cuban Pete"...

Honestly, I hardly know how to describe what I want to say to you about "Intimate Encounter", which, as you know, doesn't happen to me often blush.

All right. O.K. Try this on for size: I believe you have reached a higher level of skill in melodic writing, compositional technique, and, obviously, drum arranging.

Concerning the drum solos, I have dreamed about attempting that in my own jazz compositions, but I always backed down in the face of what I imagined would a near-impossible task of organizing percussion sounds on my own.

Listening to "Intimate Encounter" was like listening to one of my old jazz LP's recorded live in some famous jazz club. It possessed the kind of ambience that was a hallmark of Blue Note albums recorded during the 50's and 60's.

The melody line is bright, flowing and sophisticated. It lends itself to that kind of exciting, wordless "jazz vocalese" that singers such as King Pleasure, or Eddie Jefferson popularized.

I guess I found the words I wanted to say, anyway, huh, "Cuban Pete"? Well, that's because of how swinging and well-put together your composition is. I've dug everything I've heard from you, but in my humble opiniion, "Intimate Encounter" very definitely puts you on higher ground as a composer.

Really and truly impressed,

LOREN (.a.k.a. "bluage")

"Music is what feelings sound like."-- borrowed from a Cakewalk Music Creator forum member, "Mamabear".