Download this free music album: handmade

handmade

by Bruce H. McCosar View the credits

14 tracks

56:40

1	Patterns in the Sky	4:06
2	Abandon in Place	4:06
3	Like the Ocean Needs the Moon	3:39
4	The Outer Banks of Love	3:45
5	Nothing Left but the Sea	4:22
6	City in Flight	3:58
7	Night’s Bridge	4:30
8	Volcanology	3:31
9	A Dream of Flying	4:16
10	In Search of Forgotten Names	3:21
11	Pinelands	3:32
12	Harriet Tubman Lives	4:53
13	A Spy in the House of Pancakes	4:25
14	Rafting Down the Lethe	4:16

Album description

handmade -- conga jazz!

I named this album handmade because all the rhythms were performed using hand percussion instruments: three conga drums, two maracas, and a cowbell. Against this background I have highly melodic improvisation, jazzy chords, and of course a groovin bass line.

I play every instrument you hear on this album--guitar, bass, Hammond organ, keys, and drums.

If you want to know more about the music, have a look at my Wordpress blog. From February 3 to March 7, 2007, I wrote detailed “liner notes” for each of the songs on this album. Here they are, indexed according to track number:

Patterns in the Sky: part 1, part 2
Abandon in Place: part 1, part 2, part 3
Like the Ocean Needs the Moon: part 1, part 2
The Outer Banks of Love: part 1, part 2
Nothing Left but the Sea: part 1, part 2
City in Flight: part 1, part 2, part 3
Night’s Bridge: part 1, part 2
Volcanology: part 1, part 2
A Dream of Flying: part 1, part 2
In Search of Forgotten Names: part 1, part 2
Pinelands
Harriet Tubman Lives: part 1, part 2
A Spy in the House of Pancakes
Rafting Down the Lethe

The Album Cover

My wife gave me a wonderful present for Christmas this year: a quilt she had made for me. Each of the sections of the quilt is a pattern that tells something about me--musical notes, chili peppers, stars and planets, mad scientist cats doing chemistry.

When I saw it, I knew it was the perfect symbol for this album--it was, literally, handmade. It was something put together with care, performed with love, given with joy. I feel the same way about this album, and I hope you enjoy listening to it.

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Reviews on handmade

umbriel rising

Inspired melodies

14/10/07

Nice production, totally disagree with SaReGaMa who it seems has some kind of inferiority complex and likes to put down other's music, which is a pity as his own music is often nice and he doesn't need to belittle others to have credit for his own work.

I especially like the clean and clear sound, the bass playing is especially stellar with some great improvisational sounds on guitar and piano. I agree that it sometimes has that Santana influence with the latin percussion but Bruce makes this work his own. Very relaxing music that is great to put on after a hard day at work with a cool beer and a comfy chair.

SaReGaMa

Disarranged

19/03/07

If you take every instrument separately - it sounds ok, but mixed all together they create somewhat messy sound. This is because they don't live space to each other and they're not well-balanced. Imagine an orchestra without conductor or bunch of people that just speaking but not listening. The real disadvantage of this album were the congas. More practice is required.
There's certainly a great potential in this album, the musician is very gifted, but alas - he ain't no sound engineer or recording producer. Some assistance from outside could be very beneficial.

orangeupurple

Awesome

14/04/10

Bruce, I have finally finished listening to all your albums . . . and I have enjoyed every one of them without exception! I especially like this concept album with the hand percussion instruments playing such a sweet role in the development of the music. "handmade" has such a comforting connotation and so does this music. It is, in my opinion, the perfect style of jazz which isn't overdone but is mellow, and relaxing without being too smooth, and has a perfect lived-in atmosphere. I have been playing it for my students this afternoon and it has kept me calm and my students are enjoying the music.

Thank you, Bruce, for enriching us with your lovely creations here on Jamendo and I am looking forward to album number seven!