Invidia et Gratia (for Dr. Dan Reinstein)

This is original stuff. OK I'll try to break it down in plain English:

This is a "Zenstick" style bass composition. No improvisation. Recorded twice on two tracks note-for-note and then "hard panned" Left/Right for stereo effect. Zenstick is a systematic bass language I developed over many years and now it is beginning to sound interesting. The root pattern consists of 8 notes with the "indicator" being a left hand hammer-on and the other notes shared between thumb stroke and string pluck. The pattern is doubled in two variations spanning over 16 notes. These are then re-learned by displacing the pattern by a one note increment to get a different rhythmic effect. After memorizing 16 patterns, I then compose a form made of bass-chords in the jazz harmony tradition. The last step is combining the rhythms with the harmony and arranging the notes in such a way where you can hear inner voices move independently. The counting system is borrowed from South Indian classical music. So in short, it's like preparing ingredients for a meal and then putting it all together to cook up an interesting stew.

If you want to study this style or take some lessons in creativity,
feel free to visit

kaieckhardt.com/alternative-bass

This is a through-composed piece dedicated to Dr. Dan Reinstein, one of the world"s top Lasic eye doctors who is also a formidable alto-sax player. He has made it is his mission to donate free surgeries to his inner circle of musician friends. We studied at Berklee College together in the 80s and played together in a band called "Night-dive". Dan turned 60 this week and I dedicated this piece to him because he always encouraged me to develop my "own style" . Well...here it is....