Client: The Martin Agency (Pitch Reel for Walmart)
Service: Film Scoring
About the Client
In 2015, Walmart launched their Greenlight a Vet campaign to to help create visible and actionable national support for America’s veterans and their families. We were contracted by the Martin Agency in NYC to create an original score for a 30 second commercial spot. They approached us looking for a last minute fresh take on the score. With a fast turn around, they needed a musician who could write and record in only one day.
OUR APPROACH
Walmart needed a heartfelt warm score that also incorporated their corporate musical logo. Without specific direction and a fast turn around, we immersed ourselves in the video to fully understand the characters and the veteran community theme until we were ready to sketch and record an idea that felt natural.
THE RESULT
The Martin Agency was thrilled with the unique and thoughtful composition we delivered because it supported the message strongly and quickly to match the dialogue. It also incorporated modern pop elements while balancing classic “heart strings” tactics.
After only 24 hours, they had a score that supported their work and allowed them the confidence they needed in their work to pitch the reel to Walmart.
Client: Houston Methodist Hospital
Services: Video Production & Music Arrangement
About the Client
Facing the worldwide COVID pandemic, Houston Methodist Hospital wanted to do something to show their appreciation for the course shown by their staff and patients. In an unprecedented time, they wanted to create something extra to uplift everyone within the walls of their hospital. They were looking for someone who could handle all aspects of the production while also staying within their set budget.
OUR APPROACH
This was a project that needed to come straight from the heart to create something that would match the right uplifting tone matched with spectacular talent. We arranged music specifically unique to this project, and reached out to our top artists both locally and an industry respected audio engineer in Los Angeles. We brought together the creative minds necessary to produce the audio and video work you see here.
THE RESULT
We delivered a six minute music video exceeding the client’s expectations. By catering to their creative needs and staying within budget, we offered them a piece of work they were excited to share with the staff and patients at their hospital.
Our local musicians were the heart of this project. We truly value their talent and work ethic, and remain grateful for their contribution. In a strange year, creating music was a welcomed experience for everyone involved, and we were happy to be able to offer work and the exposure that came along with it.
Client: Melanie Penn, Singer / Songwriter
Services: Music Directing
About the Client
Melanie Penn is a NYC based independent artist and singer/songwriter who was coming to Houston to perform the Immanual project, which is her songwriting journey through the Christmas story, a #1 release on Amazon’s Christian, worship, and holiday download charts. While on tour, she needed a local music director who could contract the right local musicians for her Houston concert. Ultimately, she needed someone she could trust who understood how to follow a singer and communicate with the other musicians. Her goal was to not have to worry about the music or musicians, and simply sing.
OUR APPROACH
We worked with the client and her NYC music director to figure out the best instrumentation for the performance that would fit her music, the concert setting, and the budget. Diving into the unplugged/acoustic feel of the performance, we created something unique by crafting musical notes and contracting sought-after musicians, including a brilliant cellist to cover the string parts. Bringing in a cellist (and creating new cello parts specifically for this performance) allowed us to not rely on a synthesizer, which we believed would pull back the natural beauty of the performance’s unplugged vibe. The cello parts were created based on various hooks and musical parts in Melanie’s recordings; and as always, the musicians were chosen to musically and aesthetically complement her signature sound and branding.
THE RESULT
Melanie’s Houston performance was a successful effort at bringing her brand to Texas and allowing her to push her product and presence into the local market. Our local musicians enjoyed working with her and having the opportunity to perform for a NY-based artist. Melanie was impressed with the local Houston talent, and she now knows that she can confidently perform in Texas without the expense of having to fly her music director and entire band from NYC. We are already in discussions about scheduling a future regional tour of Texas.
Client: Houston Jazz Orchestra
Service: Virtual Recording & Music Arrangement
About the Client
The Houston Jazz Orchestra was looking to create content for jazz lovers around the world affected by COVID. Whether they were Houston jazz fans or part of other music organizations in other parts of the country, HJO knew that what the world and community needed was a creative and positive message during a time when the world felt eerily quiet during a pandemic. They wanted a custom arrangement that would communicate solidarity and hope during a difficult time.
OUR APPROACH
The original vision was to record a classic big band song, but we offered to create a special arrangement of the jazz standard “Alone Together” because the title seemed to fit the conditions of this performance perfectly. We knew that in the wake of a shut down, the orchestra members’ passion to create meaningful content would all combine to create a beautiful moment of solidarity for the community.
Recording virtually meant some extra leg work that meant a longer production process than if the orchestra had been able to record together in a studio. However, we recorded the piano first, and each musician recorded their part from their individual homes, layered one on top of another.
THE RESULT
The finished video recording was a huge success by raising over $1000 in donations for the orchestra fund. Because of the finished product, our clients were thrilled to receive local tv coverage and tremendous social media exposure. We look forward to future arrangements with the Houston Jazz Orchestra.
The goal was to show Houston that although gigs, concerts, and shows were canceled, music and creativity would not be. While a separated virtual recording was unusual, the final product shows how jazz music can bring artists and music-lovers together, even in isolation. Watching the video back is an ideal illustration of truly being Alone Together.
Client: Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA)
Service: Online MasterClass with Jazz Educator
About the Client
Due to the pandemic, TMEA’s All State audition process shifted to fully online in 2020. It was going to be a big adjustment for everyone involved, but high school band directors across the state wanted to give their students every opportunity to adequately prepare for the challenging annual audition process. They were on the search for active jazz musicians who could connect with high school jazz students to coaching them in an online MasterClass.
OUR APPROACH
Alex’s heavy jazz and music credits made him the native Texan pianist to coach these young musicians as a jazz educator. He was thrilled to connect with students who were preparing to audition, a rigorous challenge for any student. In order to adequately prepare the students, this MasterClass had to be about more than basic music theory or piano studies. Alex’s class focused on performance nuances that he would do if here were in a similar situation, giving the students an opportunity to reach new levels of creative excellence.
THE RESULT
This ended up being an exceptional resource for Texas high school students, especially coming directly from professional jazz musicians. Young jazz students often pick up style more easily after hearing others play it first, so this online MasterClass was what they were missing by being unable to learn in person.
Client: Sports Trailer for ESPN
Service: Film Scoring
About the Client
An independent director in NYC was pitching a sports documentary to ESPN and needed a score for the trailer. He wanted energy, drive, and impact, consistent with the main character and the documentary's theme as a whole. And as with most projects, the deadline was yesterday!
OUR APPROACH
We worked one-on-one with this director to create the right score for his film. In a truly collaborative creative process, we met with this director to truly grasp the direction and vision for his project. Since this project required a more aggressive approach, we brought in our top "rock musicians" and remotely tracked drums and electric guitar to create the right balance between the live instruments and our library of sound samples.
The result
ESPN ultimately decided to pass on the director’s documentary, but this was the beginning of a long-term working relationship with the client, and we are currently collaborating on new projects.