Jerry B. Posted May 22, 2015 Report Share Posted May 22, 2015 (edited) For the ones who have followed the story, here they are, folks. For the ones who haven't, here it is: in 1989 I was asked to score a soundtrack for a documentary about the underwater life (which never came out). I had the time to work on some ideas to submit to the prodution. They were heavily MV inspired, that's why I thought to recover and share them with you here. I found time enough to convert my old 1989 sequences (thanks God I had a .mid copy of some) and remix them just for you guys. Remember they are not finished or produced songs, but just little cues, intended to show the production how the score would sound like. The sequences were meant to be played by hardware instruments I no longer own, so the result is a bit different. I did my best to keep the stuff as original as I could, imperfections included. I also kept myself from changing the titles to suit the MV universe (like Cocaine Blues or Ocean Drive Chase :-). I wanted to bring you the original feeling true to itself. You will find that the sound is quite different from today's "New Retro", cause the inspiration was not the synth-pop, but the work of venturous composers like James Newton Howard, Alan Silvestri AND Jan Hammer. You'll say it's hugely derivative from this last one, and it's true. At that time I wanted to capture the essence of the music of MV and make it mine. I was young. I no longer write or produce stuff like that, but for me has been fun to recover and share this little piece of my restless, positive, adrenaline-loaded youth with you guys. Thanks for giving me the right excuse ;-). Enjoy JB Edited May 6, 2016 by Jerry B. 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMann Posted May 22, 2015 Report Share Posted May 22, 2015 Love MV inspired music, have always been a big soundtracks fan. I really like how you strung those familiar cues together in Opening Titles. Familiar, yet wholly original! The End Credits reminded me of contemporary jazz great, Dave Grusin. Very good work! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Detective_Crockett Posted May 22, 2015 Report Share Posted May 22, 2015 That was damn good Jerry, I really loved the Opening Title theme, very Crockett's Theme. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corsair77 Posted May 22, 2015 Report Share Posted May 22, 2015 You've made my day. Great work, Opening Titles is on par with Vintage, my favourite track by Peter Guja. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Touch of Class Posted May 22, 2015 Report Share Posted May 22, 2015 It seems like you were ahead of your time in paying homage to the Jan Hammer sound. Overall, I think there are interesting melodic ideas here that warrant further exploration, particularly that of the steel guitar in 'Transparency'. Also, I like your drum tracks -- got to love those LinnDrum congas! Thanks for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COOPER&BURNETT Posted May 22, 2015 Report Share Posted May 22, 2015 (edited) I'm very impressed! Very impressed indeed! I was not expecting that. Sooo glad you shared with us, and thanks for sharing a bit more of yourself. We're enjoying every minute of it. Were into the same things your into. You found a site that is your audience. Edited May 22, 2015 by COOPER&BURNETT 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pahonu Posted May 23, 2015 Report Share Posted May 23, 2015 (edited) Very Nice! I enjoyed it a lot. The little riff at 1:25-1:30 of the Opening Titles reminded me of The Rockford Files theme. Thanks! Edited May 23, 2015 by pahonu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators James Posted May 23, 2015 Administrators Report Share Posted May 23, 2015 These are amazing! Thanks for sharing. The most Jan Hammer thing I've heard which isn't from the man himself.The first one is very reminiscent of Crockett's Return. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victor Posted May 23, 2015 Report Share Posted May 23, 2015 thats so awesome man!really enjoyed the work you made Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluepearl Posted May 23, 2015 Report Share Posted May 23, 2015 Jerry I have enjoyed that music so very much.Listen to it - jumping with the sound on a pink cloud 9 and feeling brought back to the times I definitely liked muchbut also I easily can connect to current music styles.So... YOU are able to create that ... what caressed my ears as well?OH BOY ! You did it again to amaze and catch me, Jerry. The Jan Hammer similarities I am allowed to listen to are not Jan - THAT IS JERRY !!! Thank you with the bottom of my heart !!!W.O.N.D.E.R.F.U.L.L.Y !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry B. Posted May 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2015 (edited) My heartfelt thanks you all, guys. Really. I didn't expect such a feedback. TheMann, thanks for mentioning Dave Grusin. He's been a model for me and I grew up with his records & soundtracks.James, I think anybody attempting to recreate that sound would deal with the devil for a comment like that. Thank you.Touch of Class, you spotted what is maybe my favorite track, or better said, the most Hammer-ish one to me. I've always been fascinated by the way Jan is able to build arpeggiato steel guitar parts, not easy to decode because of the rhythm combination of left & right hand.Blue, once again you were able to see me beyond similarities. We already talked about this, didn't we ? ;-) I'm pleasantly surprised to see you can connect that with current music styles, I'm not able to do the same. I'm glad you danced on cloud nine listening to these tracks ;-) COOP, thanks a lot for your comment. You say I have found my audience, and I'm sure about it. You know, producing music in 21st century means also staying away from all these sounds. If I'm asked to do a soundtrack for a contemporary movie I have to write something totally different. But the warmth I received by sharing with you this little part of my past, makes me willing to record more stuff like that. Who knows? Edited May 25, 2015 by Jerry Beck 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crockettt Posted May 24, 2015 Report Share Posted May 24, 2015 Jerry, if Jan Hammer refuses, You will be the right person to make score for Miami Vice Reboot, because you captured Vice vibe just like him You are Genius, Jerry! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt5 Posted May 24, 2015 Report Share Posted May 24, 2015 (edited) Love your music updates you post Crockett! the rips from the episodes are so good. Edited May 24, 2015 by Matt5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvnyc Posted May 24, 2015 Report Share Posted May 24, 2015 (edited) Jerry, if Jan Hammer refuses, You will be the right person to make score for Miami Vice Reboot, because you captured Vice vibe just like him You are Genius, Jerry! Those were my thoughts exactly, when the reboot happens (notice I didn't say "if" because it will, it's just a matter of time), I hope you can get in touch with the right people and make it happen, those were excellent! Edited May 24, 2015 by mvnyc 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry B. Posted May 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2015 Crockett, mvnyc, what am I supposed to say after your comment? ;-) Thank so much, guys. As said, if there are people to share this stuff with - well, it's you. I can see it definitely worth the effort, and I don't exclude to recover more tracks and maybe writing new stuff. Let's see ;-) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony D. Posted June 1, 2015 Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 I immediately thought of Crockett's Theme in the first track, but it then showed your own originality. All were interesting, because there was a melody to enjoy along with the MV beat. I would take Crockett's suggestion & try for the music for a Reboot of Miami Vice because, even DJ said he was thinking about one. Good luck with this. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry B. Posted June 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2015 Thank you, Tony D., you're too kind. I have a couple of more of those tracks. They're at a rougher stage compared to the other ones, I stopped working on them when they told me the movie was not going to be released. Time has come to finish my job ;-) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony D. Posted June 3, 2015 Report Share Posted June 3, 2015 You may have some competition to compose new music for a Miami Vice Reboot.........Jan Hammer, and also a couple people on this site who also compose some nice, vice music. Maybe you guys can pool your efforts? Then share the profits! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry B. Posted June 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2015 Tony D., thanks for your kind words. I'm flattered you named Jan as one of my competitors, I'm sure he would not agree LOL Actually, I don't think I have competitors since I no longer write stuff like that. It's been great fun and pleasure to share this old stuff of mine with the most dedicated and committed audience in the world. You brought me to take the dust off from old pieces of equipment, and recreate sounds of gear I no longer have. Those old unborn cues got one chance to live, and I had a lot of requests here to post more stuff like that. I'm not sure I'll able to do, my schedule is tight, but I'll do my best to. If there's an audience who deserve this, well, it's you guys. And - well - if Universal calls, who knows? ;-))) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little miss dangerous Posted June 4, 2015 Report Share Posted June 4, 2015 Very nice soundtracks. Thanks for sharing those with us. You have talent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Touch of Class Posted June 4, 2015 Report Share Posted June 4, 2015 Pray, what equipment did you use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry B. Posted June 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2015 (edited) Little Miss Dangerous, thanks for your kind words. Appreciated ;-) Touch Of Class, as far as I can remember I surely used a DX7 (Mark I), a Korg Poly800, a Roland D110 and a Oberheim DMX. That's more or less what I had in the studio at the end of the 80s.DX7 was used mostly for steel guitar, jazz guitar, overdriven guitar, metalic, chimey and bell-ish sounds. It's one of the trademarks of the music of Miami Vice. I also had a Boss distortion pedal I used for filtering my lead solos when I wanted to imitate the sound of MV. For a while I had a borrowed Rockman too, highly recommended for anyone into Jan sound. Edited June 5, 2015 by Jerry Beck 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TylerDurden389 Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 Nice work Jerry!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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