A blend of eclectic pop, jazz, world, reggae and (even) country. It's all about the songs. Good tunes are often genre agnostic as Alan and crew prove on this CD celebration of melody, harmony and riddim.

9 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Jazz-Pop, REGGAE: Pop-Reggae

Show all album songs: The Demo Sessions Songs


Details:
Alan originally put this CD together as a demo for Dub Squad Music, BMI (a music publishing company based in Portland Oregon), hence the title 'The Demo Sessions'. After a lot of positive feedback and sales at live gigs, he decided to release the CD commercially. Even though he produced and performed the majority of the music on this disc, the songs are quite varied thanks in part to the vocal and lyric contributions of guest singer/songwriters Angela Pope and Rebbecca Vickerman.

Here is a break down by song (composer):

1. 'Homeless' (Alexander). This is a jazzy, hip-hop, reggae song about the realities of homelessness. Musicians: Mary Sue Tobin - alto sax; Alan - lead vocal, guitar, keyboards, bass, drums and drum programming.

2. 'Distance' (Alexander, Vickerman). A very adult contemporary song about family and reconciliation. Musicians: Rebbecca Vickerman - lead and background vocals; Alan - walkabout dulcimer, acoustic fretless bass, acoustic guitar, piano, keyboards, flute, drums and drum programming.

3. 'The River' (Alexander). This is a jazzy, world beat piece about the virtues of surrender. Alan sings and performs all instruments (acoustic guitar, keyboards, percussion, bass and drum programming).

4. 'Rainy Day' (Pope, Alexander). A straight ahead love song. Musicians: Angela Pope - lead vocals, acoustic guitar; May Sue Tobin - alto sax; Art Alexander - congas and percussion; Alan - background vocals, electric fretless bass, keyboards, drum programming.

5. 'Tribulation' (Alexander). A geo-political reggae tune. Alan sings and performs all instruments (acoustic guitar, keyboards, drum programming).

6. 'Home' (Alexander, Pope). There is no place like it, especially when you're in love. Musicians: Angela Pope - lead and background vocals; Alan - piano, bass, drums, electric guitar, background vocals.

7. 'Feeling / Reason' (Alexander). This is a rockin' reggae tune about the conflict between the left and right sides of the brain. Musicians: Mary Sue Tobin - alto sax; Alan - lead and background vocals, keyboards, electric guitar, bass, drums and drum programming.

8. 'Tumbleweed' (Alexander, Pope). A twisted tale of lust and desolation. This would be a good soundtrack for a David Lynch film. Musicians: Angela Pope - lead and background vocals; Alan - electric guitars, bass, flute, keyboards, congas, percussion, background vocals.

9. 'Monday Morning Rain' (Alexander). A country western ballad about working the J-O-B. Musicians: Justin Thorpe - slide guitar; Alan - vocal, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, acoustic fretless bass guitar, harmonica, melodica, keyboards, drum programming.

Alan Alexander III is a composer, producer, singer and multi-instrumentalist with numerous credits. He spent several years as the lead singer, principle composer and producer for the critically acclaimed world beat band, Dub Squad. He has composed and produced source music and original scores for several motion pictures including, Hear No Evil (20th Century Fox), Alien Invaders (National Endowment for the Arts) and Street Talk and Tuxes (Susan Shadburne Productions). He resides in Portland Oregon. For more info visit www.dubsquadmusic.net .