Background Pathologist Anthony Epstein was working on chicken viruses when he learnt of a mysterious childhood cancer during a talk he almost skipped. It led to the discovery, with his doctoral student Yvonne Barr, of the Epstein–Barr virus (EBV): a virus able to cause cancer in people.
This is a humble tribute song to Epstein, Barr, and the thousands of researchers around the world who are dedicated and working hard to understand and eradicate human cancers. Some researchers we may hear about, most we don’t. I hope Epstein would approve of this and I hope you enjoy it.
Epstein died recently in February of this year, at age 102 but his legacy continues to shape research in virology and oncology. Rest in peace.
Technicals BiaB: RealTracks in style: 1861:Synth, Rhythm, EuroDance ChorusHousePianoOffBeat Ev16 120 RealTracks in song: 2457:Strings, Rhythm CelticAir Ev 085 RealDrums in style:SynthDrumsDanceRock^1-a: Bass and Snare , b: Snare and Bass
Me: Korg Keyboard: Intro Synth, Lead Bells Synth, Flute, Piano, Female Vox, Guitar Roland Drum Pad: Cymbals Fender Bass
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
I did wonder if you'd found a link between Bill & Jeffrey. Wonderful science producing wonderful benefits for humans and now, as a species, we're so arrogant we ignore these precious things. Measles outbreaks in the USA, naturally in the areas heavily influence by He Who Would Be King. This piece has a pleasantly SciFi vibe to it...as we now know SciFi leads to SciFact. Nice bubbling bass pulse under this too...well done.
Last edited by rayc; 03/18/2402:43 PM.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
Steve, and outstanding intro and song. Super blend of sounds. Super mix You are into new bass territory are you not? It sounds great! Super song, IMHO your best to date.
Waitress "How did you find your steak sir"?
Me "I just looked next to the potatoes and there it was"!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
I did wonder if you'd found a link between Bill & Jeffrey. Wonderful science producing wonderful benefits for humans and now, as a species, we're so arrogant we ignore these precious things. Measles outbreaks in the USA, naturally in the areas heavily influence by He Who Would Be King. This piece has a pleasantly SciFi vibe to it...as we now know SciFi leads to SciFact. Nice bubbling bass pulse under this too...well done.
Hey Ray, glad to see you back! I figured you were on a world-wide tour with your band and too busy to be on the forum
True to form you've packed a lot of brain cells into your review. No connection to Jeffery as far as I know. Yes, many uneducated people ignoring vaccines and paying a price, especially in "would be King country", sad. Yeah, my Korg has all kinds of sci-fi voices,and sci-fi does lead to sci-fact, well put. Many thanks for the positive review man.
PS> Stay well.
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
Steve, and outstanding intro and song. Super blend of sounds. Super mix You are into new bass territory are you not? It sounds great! Super song, IMHO your best to date.
Hey Mario, many thanks for the listen and favorable review.
Thanks for mentioning some details, there's so much behind each song. Part of the intro resulted from pure luck. I had laid down the piano notes (chords are still beyond my level) before I recorded any flute so when I recorded the flute it (simply by chance) landed on top of the 1st piano note and sounded pretty good. The synth on the intro I knew I needed, to ramp into the song, Korg calls it "SweetSweeper".
As far as new bass territory, yeah, I've watched a few videos where they talk about chomatically moving between chords; sometime creating musical tension along the way. But here's my "secret": I need to work out the notes on the piano first and then translate to the bass. As the years go by I'm finding more and more usefullness in those little white and black keys, kudos to whoever invented it
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
I really enjoyed this! Quite the epic tune and one helluva mix!
I like the title because it does not sound like one of those auto titles from BIAB:
Eloquent Asparagus.
Mr. David, You really are one-of-a-kind, "Eloquent Asparagus" really gave me a laugh, I guess his deadbeat cousin might be "Inarticulate Cucumber" Thanks for listen and review and keep feeding those big, creative brain cells!
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
Hey Ray, glad to see you back! I figured you were on a world-wide tour with your band and too busy to be on the forum
True to form you've packed a lot of brain cells into your review. No connection to Jeffery as far as I know. Yes, many uneducated people ignoring vaccines and paying a price, especially in "would be King country", sad. Yeah, my Korg has all kinds of sci-fi voices,and sci-fi does lead to sci-fact, well put. Many thanks for the positive review man.
PS> Stay well.
Nothing so wonderfully sci fi as a tour. It has been annus horribilus, (to quote Betty Two), that started just shy of the new year with a sever storm and a power surge through PHONE LINES that fried a modem & a desktop - the desk top I use for reviewing and such - one with a decent audio set up. - on NYEve. Since then things went down hill with me having to stay interstate for a while and then catching CV19 on the homeward bound plane trip. These things delayed my replacing the comp and being able to properly listen & comment. I tried a couple of times with a temp set up but it sounded awful so I desisted. Now, I'm back, I've even had time to nearly complete a song I started in the 1st days of January. Slight hiccoughs like a dead motorcycle battery, leaving my phone in a Dr's office 20 miles away have been nuisances but small fry in the broader view . Thanks for the welcome.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
Steve, another cool concept tune...love it! Great job exercising your theme and arranging an interesting soundscape. The instruments and mix do sound GREAT. Very fun listen.
DC Ron BiaB Audiophile Presonus Studio One ASUS I9-12900K DAW, 32 GB RAM Presonus Faderport 16 Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
The dreaded "19" paid us a visit too, back in 2021. Since then, it's 3 jabs a year, Covid, RSV and Flu. I'm sure you know that North of 50 there's an inverse relationship between age and immune strength. That's why we squeeze the neck of the stork as best we can
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
Steve, your bass playing strikes me just as James Jamerson's does. Always so pro in timing and taste. This is quite an interesting composition, and quite an unusual but highly worthy tribute piece. In it you include death AND hope (at least that how it reaches my ears). Man, I love the way you build these with talent.
Enjoy whatever happens! marty
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@babumusic51 SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/marty-straub Band in a Box, Reaper, Cakewalk, Ozone 12, EZDrummer
Steve, another cool concept tune...love it! Great job exercising your theme and arranging an interesting soundscape. The instruments and mix do sound GREAT. Very fun listen.
Hey DC, thanks for listening and introducing me to a new term. I'm unfamiliar with "concept tune", I'll have to look it up.
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
Honestly it's very good. the construction and sounds are superb. Laurent
Thanks Laurent, glad you enjoyed this one.
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
Steve, your bass playing strikes me just as James Jamerson's does. Always so pro in timing and taste. This is quite an interesting composition, and quite an unusual but highly worthy tribute piece. In it you include death AND hope (at least that how it reaches my ears). Man, I love the way you build these with talent.
Hey Marty, many thanks for the listen and glowing review. But there must be a typo. How can I possibly be in the same sentence with THE James Jamerson who arguably is the most influential bass player in modern music history?
I will say that over the 8 years I've been playing and learning this instrument that the "leg" in the rhythm section is becoming more and more important to me. And in rhythm, timing is crucial. There are so many rhythm patterns to explore that I'll be long dead before attempting even half of them. The bass is the only voice in my songs that I always play from beginning to end; other voices I'll cut, paste and move in my DAW, but not the bass. If it requires 4, 5, or even 10 or more takes, so be it. I find the computer work a necessary but uninteresting chore. But when I strap on my plank of lumber, power-up my amp and hit Record, that's where the thrill is I'm sure you know what I mean.
But you truly are the musician's musician. Picking up on the forboding "death" with the intro synth and how it crossfades to "hope" with the strings speaks volumes.
Keep on thumping . . . even after the cows come home
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
Very cool soundscape, sort of science folk with pleasant arrangement. Nice chords, melody and bass lines. The whole structure is nicely evolving like viruses mutating, but yet the rhythm (calm scientist) has everything under control. You surely know how to make interesting instrumentals.
Nice spacey intro. To me, the tune has a very "moving along" feel to it. Wide and open spaces. Love the changes in feel.
Cool listen!
Hi David, thanks so much for the review and kind words. I always value your inputs and haven't forgotten that it was you that opened my eyes to the value of melody.
What I find most interesting is that others see and hear things (in a valid way) that I don't. "Wide and open spaces" is an example. Upon a little ponderment (is that a word?), yeah wide and open is one interpretation I can now see. . . . . ahhh, the mysteries of music are never ending
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
Very cool soundscape, sort of science folk with pleasant arrangement. Nice chords, melody and bass lines. The whole structure is nicely evolving like viruses mutating, but yet the rhythm (calm scientist) has everything under control. You surely know how to make interesting instrumentals.
Janne
Hey Janne, I appreciate your review. ". . . nicely evolving like viruses mutating" . . . this statement is quite an astute connecting of the dots and very clever. Thanks! --Steve
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
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.
Today's the Last Day of the Band-in-a-Box 2026® for Mac Special!
Order before 11:59pm PDT today (May 15, 2026) to save up to 50% off your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrade and receive a FREE Bonus PAK loaded with great new Add-ons to use with this new version!
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.
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!
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
With your version 2026 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
Playable RealTracks Set 5
RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.
The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
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