I wrote this song for my wife, Karin, back in late 2000, early 2001. I wrote it for tenor sax, guitar, keys, bass, and drums (we had a great fusion jazz group and wanted a reggae/ska tune). However, I have been wanting to make a split screen recording that featured several of instruments I have on hand. So, I wrote the horn arrangement for soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxes. I also wrote some pads for the flute, clarinet, and bass clarinet. Best of all, it made my wife smile.
I used several BIAB styles on this arrangement. I hope I don't miss any of them.
Memo: A 1970s ska trio with a slower tempo, featuring electric bass, electric guitar, and ska drums. -Examples: I Shot The Sheriff, Pickney Gal, Genre "Intensity" Score=55/100 _PIKITUP.STY. Pick It Up '70s Ska Trio All RealTracks. Trio. Tempo=100 (85-120) Instruments: El.Bass, El.Guitar, Drums RD: SkaSlow70sWes^2-a:Sidestick , b:Hat, Busy Snare :Wes Little RT3486: Bass, Electric, SkaClassicAB Ev16 100 , Brian Allen RT3492: Guitar, Electric, Rhythm SkaSlow Ev16 100 , Mike Durham
Memo: This classic ska band includes acoustic piano, electric guitar, electric bass, and ska drums. -Examples: The Guns Of Brixton, Santaria, Genre "Intensity" Score=55/100 _RUDEGRL.STY. All RealTracks. Quartet. Tempo=100 (85-120) Instruments: El.Bass, Ac.Piano, El.Guitar, Drums RD: SkaSlowClassicWes^1-a:Sidestick, Kick24 , b:Sidestick, Quarterkick :Wes Little RT3486: Bass, Electric, SkaClassicAB Ev16 100 , Brian Allen RT1156: Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm Reggae Ev16 100 , Blair Masters RT3492: Guitar, Electric, Rhythm SkaSlow Ev16 100 , Mike Durham
Memo: A 1970s ska quartet RealStyle with organ, electric guitar, electric bass, and ska drums with percussion. -Examples: The Guns Of Brixton, All Star, Genre "Intensity" Score=55/100 _RUDEBOY.STY. All RealTracks. Quartet. Tempo=100 (85-120) Instruments: El.Bass, Organ, El.Guitar, Drums RD: SkaSlow70sWesPerc^2-a:Sidestick , b:Hat, Busy Snare :Wes Little RT3486: Bass, Electric, SkaClassicAB Ev16 100 , Brian Allen RT1155: Organ, B3, Rhythm Reggae Ev16 100 , Blair Masters RT3492: Guitar, Electric, Rhythm SkaSlow Ev16 100 , Mike Durham
Memo: This Jamaican groove selecta style uses a classic reggae groove. This includes electric bass, acoustic piano, electric guitar, organ, and reggae drums with tambourine. -Examples: A Message To You, Rudy, Could You Be Loved, Genre "Intensity" Score=55/100 _SELECT1.STY. All RealTracks. Quintet. Tempo=100 (85-120) Instruments: El.Bass, Ac.Piano, El.Guitar, Organ, Drums RD: ReggaeTambo^2-a:Sidestick, Tambourine , b:Sidestick, Tambourine2 :Shannon Forrest RT1153: Bass, Electric, Reggae Ev16 100 , Craig Young RT1156: Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm Reggae Ev16 100 , Blair Masters RT3492: Guitar, Electric, Rhythm SkaSlow Ev16 100 , Mike Durham RT1155: Organ, B3, Rhythm Reggae Ev16 100 , Blair Masters
I recorded this into Logic Pro 11. The saxophones were recorded using a Sennheiser 441 dynamic mic. The flute/clarinet/bass clarinet was recorded using a Sennheiser MK4 condenser mic. This was filmed with my iPhone Pro Max 15. I edited the video using Final Cut Pro.
This is a really, really cool tune! had me thinking I was on the beach, a drink with a tiny umbrella in my hand. The word that comes to mind for me is comfortable. It's a "comfy" listen!
You're as very talented musician with multiple skills. I particularly like the tenor sax and the cumulative tracks as the ending evolved.
Oh, BTW, I really like that shirt in the lower-left corner!
It's always fun and VERY entertaining to see your multiple selves having fun in a band. What you play sounds GREAT. I love it!
I have wanted to get this song recorded for such a long time. I originally wrote it for my 5-piece fusion jazz group. I am a retired US Army bandsman and now teach middle school band in a large urban school district. During Covid, I'd watch all those split screen videos and feel so envious. My students did not have the means to make recordings. It's been a personal goal to make such a recording for a long time. Now that I'm starting to understand the process, I hope to be able to get my middle school big band (yes... we have a big band) recorded and present the product at the end of this school year.
Hi Steve! I love a good reggae tune - a genre we could well do with a lot more of in these days. I got so carried away, I put my hand up to order a pina colada.
BTW, you'd better have words with the clarinetist - he lacks concentration and I am sure he was checking his Facebook on the screen behind him at one point!
This is a really, really cool tune! had me thinking I was on the beach, a drink with a tiny umbrella in my hand. The word that comes to mind for me is comfortable. It's a "comfy" listen!
You're as very talented musician with multiple skills. I particularly like the tenor sax and the cumulative tracks as the ending evolved.
Oh, BTW, I really like that shirt in the lower-left corner!
Thanks for a great listen and enjoyable video.
Alan
Alan-
Thank you. Back in the late 70's-early 80's, San Antonio was one of the stops for lot's of concert tours. My brother and I discovered Van Halen via Joe Anthony's (the "Godfather of Rock") radio show on 99.5 KISS. When Black Sabath came to town, Van Halen was opening for them. We were hooked. So... many years down the road, my brother came across that shirt (the cover of "Fair Warning"). I get to wear it a couple of times per year.
Hi Steve! I love a good reggae tune - a genre we could well do with a lot more of in these days. I got so carried away, I put my hand up to order a pina colada.
BTW, you'd better have words with the clarinetist - he lacks concentration and I am sure he was checking his Facebook on the screen behind him at one point!
Great tune!
Andrew
Andrew-
I laughed so hard at this that coffee came out my nose.
This is a really, really cool tune! had me thinking I was on the beach, a drink with a tiny umbrella in my hand. The word that comes to mind for me is comfortable. It's a "comfy" listen!
You're as very talented musician with multiple skills. I particularly like the tenor sax and the cumulative tracks as the ending evolved.
Oh, BTW, I really like that shirt in the lower-left corner!
Thanks for a great listen and enjoyable video.
Alan
Alan-
Thank you. Back in the late 70's-early 80's, San Antonio was one of the stops for lot's of concert tours. My brother and I discovered Van Halen via Joe Anthony's (the "Godfather of Rock") radio show on 99.5 KISS. When Black Sabath came to town, Van Halen was opening for them. We were hooked. So... many years down the road, my brother came across that shirt (the cover of "Fair Warning"). I get to wear it a couple of times per year.
Thanks for giving it a listen.
My pleasure. I lived in San Antonio through much of the 1970s. Yeah, I'm old! I listened mostly to KONO. Our band often played at Randy's Rodeo - a large dance hall on Culebra Street. It doesn't exist anymore. Back then, there were many places with live music - we played quite a few of them.
This is a really, really cool tune! had me thinking I was on the beach, a drink with a tiny umbrella in my hand. The word that comes to mind for me is comfortable. It's a "comfy" listen!
You're as very talented musician with multiple skills. I particularly like the tenor sax and the cumulative tracks as the ending evolved.
Oh, BTW, I really like that shirt in the lower-left corner!
Thanks for a great listen and enjoyable video.
Alan
Alan-
Thank you. Back in the late 70's-early 80's, San Antonio was one of the stops for lot's of concert tours. My brother and I discovered Van Halen via Joe Anthony's (the "Godfather of Rock") radio show on 99.5 KISS. When Black Sabath came to town, Van Halen was opening for them. We were hooked. So... many years down the road, my brother came across that shirt (the cover of "Fair Warning"). I get to wear it a couple of times per year.
Thanks for giving it a listen.
My pleasure. I lived in San Antonio through much of the 1970s. Yeah, I'm old! I listened mostly to KONO. Our band often played at Randy's Rodeo - a large dance hall on Culebra Street. It doesn't exist anymore. Back then, there were many places with live music - we played quite a few of them.
Take care.
I heard Count Basie at Randy's Rodeo. Small world.
Great post, such talent! I love bass clarinet, would love to hear more!
TuneMonger-
Thanks. I really like playing the bass clarinet. I usually play it when I'm doing a musical. When I'm playing with big bands, I usually cover the 1st tenor book. Doubles for tenor are soprano sax, flute, and clarinet. Bari sax gets bass clarinet... but the books I've seen here in town don't have doubles for the bari.
Steve, cool tune and VERY nicely performed. Wild finish. That's a cool video concept and well executed. Like the rotating ensemble of BiaB players. The reggae organ is not a sound I remember featuring before, like it a lot.
DC Ron BiaB Audiophile Presonus Studio One ASUS I9-12900K DAW, 32 GB RAM Presonus Faderport 16 Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
Steve, cool tune and VERY nicely performed. Wild finish. That's a cool video concept and well executed. Like the rotating ensemble of BiaB players. The reggae organ is not a sound I remember featuring before, like it a lot.
DC Ron- I wish I could say it was the first song I wrote for Karin. However, the first one I wrote for her was right after we were married. I brought it into work, 7ID (L) Army Band at Ft. Ord CA (Monterey, CA). That was back in 1990. I brought her up to work with me, gathered the jazz combo, and pulled out the chart. It was a very simple jazz samba. I was pretty proud of it. It had lots of maj7 chords and was light and breezy. When we got done, the bass player said, "You should call this Samba Da FiFi". Bummer. Back to the drawing board.
I liked the reggae organ too. Some old school sounds.
Absolutely brilliant. You do great work with the woodwind and it's wonderfully arranged. It takes me back to when as a mere slip of a lad (the lad being my father, the slip being me) when I ran away to sea. I was listening to music like this in an old Jamaici tavern. I can still hear the sounds of me shipmates: What'll e 'ave ta drink Tobago Jack?" "I'll have a pint of grog, thanks!" "What'll e 'ave ta drink Bahama Bob?" "I'll have a pint of grog, thanks!" "What'll e 'ave ta drink Trinidad Tom?" "I'll have a pint of grog, thanks!" "What'll e 'ave ta drink Weston-super-Mare Alf?" "A gin and tonic and a packet of crisps, please."
Some favourite Waoist Adages: #1: Play on the Way. #13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you. #58: Bring consciousness to it. #63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made. #92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
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!
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
Whether you're exploring new features, checking out the latest RealTracks or Style PAKs, this is your go-to guide for Band-in-a-Box® 2026.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac is here and it is packed with major new features! There’s a new modern look, a GUI redesign to all areas of the program including toolbars, windows, workflow and more. There’s a Multi-view layout for organizing multiple windows. A standout addition is the powerful AI-Notes feature, which uses AI neural-net technology to transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI—entire mixes or individual instruments—making it easy to study, view, and play parts from any song. And that’s just the beginning—there are over 100 new features in this exciting release.
Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until May 15, 2026. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!
If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you over the phone. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday, and 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST Saturday. We are closed Sunday. You can also send us your questions via email.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you on our Live Chat or by email. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday; 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST (GMT -8) Saturday; Closed Sunday.
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean