The theme for Improv Friday this week is "variations". So here's an improv reconstruction of the one classical piece I know, Bach's Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring.

First take, envisioned as an angry frenetic tune, but came out more heroic.

And take two. We went for pretty and melodic. Sorry about the annoying fuzz.

Newest Addition to my "Unreleased" album. Enjoy, and feel free to give pros/cons feedback. Thank you! -Mike

Many, Many, thanks to Steve for this music backing track, my song has come alive......

A mashup with Roger Sundström Guitar,Soundscaping Norbert Oldani (Light Blue) Steve Layton (Bouncie Variations) Jim Goodin (Ten of Steel in Variation) for ImprovFriday 2012-03-10

Yeah...

For percussion I used objects that were lying around my house at time I recorded this - a pair of scissors opening and closing is one, but i forget the others (it was 12 years ago). The lyrics were pretty much improvised

I promised you the world again Everything within my hands All the riches one could dream They will come from me I hoped that you could understand That this is not what I had planned Please don’t worry now It will turn around Cause I need more…

Here's a recent poem of mine, set over a bed of house...

A rather flat version of an original instumental jam played live as a four piece in the studio.we played reserved compared to normal renditions. others wanted this on the album, i voted no. we made our 35 minutes. thank god!

A humorous jab at Caribbean political leaders in light of widespread corruption & abuse of power .

Like you going down a corridor with a couple of rooms lined up on each side. And in each of the room is a different story.

Short foray into a deserted cabin

A protest against the conditions of poverty in the developing world .

It will all be ok, really.

The title track to my 2012 RPM Challenge album. The words say it all. I had some fun doing the 70's harmonies near the very end of the tune.

This one is a bit off the beaten path for me, but was fun to record. It has some great tonal coloring happening throughout, so take a listen. See if you can guess what it's about...

I played this one fairly straight. It still sounds a lot like the raw 30 second idea I recorded on my phone in an elevator in Chicago in early Feb of 2010 and discovered this RPM season. It's not about what you think it is.

This song sounds like a lonely road by the beach in the late summer/early fall. Try it out when the weather is cooperating with you. Then, reflect on who you are.

Apparently this song is the quintessential Gary Fox sound. That's probably because it's done with a special guitar with a special tuning. Anyway, my favorite part of the song is the mid-section. This is a "listen loud in the dark" sort of song.

No explanation needed, the lyrics are clear. This is an album of conviction.

A song to get up and dance to, much like you get and dance when someone whose loudly voiced opinions you don't share is sent packing. Narcissism and hero worship have no place in a civilized world. ;)

This ain't no song about being pretty and watching out for nutty boyfriends...Listen more closely. ;)

Come join me on this sonic joyride...I'm Saved

Draw Me a Picture, by Paul Iorio. Music and lyrics by Paul Iorio. Copyright 2010. TO PLAY, HIT THE ARROW ON THE RIGHT.

Something new for ya. Had to piece this one together . . . wasn't much to go on since Nirvana was just messing around on this song, but that's part of the fun, extrapolating stuff. For the record, I used the chords for the chorus that Nirvana…

Including the following sample from Freesound.com: http://www.freesound.org/people/sleep/sounds/1375/ deep it can be stowed away it can be remembered it can't be thrown away when it's deep hurt it can be cherished it can be channelled…

A musical interlude - just me playing a few notes on keyboard.

Jazzy funky spoken word, ya'll.

Mason Williams variation on a theme.Goofin on the title.

Speech samples by acclivity over at freesound.org

You know when you just become so familiar with your daily coffee place, or lounging area, that you just draw comfort at the sight of familiar faces? And when they're not there it irks you? Also, anyone who draws a smiley face on coffee cups before…

I mope about my problems, and then realize how insignificant they are compared to people who aren't as well off. And that my life is relatively excellent. Then I end up feeling really bad, but at least not whiny.

...You know. There.

I ended up using so much of the Chef's Surprise track by MMI that I wouldn't feel right without putting the name in the title as well :)

You'll never find, as long as you live Someone who loves you tender like I do You'll never find, no matter where you search Someone who cares about you the way I do Whoa, I'm not braggin' on myself, baby But I'm the one who loves you And…

made entirely of samples recorded in one room, all delays handplotted, no DSP or VST effects applied.

the mother of my son said he dnt sleep just like his dad :~) so i wrote him a song...#ToMyUnbornChild Jaiden Reed Johnson

Acoustic folk song. Double tracked vocals in the verse where I'm singing 1 octave apart. This is the first time I attempted vocal harmonies like that.

ambient When I was a music major one of my friends had a family which ran a funeral home - a well paid profession seeing that they had several cars, maids and butlers - and spent a few nights there. (We tended to stay up to the early am debating…

Itty bitty

Going back to 1986 with this one.

Quick acoustic take

Quick rough demo. I'll probably give this song a real treatment eventually

another quick little acoustic take

A demo thats a bit more fleshed out than what i usually do. Sort of a companion song to turn your back.