.......The Overload Collection.......
CYBERjazz...(All tunes here were done using the NET. Benjamin Lewis is in Chicagoblewis@wwa.com, Wade Culbreath is in Los AngelesMalletCat@aol.com, and I'm in St. Eustacheoverload@videotron.ca. Each one would receive an unfinished version and add to it. We never met yet we shared a lot.)

 7 Steps To Heaven...... [7steps.mid] ......FULL version** Playing Time: 5:01.1
Composer: Miles Davis...........A nice 'salsa' arrangement by Ben of Miles' classic Seven Steps To Heaven. The drum solo at the end is dedicated to my idol, Tony Williams............Personnel: BEN LEWIS piano, MalletCAT (Wade Culbreath) bass, 'pans', OVERLOAD (Rene Amesse) drumzzzz & percs....................GM midi file format. Size:75K 

 Bluesette...... [blueset.mid] ......FULL version ... Playing Time: 3:26.3
Composer: 'Toots' Theileman............ Originally in 3/4, it was re-arranged by Ben Lewis from the Jazz MIDI Network and I completed the percussion tracks. This was our first collaboration..........Midi file format. Size:80K 

 Island Blues...... [islandblu.mid] ...... Playing Time: 5.02.6
Composer: Benjamin Lewis............Who says sequenced music is 'cold' and 'stiff'???? Check out the 'in-yo-face' solos by Ben and Wade on this latin escapade. Their feel and musicianship will blow you away............Personnel: BEN LEWIS piano, guitar, flute, MalletCAT bass, 'pans', and drums OVERLOAD congas, timbales, misc. percs............GM midi file format size: 

 Alone Together...... [alone.mid] ...... Playing Time: 7:01.5
Composer: ?????............This is a HUGE arrangement by Ben. The tune evolves from a 6/8 latin feel head to an up tempo swing for Ben's piano and guitar solos. Then it's back to a 6/8 feel for a great bass solo. Ben has to be one of the BEST jazz-midi pianists on the WEB today............Personnel: BEN LEWIS piano and all instruments, OVERLOAD drumzzz and percs...........GM midi file format size: 100K

 Invitation...... [invitation.mid] ...... Playing Time: 5:41.1
Composer: ?????............This one was given a light Brazilian jazz type samba feel a la Airto. Ben stretches out plenty on both the piano and the guitar. A nice tune for a cold Montreal or Chicago january winter night ;-))............Personnel: BEN LEWIS piano, guitar, bass, OVERLOAD drumzzz............GM midi file format size: 100K

 Moorea...... [moorea.mid] ...... Playing Time: 5:17.1
Composer: MalletCAT (Wade Culbreath)............A nice moody and haunting melody. Written arranged and performed by the MalletCAT himself. Wade had already completed the rhythm tracks, he's a percussion graduate from the Eastman School of Music btw now working with the L.A. symphony, but I was hearing something different there, so I did my own rhythm tracks............GM midi file format size: 42K

 A Night In Tunisia...... {tunsia.mid] ...... Playing Time: 3:09.6
Composer: Gillespie/Paparelli/Hendricks ............Dizzy's "signature" tune was performed and arranged by Montreal based pianist Daniel Mercure. Though we've never actually worked together, a mutual friend sent me the uncompleted midi and I did the rhythm track.............GM midi file format size: 45K 
 


Originals...(All tunes in this section are compositions of mine. I played and sequenced ALL instruments.)

 Swing-a-Ling ...... [swinglng.mid] ...... Playing Time: 6:01.0
Composer: Overload............This tune swings through many moods and tempos. I wanted to prove to myself that it was possible to lay down a jazz feel using midi. I think I succeeded, what do you think? Actually, I broke the rule here. A year after the tune was finished, I had Ben Lewis replace my original piano track. I wanted to hear someone else's interaction. He blessed me with a 'jem' of a solo. Thanks man............Personnel: OVERLOAD all instruments (except elec. piano, which was done by Ben Lewis)............GM midi file format size: 62K

 LaBOUMBA ...... [labaumba.mid] ...... Playing Time: 6:08.5
Composer: Overload............ This is an original number I wrote a while back. It's a mix of latin, funk, and jazz. It was originally sequenced for my full studio set up but here it's been 'modified' for playback on the Sound Canvas (SC-55). Enjoy!............Personnel: OVERLOAD all instruments............GM midi file format size: 121K

 Funk n'yo Face ...... [funkface.mid] ...... Playing Time: 4:49.4
Composer: Overload............Here's a composition of mine that was originally sequenced using nothing else but an old ESQ-1 (...it just won't die) and it's built-in sequencer. You'll even hear some 'funky-flamenco-clappers' do their stuff. Re-mixed for the SC-55...........Personnel: OVERLOAD all instruments............GM midi file format size: 88K

 Let Me Dream ...... [lmedream.mid] ...... Playing Time: 9:04.6
Composer: Overload............ This is a tune that I wrote for my son Nicolas. It started out as a lullabye and evolved into a 9 mins. 'suite' that goes from bossa to funk to salsa. The main theme was heavily harmonized using the canvas' synth patches, so for accurate reproduction of the mix try and use at least a G/M compatible module......."Let the children dream"............Personnel: OVERLOAD all instruments............GM midi file format size: 110K

 URBAN'ometry ...... [urban.mid] ...... Playing Time: 5:28.4
Composer: Overload............ "And now for something completely different" (as the 'Pythons' would say) I wrote this using mostly the FX bank on the Sound Canvas which is made up of 'urban' sound effects. I'm always amamazed by the amount of rhythms that surround us daily. Mixed for the SC-55...........Personnel: OVERLOAD all instruments............GM midi file format size: 52K
 


Covers*......(Tunes that I have sequenced AND/OR re-arranged)

Chameleon ...... [chmeleon.mid] ...... Playing Time: 7:01.8
Composer: Herbie Hancock............ Herbie Hancock's Chameleon. This is one was re-arranged by myself. I also recorded all of the instruments. I've always been a devoted fan of Herbie.........G/M Midi file format. Size:162K

 Spain ...... [spain.mid] ...... Playing Time: 4:24.2
Composer: Chick Corea............A Chick Corea original I 'found ' on the Web. I re-did the rhythm tracks, and added some string lines to the intro. I'm sorry, but I don't know the names of the people who originally sequenced this file. In any case, they did a great job...........G/M Midi file format. Size: 48K

 Snakes ...... [snakes.mid] ...... Playing Time: 6:12.9
Composer: Marcus Miller............ Here's a Marcus Miller composition from David Sanborn's album 'UpFront'. I did all the instruments myself on this one. I've re-arranged it 'cause hey there's no way I'm gonna 'sound' like these guys. Hope you enjoy it...........GM midi file format size: 166K 
 


OverDRUMZZZ......(Midi files, mostly from Roland, that I have re-done the rhythm tracks using my TD-E Pads)

St. Thomas ...... [thomas.mid] ...... Playing Time: 3:25.3
Source: Roland Jazz Series............ A nice arrangement of an old classic merengue. I've simply 'spiced' it up a bit with a dash of calypso, a teaspoon of brazilian samba, and a generous portion of free-funk. .........G/M Midi file format. Size:79K

Antonio's Theme ...... [antonios.mid] ...... Playing Time: 3:28.1
Source: Roland Jazz Series............This tune has such a nice strong rhythmic melody. I played a sort of half-time funk feel to it on the set and then added some percs. .........G/M Midi file format. Size:51K

Silver Bells ...... [silvrbls.mid] ...... Playing Time: 3:26.5
Source: Roland Christmas Jazz Series............ Man, Christmas music wasn't this much fun when I was a kid. Deck the halls and make it funky fa la-la-la-la .........G/M Midi file format. Size:80K

Lazybird ...... [lazybird.mid] ...... Playing Time: 4:44.1
Source: Roland Jazz Series............ A Charlie Parker classic. Check out the solos. These people really know how to 'simulate' original instruments both in sound and feel. .........G/M Midi file format. Size:72K

Softly As A Morning Sunrise ...... [softlyas.mid] ...... playing Time: 4:10.5
Source: Roland Jazz Series............The pianist on this track is one 'dangerous' individual. I was told this version is from a Dave Wekl album. It starts with a 'free' intro, then it breaks into an all out swing. Midi wise, this was very challenging because midi-drumming is so 'detailled' and 'acurate'. You have to be 'loose' yet 'precise' at the same time, and try to swing through all this. Anyway, I had fun trying. .........G/M Midi file format. Size:72K 

Information Updated 4-17-2001.