Darryl Jackson - What I'm Saying
Jazz, Smooth Jazz, Spa
Washington, United States
Overall Impression: "What I'm Saying" is an exciting new release from veteran musician/composer/producer Darryl Jackson. The highly skilled multi-instrumentalist not only plays every instrument on this track, he also performs all the vocals and self produced this energetic folk rock number that's tinged with jazz influences and prog rock elements. The result is a polished and highly focused piece of song craft that features a driving rhythm section and some stellar displays of musicianship, particularly evidenced by the piano flourishes and brilliant guitar leads that perfectly complement Jackson's weathered vocal style. Darryl Jackson's "What I'm Saying" should have very little difficulty finding an audience among classic pop/rock fans, thanks to its high quality and timeless sound.
Strongest Point(s): Excellent production, solid mix with some old school eq and compression techniques. Great arrangement, has a really nice subtle build to it that you achieved through intensification and addition, particularly with the synth strings (which I thought added a lot to the overall sound here, and contributed greatly to the song's character). Then a nice little breather with the solo piano section, before bringing it back in for the final chorus. Overall, it has a nice dynamic "shape" to it. Some fantastic playing here, on all fronts. One huge benefit to tracking all the instruments yourself, is the ability to easily lock into the groove. The vocals sound good, particularly the harmonies. Gives it that full ensemble sound that's highly effective at the end. An outstanding track, all around. Really fine job!
Target Audience Appeal: Fans of Rock, Pop/Rock, Country Rock, Folk Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Jam Band, Americana, Classic Rock, Progressive Rock
Artist target suggestions: Steve Earle, Railroad Earth, Jefferson Airplane, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, The Moody Blues, Jeff Lynne, Electric Light Orchestra, The Tubes, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Todd Rundgren, Utopia, Boston, The Dandy Warhols, Polyphonic Spree, Bruce Hornsby, Bob Seager, Neil Diamond, Bruce Springsteen
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About the Reviewer:
Steven Azami is a multi-instrumentalist with over 25 years of experience in the music industry. Both as a touring/session player and as a producer, his career has spanned nearly every genre, from bluegrass to jazz, from rock to reggae. In addition, his work as a music educator has allowed him to cultivate and foster talent among the next generation of musical explorers.