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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.

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!

SDteve,

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

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.

Thank you for the encouragement and kind words.

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

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.

Andrew-

I laughed so hard at this that coffee came out my nose.

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.

Hi, Steve.

Nice!

I enjoyed the song, and enjoyed watching "the band".

That's a mighty nice collection of shirts you've got, too!

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.

Beautiful arrangement and a sunny song. Great saxophone solo.
Laurent

Thank you for giving it a listen.

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.

Your wife wasn't the only one smiling.
Great composition
Outstanding chops on all of those instruments
Great mix and video
A fantastic song.

Thanks so much. I specifically wrote that arrangement to work for a split screen video. I'm glad you guys liked it.

Thanks MarioD.

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."