GregHolmes.com: Sounds

Firebeat 0:16
Entirely produced by the Fairlight CMI, this excerpt from one of my compositions illustrates tuned percussion. There is only one "traditional" pitched sound present, which is the breathy flute/voice sound. The rest of the instruments are all percussive and needed to be micro-tuned within the Fairlight in order to bring them to the same standard pitch reference. Many of the sounds are also played higher or lower than normal, but this is a common Fairlight technique to make the most of only eight monophonic sounds on the Series II model.
Summerfest 2013 Zumba Intro 1:21
I created this intro and sang it live as a flashy way to start the Zumba show at Pelham SummerFest 2013. A bit of Latinesque guitar, a high note, then some drumming.
Sunny Side Of The Street 2:29
Another sparse arrangement, starting with bass and voice, and adding guitar after a solo featuring keyboard. Recorded in May of 2013.
I'll Be Seeing You 2:14
This Latin Jazz song was performed on Chapman NS/Stick, with some of the percussion parts provided by items found in the kitchen! For JS. Recorded in 2012.
Angel In A Green Sea 5:13
A journey into an underwater world - with three drumsets, a mermaid, and a "seagull flute". This one is dedicated to SG. Recorded in early 2012.
Harlem Nocturne 2:57
The sparse arrangement of this version consists of just my nylon-string guitar and my voice, and it truly highlights the haunting melody of this song from 1939. I sing the original lyrics here, although Mel Tormé sings a version with alternate lyrics about lost love. It's interesting that this and the two following songs all have a Tormé connection! Recorded in May of 2011.
Blues in The Night 3:35
This is a classic song written by the team of Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer for the 1941 film Blues in the Night. The pair were so excited upon completing it that they crashed a party at singer Margaret Whiting's house, at which Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland, Mel Tormé, and Martha Raye were guests. Needless to say, the evening was a smash. Recorded in May of 2011.
Born To Be Blue 3:32
This one was written by Mel Tormé and Robert Wells, the same collaboration that gave us the classic holiday tune "The Christmas Song" - which you might know better as "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire". Recorded in May of 2011.
Baltimore Oriole 4:00
A tale of yearning and wanderlust. Composed in 1942 by Hoagy Carmichael with lyrics by Paul Francis Webster. This song appeared in the movie "To Have and Have Not" in 1944. Recorded live at Fonthill Music Academy, May of 2007.
Just Squeeze Me 3:44
A Sweet and romantic love song by Duke Ellington and Lee Gaines. Recorded live at Mosquito Grill, Fall of 2007.
I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues 5:41
This one starts with a 12-bar blues progression played out of tempo before the vocals come in with the intro. The solo is a double-shot of 12-bar, with the intro re-stated instrumentally before the singing comes in again. Recorded live at Mosquito Grill, Fall of 2007. One listener commented: "What a fabulous version. Pitch perfect in all the ways that count. Subtle, nuanced, and great."
I Just Wanna Make Love To You 3:47
This song is pretty much only one chord throughout, except for a diversion into 12-bar blues. Recorded live at Mosquito Grill, Fall of 2007.
Brother, Can You Spare A Dime? 4:56
This piece has an improvised middle section with a repeating pedal in C minor, with an almost trance-like feeling. Recorded live at Mosquito Grill, Fall of 2007.
Until The Real Thing Comes Along 4:42
I love including the intros (originaly called verses) to these songs in my performances. Many performers don't do these intros, which is a shame since I feel that they set the stage of for the rest of the song, enhancing the meaning. Recorded live at Mosquito Grill, Fall of 2007.
Beautiful Friendship 4:18
This is one of those "punchline" songs, with the twist at the very end of the lyrics which reverses the meaning, in this case in a positive direction. For the solo, I played through the melody with minor variations, then went into a kind of modified blues, returning to the melody before the singing from the bridge to the end. Recorded live at Mosquito Grill, Fall of 2007.
Sweet Georgia Brown 1:18
Played on the NS/Stick, this simple version of the well-known tune appeals to me because of the thumpy tone from the bass side of the instrument, which keeps the pulse driving forward. This tone was created with bit of compression, EQ, and a touch of tube drive.
I Love You 0:59
Here's a short solo instrumental performance of Cole Porter's beautiful tune. For this song, I just played once through. I used a BassLab L-BOW-V five-string bass, but put lighter strings on it and tuned like a guitar, but two frets down (and one string less). I "tapped" the notes, with both hands on the fretboard. The rich, organic tone of the instrument really shows, as I let the notes ring. No hurry here!

Current songlist for vocal performances:

After You've Gone - Henry Creamer/Turner Layton 1918
Again - Lionel Newman/Dorcas Cochran 1948
Ain't Misbehavin' - Thomas 'Fats' Waller/Harry Brooks/Andy Razaf 1929
All About Ronnie - Joe Green 1953
All My Tomorrows - James Van Heusen/Sammy Cahn 1959
All Of You - Cole Porter 1954
All The Way - James Van Heusen/Sammy Cahn 1929
Alone Together - Arthur Schwartz/Howard Dietz 1932
Am I Blue? - Harry Akst/Grant Clarke 1929
Angel Eyes - Dennis/Brent
Anything Goes - Cole Porter 1934
As Time Goes By - Herman Hupfeld
At Last - Harry Warren/Mack Gordon 1942
Autumn Nocturne - Josef Myrow/Kim Gannon 1941
Backwater Blues - Bessie Smith 1927
Baltimore Oriole - Hoagy Carmichael/Paul Francis Webster 1942
A Beautiful Friendship - Donald Kahn/Stanley Styne 1956
Bewitched - Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart 1941
The Birth Of The Blues - Ray Henderson/Lew Brown/Buddy DeSylva 1926
Blackberry Winter - Alec Wilder/Loonis McGlohon
Black Coffee - Paul Francis Webster/Sonny Burke 1948
Blue And Sentimental - Count Basie/Jerry Livingston/Mack David 1938
Blues In The Night - Harold Arlen/Johnny Mercer 1941
Blues Stay Away From Me - Wayne Raney/Henry Glover/Alton Delmore/Rabon Delmore 1949
Body And Soul - Edward Heyman/Robert Sour/Frank Eyton/Johhny Green
Born To Be Blue - Mel Tormé/Robert Wells 1946
Born To Lose - Ted Daffan 1943
Brother, Can You Spare A Dime - Jay Gorney/EY Harburg 1932
Can't Help Falling In Love - Hugo Peretti/Luigi Creatore/George Weiss 1961
Can't Help Lovin' That Gal (Man) - Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein II 1927
Chattanooga Choo-Choo - Mack Gordon/Harry Warren 1941
Come Fly With Me - James Van Heusen/Sammy Cahn 1958
Come Rain Or Shine - Harold Arlen/Johhny Mercer 1946
Crazy She Calls Me - Carl Sigman/Bob Russell
Dark And Dreary - Elmore James 1954
Dedicated To You - Sammy Cahn/Saul Chaplin/HH Zaret 1935
Deep Purple - Peter De Rose/Mitchell Parish 1934
Detour Ahead - Lou Carter/Herb Ellis/John Frigo
Don't Get Around Much Anymore - Duke Ellington/Bob Russell 1942
Don't Go To Strangers - Redd Evans/Arthur Kent/Dave Mann 1954
Don't Sell It (Don't Give It Away) - Oscar Woods
Dreamsville - Henry Mancini/Jay Livingston/Ray Evans 1955
Each Day - Greg Holmes 2005
Early Autumn - Johnny Mercer/Ralph Burns/Woody Herman 1949
Embraceable You - George Gershwin/Ira Gershwin 1930
Five Foot Two, Eyes Of Blue - Sam Lewis/Joe Young/Ray Henderson 1925
Fly Me To The Moon - Bart Howard
Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You - Don Redman/Andy Razaf 1929
Georgia On My Mind - Stuart Gorrell/Hoagy Carmichael 1930
Give Me The Simple Life - Rube Bloom/Harry Ruby 1945
Go Back To Your No Good Man - Lonnie Johnson
Good Morning, Heartache - Dan Fisher/Ervin Drake/Irene Higgenbotham 1945
Harlem Nocturne - Dick Rogers/Earle Hagen 1939
Here's That Rainy Day - Johnny Burke/Jimmy Van Heusen 1953
Hey Hey Pretty Mama - Willie Dixon
Honeysuckle Rose - Andy Razaf/Thomas Waller
How Long Has This Been Going On? - George Gershwin/Ira Gershwin 1927
I Ain't Got Nobody (And There's Nobody Cares For Me) - Roger Graham/Spencer Williams 1915
I Can't Get Started - Vernon Duke/Ira Gershwin 1935
I Didn't Know About You - Duke Ellington/Bob Russell 1944
I Didn't Know What Time It Was - Rochard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart 1939
If I Had You - Ted Shapiro/Jimmy Campbell/Reg Connelly 1929
I Gotta Right To Sing the Blues - Harold Arlen/Ted Koehler 1932
I Guess I'll Have To Change My Plan - Arthur Schwartz/Howard Dietz 1929
I Had The Craziest Dream - Harry Warren/Mack Gordon 1942
I Have The Feeling I've Been Here Before - Roger Kellaway/Alan & Marilyn Bergman 1975
I Just Want To Make Love To You - Willie Dixon
I'll Be Seeing You - Sammy Fain/Irving Kahal 1938
Ill Wind - Harold Arlen/Ted Koehler 1934
I Love You - Cole Porter 1943
I'm Through With Love - Gus Kahn/Mat Malneck/Joseph 'Fud' Livingston
In A Sentimental Mood - Duke Ellington/Irving Mills/Manny Kurtz 1935
Isn't It A Pity? - George Gershwin/Ira Gershwin
It Could Happen To You - Jimmy Van Heusen/Johnny Burke 1944
It Had To Be You - Isham Jones/Gus Kahn 1924
It's Only A Paper Moon - Billy Rose/EY Harburg/Harold Arlen
It's The Talk Of The Town - Marty Symes/Al J Neiburg/Jerry Livingston
I've Got The World On A String - Harold Arlen/Ted Koehler
I've Never Been In Love Before - Frank Loesser
I Wanna Be Around - Johnny Mercer/Sadie Vimmerstedt 1959
I Wish I Were In Love Again - Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart 1937
I Won't Be Abused Anymore - Greg Holmes 2006
The Joint Is Jumpin' - Andy Razaf/JC Johnson/Thomas 'Fats' Waller
Just Squeeze Me - Duke Ellington/Lee Gaines
Lady Sings The Blues - Herbie Nichols/Billie Holiday 1956
Lazybones - Johnny Mercer/Hoagy Carmichael 1933
Lazy River - Hoagy Carmichael/Sidney Arodin 1931
Lean Baby - Roy Alfred/Billy May 1953
Let's Fall In Love - Harold Arlen/Ted Koehler 1933
Long Gone Lonesome Blues - Hank Williams 1950
Lover Man - Jimmy Davis/Roger Ram Ramirez/Jimmy Sherman 1944
Lullaby Of The Leaves - Joe Young/Bernice Petkere 1933
Lush Life - Billy Strayhorn 1949
Mean To Me - Roy Turk/Fred E Ahlert 1929
Mean Woman Blues - Claude DeMetrius 1957
Memories Of You - Andy Razaf/Eubie Blake
Mercy, Mercy, Mercy - Joe Zawinul/Cannonball Adderley
Message In A Bottle - Gordon Sumner
A Mess Of Blues - Doc Pomus/Mort Shuman 1960
Mind Your Own Business - Hank Williams 1949
Miss Otis Regrets - Cole Porter 1934
Misty - Erroll Garner/Johnny burke
Mood Indigo - Duke Ellington/Irving Mills/Albany Bigard
Moonglow - Will Hudson/Eddie de Lange/Irving Mills 1934
Moonlight Becomes You - Jimmy Van Heusen/Johnny Burke 1942
More Than You Know - William Rose/Edward Eliscu/Vincent Youmans 1939
My Baby Just Cares For Me - Gus Kahn / Walter Donaldson 1930
My Ship - Ira Gershin/Kurt Weill
Nice Work If You Can Get It - George Gershwin/Ira Gershwin 1937
A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square - Eric Maschwitz/Manning Sherwin
Nightmare - Artie Shaw 1950
The Night We Called It A Day - Tom Adair/Matt Dennis 1941
No Moon At All - Redd Evans/Dave Mann
No More Blues (Chega De Saudade) - Antonio C. Jobim/Jon Hendricks/Jessie Cavanaugh 1962
Old Folks - William Robison/Dedette Lee Hill 1938
The Old Man From The Old Country - Nat Adderley/Curtis R Lewis 1960
The Old Piano Roll Blues - Cy Coben
On The Sunny Side Of The Street - Dorothy Fields/Jimmy McHugh
Once In A While - Bud Green/Michael Edwards
Over The Rainbow - Harold Arlen/EY Harburg
Please Dont Talk About Me When I'm Gone - Sidney Clare/Sam Stept/Bee Palmer 1927
Please Warm My Wiener - Bo Chatmon
Rockin' Chair - Hoagy Carmichael 1929
'Round Midnight - Thelonius Monk/Cootie Williams/Bernie Hanighen 1944
Sentimental Journey - Bud Green/Les Brown/Ben Homer
Serenade In Blue - Harry Warren/Mack Gordon 1942
Since I Fell For You - Buddy Johnson 1948
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes - Jerome Kern/Otto Harbach 1934
Someone To Watch Over Me - George Gershwin/Ira Gershwin
So In Love - Cole Porter 1948
Sophisticated Lady - Duke Ellington/Irving Mills/Mitchell Parish
Sporting Life Blues - Sonny Terry/Brownie McGhee
Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most - Fran Landesman/Tommy Wolf
Squeeze Me - Clarence Williams/Thomas 'Fats' Waller
Star Dust - Mitchell Parish/Hoagy Carmichael
Stormy Weather - Harold Arlen/Ted Koehler 1933
Sweet And Lovely - Gus Arnheim/Harry Tobias/Jules Lemare
Teach Me Tonight - Gene DePaul/Sammy Cahn 1953
That Old Feeling - Lew Brown/Sammy Fain 1937
That's All - Alan Brandt/Bob Haymes 1953
Them There Eyes - Maceo Pinkard/William Tracy/Doris Tauber 1930
These Foolish Things - Eric Maschwitz/Jack Strachey 1936
They Can't Take That Away From Me - George Gershwin/Ira Gershwin
Till There Was You - Meredith Willson
Time After Time - Jule Styne/Sammy Cahn 1947
'Tis Autumn - Henry Nemo 1941
Tuxedo Junction - Buddy Feyne/Erskine Hawkins/William Johnson/Julian Dash 1940
Unforgettable - Irving Gordon 1951
Until The Real Thing Comes Along - Holinger/Nichols/Cahn/Chaplin/Freeman 1936
The Very Thought Of You - Ray Noble 1934
What A Difference a Day Made - Stanley Adams/Maria Grever 1934
When Sunny Gets Blue - Jack Segal/Marvin Fisher 1956
When The Lights Go Out - Willie Dixon
When Your Lover Has Gone - E.A.Swan 1931
Why Try To Change Me Now? - Cy Coleman/Joseph McCarthy 1952
Willow Weep For Me - Ann Ronell 1932
Wrap your Troubles In Dreams - Ted Koehler/Billy Moll/Harry Barris 1931
You And The Night And The Music - Arthur Schwartz/Howard Dietz 1934
You Are There - Johhny Mandel/Dave Frishberg 1977
You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To - Cole Porter 1942
You Go To My Head - J.Fred Coots/Haven Gillespie 1938
You Know I Love You - Greg Holmes 2006
You'll Never Know - Harry Warren/Mack Gordon 1943
You Make Me Feel So Young - Josef Myrow/Mack Gordon 1946
You Took Advantage Of Me - Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart 1928