A couple weeks ago I authored The Origin Records Guide to Online Streaming and Best Practices. It has now been picked up as an article on All About Jazz.com.
With the Coronavirus upending our lives over the last couple months, finding ways to replace lost income has become vital to many of us—not to mention connection to community and just the act of MAKING MUSIC.
With Seattle being an original hot spot for the virus, our community had to move fast in finding ways to stay connected. As a Seattle drummer and record label partner, the need to create concepts and protocols seemed urgent, so I put together a basic tutorial to present a live stream concert.
From the most simplistic set-up, to multi-camera shoots with studio quality sound, musicians are moving quickly to find their voice in this situation. For all of those and others looking to get started, this tutorial provides some basic tips and strategies that can get you started or act as a reminder for some easily overlooked basics.
Excited to announce that KUOW’s new daily podcast, Seattle Now, is now available on all major podcasting platforms … I wrote the theme music as well as the outro music and stingers.
Seattle Now is a daily rundown of what’s happening in the Northwest in about 15 minutes. It is available every weekday at 6:00am.
Download Seattle Now:
Hello all … just a few updates on recent activities.
December 2019 was a jam-packed month of composing. I delivered another music package to KCTS9 in Seattle for all of their Holiday promos. It was a fun way to get into the holiday spirit.
I wrapped the score for a short film entitled Remembering Max (directed by Jason McRuer) which is starting the film festival submission world this month.
Wore multiple hats on the film Generation Lockdown (directed by Sirad Balducci). Working with my longtime friend and composer Jeff McSpadden, I did the orchestrations, handled the recording of live strings in Seattle and did a bit of additional composing. Again, this film is in the mix for up-coming film festivals so more info to come.
Composed music for corporate film for South Puget Sound 911 which was directed by my good friend Tim Tyler … and speaking of Tim Tyler, his MOTOTREK show continues to roll along (pun intended) with over 70 episodes and more scheduled for this year. Always a pleasure to score it … and it has now been viewed over 10 million times which blows my mind.
This month I was able to spend a few days in Los Angeles taking a couple meetings, enjoying the sunshine, and spending a day at NAMM … one day was enough for me!
Coming up in 2020 … have a couple jazz gigs as a bandleader coming up. Continuing to score a couple of short documentary projects, new music KCTS9 and just completed some music for a, as of now, yet-to-be-announced radio show.
Stay tuned for announcements in the coming weeks!
Cheers,
MJ
Had my first chance to record at the *new* Studio X this week. I did some orchestrations and conducted some cues for an upcoming short film working with my longtime friend Jeff McSpadden. First time working with David Sabee and his team from Seattle Music … and always great to work with Reed Ruddy and Andrew Ching from Studio X!
Had a fun time working on the score with the team from Lorayne Girard Cinematics for their film “Masterpiece” which was part of the Seattle 48 Hour Horror Film project.
The film screened at the SIFF Cinema Uptown on October 28th and again for the finals on November 6.
I had the pleasure of screening a few scenes from the film in July and I’m looking forward to watching all the episodes beginning September 15th!
In July I was able to attend a screening of excerpts from Ken Burns’ new documentary Country Music which will air in September.
I again had the opportunity to work with KCTS9 to compose music for some of the promotional spots and local short-stories which will air in the Seattle-area in conjunction with the broadcast of Country Music. Look for them to start airing in the next few weeks on KCTS9.
Really inspiring night watching the film surrounded by people committed to Public Television.
I had the pleasure of working with director Silas Lindenstein on his film G.A. which was part of Seattle’s 2019 48 Hour Film Project. The film recently screened at the SIFF Uptown theater.
When the film is released for a wider audience I’ll post it here.
Dropped off my kid at school this morning then turned on NPR’s Morning Edition and heard one of my tunes from the Tattooed By Passion album.
Morning Edition has been incredibly supportive of my music over the years and I’m always honored when use it … not to mention surprised when I actually hear it live!
Worked with director Boone Sommerfeld on this fun commercial for Seattle’s Goodwill Earth Day 2019 campaign. This track was recorded at my studio with Jon Hamar on bass and Hans Teuber on flute.
Very proud to have worked with the team at Sparkworks Media on this project.
In December 2018 I was commissioned to write some new themes for Seattle’s PBS station, KCTS 9.
They are making their way onto the air … you can view one here:
All of KCTS’ existing themes were ‘upbeat.’ The task for this theme was to create a theme to bookend ’emotional’ or ‘delicate’ subject matter.
The entire package of music included five versions of the KCTS9 theme which will start airing throughout 2019.
Earlier this month Strawberry Theatre Workshop’s production of How I Learned To Drive wrapped.
My role on this show was more sound design and editing source music … but I did get an opportunity to write a few cues.
One of the few comedic reliefs was the juxtaposition of subject matter with the theme of a 1950s-1960s PSA Instructional Video and the Drivers Manual. So I created a theme called “Safety First: You and Driver Education” which was used at a couple spots during the play.
A Spotify playlist of some of my original compositions:
The MOTOTREK series set off for a series of episodes in India this year. I wrote some new music specifically for the specials. A number of people have requested a copy of the music so it is now available on Bandcamp.
you can also buy the album for as little as $2!
For the past year I’ve been writing music for the MotoTrek YouTube Series. It is mostly a drum score but for the year-end episode I got a last-minute call to write something “Holiday sounding” … oh, and can you get it to us in the next hour or so.
And the MotoTrek series has started to catch on in December. This was the episode that brought in a lot of views.
Hey All … the weekend of October 13-14 I’m presenting a weekend of my original music from the past 17 years of recordings on Origin Records.
Included in the first set will be music from Tattooed by Passion which I haven’t performed live with the full 9-piece band (jazz quintet + string quartet) in six years.
I’m excited for the weekend of music and would love for all of you to join me. And did I mention that the first night is my 45th birthday …
TULA’S JAZZ CLUB
2214 Second Ave / Seattle
Music starts at 7:30pm
Tickets: $20, All Ages
Make a Reservation! 206-443-4221
Featuring:
Thomas Marriott – trumpet
Mark Taylor – saxophone
Ryan Burns – piano
Phil Sparks – bass
Matt Jorgensen – drums
with:
Heather Bentley – violin
Karen Halliburiton – violin
Brianna Atwell – viola
Chris Worswick – cello
I am honored to be hosting the John Coltrane Birthday Celebration at Tula’s Jazz Club on September 22-23.
Joining me this year will be Portland saxophonist Rob Davis who has been a musical collaborator of mine since my college days. Rob is also on my first Matt Jorgensen +451 CD entitled, The Road Begins Here.
Rounding out the group will be Tim Kennedy on piano, Phil Sparks on bass, and myself on drums.
Reservations are recommended as this is an popular annual event!
TULA’S JAZZ CLUB
2214 Second Ave
Seattle
Music starts at 7:30pm | All Ages
Tickets $25
Reservations: 206-443-4221
I’ve been doing music for the YouTube series Moto360 which are motorcycle lifestyle episodes. The idea behind the music was an all-drum score and occasionally I’ve added a few more episodes.
Here is the latest episode:
Click here to watch all of the videos.
Photos from Chico Freeman at The Ballard Jazz Festival:
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