Look What I Made Podcast - DIY recordings and compositions by Kevin Pike

Episode 110 - C'mon and Get It Now Episode #110
Imagine if a pep band consisted only of baritone sax and banjo. This is the song they would play.
song available on Spotify, Apple Music, youtube and Amazon.
from Saxojo

Episode 109 - non kon siefe dui/Astriela Episode #109
This song combines male vocals, child vocals, playing a guitar using a credit card as a pick, alto and baritone saxes, handclaps, mandolin, and glockenspiel.
song available on Spotify, Apple Music, youtube and Amazon.
from so se kwa

Episode 108 - Emergence from the Basement Episode #108
This song captures the emotion of isolation and then reemergence experienced during the pandemic. It's a combination of free jazz and through-composed music.
song available on Spotify, BandCamp, Apple Music, youtube and Amazon.
from Pandemic Tunes

Episode 107 - Ain't Over Till It's Over Episode #107
Progressive jazz composition about the pandemic. Features saxophones, lap steel guitar, electric bass and percussion.
song available on Spotify, Apple Music, youtube and Amazon.
from Pandemic Tunes

Episode 106 - Ctrl Shift Alt Episode #106
Original uptempo jazz/funk composition with shifting mixed meter, JD Beck-inspired drumming and funk banjo. Also features alto sax and electric bass. I used my varipitch recording technique on the drums and banjo.
song available on Spotify, Apple Music, youtube and Amazon Music.

Episode 105 - Mercy, Mercy, Mercy Episode #105
I take the funky jazz classic Mercy, Mercy, Mercy (Cannonball Adderly and Joe Zawinul) and turn it into an upbeat country funk banjo jam.
song available on Spotify, Apple Music, youtube and Amazon Music.
from Songs in the Key of Banjo

Episode 104 - For Thee We Do Abide Episode #104
The pandemic episode! This is the most surprising song that I composed and recorded during the global pandemic. It came to me in February 2021 and sounds like a roots music rendition of an old hymn. Features sax and banjo.
song available on Spotify, Apple Music, youtube and Amazon.

Episode 103 - Whatever It Takes Episode #103
I came up with a solo banjo arrangement of this song by Imagine Dragons
song available on Spotify, Apple Music, youtube and Amazon.
from Songs in the Key of Banjo

Episode 102 - Segue Episode #102
Groovy little instrumental featuring kalimba, ocarina, flute, wow bell, wah-wah pedals and saxophones.
song available on Spotify, Apple Music, youtube and Amazon.

Episode 101 - Can't Stand Your Funk Episode #101
Funky banjo arrangement of a 5/4 funk song by John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra. I explore different techniques on the banjo to make it sound funky, including slides, slaps, strums and finger taps.
song available on Spotify, Apple Music, youtube and Amazon.
from Songs in the Key of Banjo

Episode 100 - O Trem Azul Episode #100
It's the 100th episode! I am joined by Reese Pike for this episode and we play a jazz duet arrangement of O Trem Azul, one of my favorite songs written by Brazilian artist Lô Borges.
Watch the live stream concert of the Pike Duo where we performed this song along with others from our favorite albums.
The original version of this song is from the album Clube da Esquina

Episode 99 - The Rockinest Band Episode #99
A song for all the garage rockers and basement jams of your youth
song available on Spotify, Apple Music, youtube and Amazon.
from Rock n Roll Wasteland

Episode 98 - You Can't Always Get What You Want Episode #98
My solo banjo arrangement of the Rolling Stones classic.
song available on Spotify, Apple Music, youtube and Amazon.
from Songs in the Key of Banjo

Episode 97 - Beethoven Pathetique Episode #97
Classical Jazz! This is my jazz ballad arrangement of Beethoven's famous Adagio Cantabile from the Pathetique Piano Sonata. Arranged for 2 alto saxes, guitar, bass and drums.
song available on Spotify, Apple Music, youtube and Amazon.

Episode 96 - Something for Cat Episode #96
This is an arrangement of a song by Henry Mancini from the Audrey Hepburn movie Breakfast at Tiffany's. Arranged for alto sax, bari sax, acoustic bass guitar, bongos, guiro and tin can.
song available on Spotify, Apple Music, youtube and Amazon.

Episode 95 - Sweet Emotion Episode #95
This is my solo banjo arrangement of Aerosmith's Sweet Emotion.
song available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon and youtube.
from Songs in the Key of Banjo

Episode 94 - Chained to the Rhythm Episode #94
Here is my saxophone and banjo cover of Katy Perry's song Chained to the Rhythm. I recorded the percussion and bass at lower sampling rates using my "varipitch human quantization technique". Song features finger snaps, acoustic guitar, keyboard bass, banjo and alto sax.
song available on Spotify, and Apple Music

Episode 93 - Keep the Pin Steady Episode #93
A blast from the past but tied to the present. I added tenor sax through distortion and wah-wah pedal to an EDM-groove recording from 20 years ago. Also features the recording debut of my old Star Bird.
from Funky Junkie (20th anniversary special edition)
song available on Spotify and Apple Music

Episode 92 - nayete Episode #92
World music ballad with recorders, acoustic guitar, piano, percussion, bass and a saxophone solo. Also features a lot of vocal harmony parts.
from so se kwa
song available on Spotify, Apple Music, and youtube.

Episode 91 - In the Summer Times Episode #91
Funky jazz jam kind of like a late night TV show theme. Featuring trumpet through a pedal effect, alto and bari sax, wah-wah guitar and electric bass.
from FUNK 204
song available on Spotify, Amazon, iTunes, and youtube.

Episode 90 - 68940 (aka Funk NE) Episode #90
Alto sax, banjo, electric guitar, electric bass and drums in a funky, quasi-blues composition. Some really great solos over a form that has a few twists in it.
from FUNK 204
song available on Spotify, Amazon, iTunes, and youtube.

Episode 89 - DH Funk Episode #89
A funky little groove track that combines mandolin sounds with solo sax. Also features a shaker through a distortion pedal.
song available on Spotify, Amazon, Apple Music, and youtube.

Episode 88 - Crowdsource Waltz Episode #88
1. Listen to a bunch of Strauss waltzes. 2. Record crowd noise at a basketball game and pre-concert warmups for youth band and orchestra concerts. 3. Combine and mix
from The Sound of Things
song available on Amazon, iTunes, youtube, Spotify, and as a free download

Episode 87 - The Fifth Parallel Episode #87
Saxophone Madness...I play drums and multiple tracks of alto sax, tenor sax and baritone sax on this one.
from FUNK 204
song available on Spotify, Amazon, iTunes, and youtube.

Episode 86 - Mr. Badass Episode #86
Inspired by the 1975 jazz/funk classic Mr. Magic, this piece features a slow-burn laid-back groove with tenor sax.
from FUNK 204
song available on Spotify, Amazon, iTunes, and youtube.

Episode 85 - The Ol' Ballgame Episode #85
I combine the sounds from my old 1980 Sears Electronic Baseball game with alto sax and field recordings of a little league baseball game.
from The Sound of Things
available on Amazon, Spotify, iTunes, and youtube.

Episode 84 - Bag o' Tricks Episode #84
A modern jazz composition that features a Rogue RLS-1 lap steel guitar with flute, alto sax, keyboard, electric bass and drums. This episode I include 3 versions of this song. The second is a ballad version featuring alto sax and guitar.
from FUNK 204
song available on Spotify, Amazon, iTunes and youtube.
You can listen to the lap steel guitar version on youtube
ballad version available on youtube and Spotify

Episode 83 - TRASH-80 Episode #83
I converted my latin-esque song microjazz into a new funky instrumental featuring sax, keyboard, electric bass (with pedal effects) and drums. Also features sounds from the original Radio Shack TRS-80 computer. This song is a tribute to that early, powerful-yet-clunky computer from the '80s.
from FUNK 204
song available on Spotify, Amazon, iTunes and youtube.
original version of microjazz available on Spotify and Amazon

Episode 82 - Peace of Mind Episode #82
I recorded this song in the mid-nineties in a walk-in closet. I used scissors, a rubber band, house keys and me thumping on my chest for the background percussion groove.
from Confessions of a DIY Junkie
song available on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and youtube.

Episode 81 - That Big Ol Chunka Funk is Back Episode #81
A new version of my song Big Ol Chunka Funk, featuring me on tenor sax along with alto sax. This was recorded in 2 phases. I recorded the whole track first in a live session at a studio with a quartet. Then I added tenor sax back in my home studio and edited the form.
from FUNK 204
song available on Spotify, Amazon, iTunes and youtube.
original version available on Spotify

Episode 80 - Bring It On Home (redux) Episode #80
Great laid-back soul jazz vibe to this one. I took an unreleased recording from 4 years ago, edited the form, added bari sax to the melody, and also created an alto/bari soli section. You can listen to episode 64 to hear the original recorded version before I made these changes.
from FUNK 204
song available on Spotify, Amazon, iTunes, and youtube.

Episode 79 - Home Away from Home Episode #79
Saxophone and drums improvisation over bass ostinato. Really proud of my sax solo on this one...channeled my inner-Coltrane. Also hidden in this piece is me playing orchestral chimes.
from Out of the Plains
song available on Amazon, iTunes, Spotify and youtube.

Episode 78 - More Episode #78
Here's a fun little song I wrote in the mid-nineties. Used a Boss DR-660 drum machine for the drum programming, a Yamaha DSR-1000 keyboard, and ran my saxophone through a wah-wah pedal for the solo in the middle. It's from my first album release, I.
from I
Good luck finding this song anywhere else on the web. It was created in the early days of the internet, before MP3's were invented.

Episode 77 - The Sound of Things Episode #77
The conclusion to my album The Sound of Things is a symphonic recomposition of the first 12 tracks on the album. Essentially a collage piece, I created a 4-movement symphony by digitally editing together different fragments from my original compositions.
Movements are: 1. Allegro ma non troppo 2. Dolce e cantabile 3. Agitato un poco loco 4. Vivace con brio
from The Sound of Things
This piece is available on youtube, Amazon, iTunes and Spotify.

Episode 76 - Out of the Plains Episode #76
This song features David Seay on hurdy gurdy. I play bari sax and alto sax on the piece, and John Kotchian uses brushes on the drums.
from Out of the Plains
song available on Amazon, iTunes, Spotify and youtube.

Episode 75 - Magic Episode #75
This piece combines saxophone, music box and fireworks with 2 kids and 2 adults playing handheld percussion instruments. It's about the truly magical events in your life.
from The Sound of Things
song available on youtube, Amazon, iTunes, and Spotify.

Episode 74 - Green Sky Episode #74
In Nebraska, the sky turns green right before a big storm. This piece evokes the power of a midwest storm, complete with thunder (thunder sheet), wind (whirly tube) and rain (rainstick). Orchestration also includes upright bass, wind chimes, drums, baritone saxophones and alto saxophones.
from Out of the Plains
song available on Amazon, Spotify, iTunes and youtube.

Episode 73 - A Walk in the Nonlinear Matrix Episode #73
This piece is about the ever-changing landscape due to population sprawl. I combined field recordings I made when walking my dog with instruments such as baritone saxophone, electric bass, a Native American flute, out-of-tune drum toms turned upside down, and glass bottles. I consider the overlapping sounds from man and nature that we hear every day as a sort of "nonlinear matrix" of sound.
from The Sound of Things
song available on youtube, Amazon, iTunes and Spotify.

Episode 72 - 21st Century Ambition Episode #72
This composition is about the role of technology in the 21st century and the path it takes from idea stage to ubiquitous mass production. Orchestration includes my basement water faucet, alto saxophone, mandolin with guitar slide, a vacuum cleaner, an assortment of percussion instruments, broiler pans and other cookware, the inside of a manufacturing plant and a freight train.
from The Sound of Things
song available on youtube, Amazon, iTunes, and Spotify.

Episode 71 - Click Episode #71
I used an empty popcorn tin, alto sax, melodica, bari sax and typewriter to record this piece. The click of my wedding ring hitting the side of the metallic popcorn canister is the basis for the alto sax line.
from The Sound of Things
song available on youtube and Amazon

Episode 70 - Funky Junkie Episode #70
Sax-infused house music from my dance/funk album of the same name. I recorded this in 1998 when I was experimenting with digital effects like auto-wah and octave transformers on vocals. One of my favorite recorded sax solos of all time.
from Funky Junkie
song available on Amazon, iTunes, Spotify, and youtube.
Watch the video I made in 2006 that featured my cat, my daughter's dollhouse furniture, the Ewok Village and the Funky Junkie.

Episode 69 - Turning and Turning Episode #69
Contemporary Classical composition of mine from 1994. Uses a 12-tone row and other musical concepts to depict the "widening gyre" from Yeats' The Second Coming. Written for soprano, flute, clarinet, piano and baritone saxophone.
This is a recording of a live performance of the piece.

Episode 68 - Demons In Your Head Episode #68
A song about the negative voices in your head. Explores having two parts in different tempos going at the same time. Listen to this song on headphones to get the full effect of the layered guitar tracks.
from Confessions of a DIY junkie
song available on Amazon, iTunes, Spotify and youtube

Episode 67 - Life is... Suite Episode #67
A 5-movement suite I recorded in 1998. My favorite part is the second movement which is essentially a drum solo over a theme that modulates through all 12 keys.
The movements are 1. Sleepwalking 2. Live 3. Tropopause 4. Winds of Change 5. Balance
Some of the movements are available on Amazon: Live - Winds of Change - Balance
You can listen to episodes 25 and 43 for more on the last 2 movements of this suite.

Episode 66 - The Cat's Meow Episode #66
Funny (and a bit crazy) song featuring some of the coolest cats around. Orchestration is alto sax, baritone sax, piano and 2 cats. I recorded my cats for two weeks so I had a collection of meow and purr samples I could work into this composition. Special thanks to Milton and Simone for their vocals and percussion on this song.
from The Sound of Things
song available on Amazon and youtube

Episode 65 - Ellen's Bag Episode #65
Third stream composition that combines flute, alto saxophone with a classical mouthpiece, tenor saxophone, wood blocks, acoustic bass guitar and keyboard. I experiment with recording background parts in the hallway with the microphone in another room.
from microjazz
song available on Amazon MP3, iTunes and Spotify.

Episode 64 - Bring It On Home Episode #64
Here's a laid-back instrumental funk tune as recorded in 2012. Features sax, keyboard, electric bass and drums.
song available on iTunes, Amazon and Spotify and youtube.

Episode 63 - Snippets Episode #63
No completed song this episode. Instead I threw together a bunch of tracks I've been working on that are really just fragmented ideas. I may use them in a song later, or just forgot about them. Yet another approach to composing--hit record, see what happens, then build on it if it sparks an idea.
Some odd sounds in this episode -- snack tracks (looped fizz from a bottle of pepsi and crinkling bags of chips), drum machine through wah-wah pedal, experimental solo sax and toy piano.

Episode 62 - Didn't Want To Be Your Lover Episode #62
Humorous indie rock track from my 2002 album Rock n Roll Wasteland. Experimented with different picks on the guitars, including using a screwdriver on my acoustic guitar. Recorded on a digital 8-track, I messed around with double and triple tracking instruments and then bounced those tracks into one.
song available on iTunes, Amazon MP3 and Spotify.
from Rock n Roll Wasteland.

Episode 61 - Birth of a Movement Episode #61
Improvisation by the Kevin Pike/John Kotchian Duo. In this song, a simple 3-note theme is established by the bass drum and toms and expanded by the alto sax until it hits a feverish point 2/3 through the form.
song available on Bocca Lupo Records, youtube and Amazon.
hear more music like this at the Kevin Pike/John Kotchian Duo website
from pulse/flow.

Episode 60 - voce brichon piano Episode #60
Densely layered latin jazz song that features percussion, electric bass, banjo, acoustic guitar, mandolin, alto sax and vocals. This is the final track to my album so se kwa. The ending incorporates the melodic theme of the album in its final variation of piano and wordless vocal.
song available on iTunes, Spotify and Amazon MP3.
from so se kwa.

Episode 59 - Big Ol Chunka Funk Episode #59
Dirty, laid-back funk track. Alto sax, electric guitar, electric bass, mandolin and drums.
song available on iTunes and Amazon MP3.
from Big Ol Chunka Funk.

Episode 58 - Axis and Allies Episode #58
I love the Milton Bradley board game Axis and Allies and have been playing it since I was a kid. We always listen to music while we play, so as a joke I created a theme song to get us pumped for the game. Check out this killer mixed-meter rock jam that asks the question "Axis and Allies -- who will be reigning champ?"
Learn more about the game Axis and Allies
song available on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and youtube.

Episode 57 - Back At It Episode #57
I was fooling around one night and recorded this track. I created a groove with a plastic drumhead from a toy drum and a toy ukulele. Then I added a sax solo over top.
In 2015 I added a bunch of new parts to this song to create Hear Me out, the 12th track on my album The Sound of Things

Episode 56 - Neo-Con Fusion Episode #56
Here's a free jazz improvisation in 3/4 time that gradually builds from beginning to end. Kevin Pike on alto sax and John Kotchian on drums.
from Fractured Intuition
song available on youtube, iTunes, and Amazon.

Episode 55 - Danny Boy (Londonderry Air) Episode #55
This is my somewhat trippy version of the classic Irish folk song. It's got a nice laid-back, free vibe to it. On this track I play cymbals, organ and 2 tracks of alto sax. I recorded it in March of 2011.
song available on youtube, Spotify, Amazon and iTunes.

Episode 54 - hiaei Episode #54
A laid-back Brazilian love song with a Bossa Nova vibe. Featuring Afuche/Cabasa, brushes on an African drum, flutes, clarinet, acoustic guitar and vocals. This is the second song I created for my Brazilian music tribute, so se kwa. I was listening to a lot of Antonio Carlos Jobim when I wrote this song.
from so se kwa
song available on iTunes, Amazon.com and Spotify

Episode 53 - The Fool on the Hill Episode #53
This is my arrangement of the Beatles' song The Fool on the Hill from Magical Mystery Tour. While the original is in 4/4 time, I changed it to a jazz waltz. I also added some chord substitutions. John Kregor is on guitar and I play alto sax on this duet.
from my jazz duets album One by One
song available on youtube, Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon.
Also watch the original version by the Beatles on youtube

Episode 52 - Green Episode #52
A blast from the past. This song is from my first album I (1998). Killer bass line on this one, plus a great bari sax/flute soli in the middle.
from I
Check out the video for Green on youtube
Years later I transformed this song into Mr. Badass.

Episode 51 - Cluster Voices Episode #51
This is a free jazz improvisation by Kevin Pike on alto sax and John Kotchian on drums. It was recorded in 2008 by the Kevin Pike/John Kotchian Duo.
Though it is an improvisation, there is a definite form to the piece:
1. Intro where the tonality is established, but not the time or tempo
2. Repeated rhythmic pattern with theme and variations
3. Intense, "angry jazz" ending
song available on youtube and Amazon
For more music like this, visit the Duo's website at FracturedIntuition.com

Episode 50 - so se kwa Episode #50
Here's the title track to my new DIY world music album so se kwa. The song features me on mandolin, banjo, acoustic guitar, electric bass, latin percussion, alto sax, flute and vocals over a mixed-meter groove (4/4+2/4+6/16). The end section is the tema, or recurring theme from the album. This track took me a year to finish.
from so se kwa
song available on iTunes, Amazon and Spotify

Episode 49 - ria, ria (markome vu) Episode #49
This is from my new world music album so se kwa. It was inspired by Milton Nascimento's Maria, Maria and Paisagem da Janela by Lo Borges and Fernando Brant. Features piano, acoustic guitar with slide, baritone sax, flute, toy piano and a unison falsetto vocal/acoustic guitar solo.
from so se kwa
song available on iTunes, Amazon and youtube

Episode 48 - Make it a Good One Episode #48
This piece is an improvisation I recorded with Omaha jazz legend Luigi Waites. I play alto sax on this and Luigi is on drums. It's from a session of duets we recorded in 2007.
You can listen to this NPR story on Omaha music that features Luigi (and his group Luigi inc) and the Kevin Pike/John Kotchian Duo.

Episode 47 - BBQ Episode #47
If an outdoor barbecue could have a soundtrack, this would be it. Podcast contains 2 versions of this feel-good funky track with organ, acoustic guitar and wah-wah bass. Second version adds alto sax.
Version #1 from Funky Junkie available on iTunes and Amazon.com
Version #2 from Big Ol Chunka Funk available on iTunes and Amazon.com

Episode 46 - The Christmas Song Episode #46
This is an arrangement of Mel Torme's classic The Christmas Song. It features flute, keyboard, bari sax and various percussion (bongos, shaker, handclaps).
If you like this track, check out my Christmas album, Captain Snowball and the Ho Ho Ho Band. It's available on iTunes and Spotify.

Episode 45 - Millennium Episode #45
The epic conclusion to my microjazz album, this 3-part jazz fusion suite features kalimba thumb piano, extended alto sax solos, varipitch recording on the bongos, a jammin' Chuck Hosch bass solo, musical typewriter and other DIY madness. Took me a long time to put together.
song available on Spotify, iTunes and Amazon.com.
from microjazz

Episode 44 - Bolivia Episode # 44
My saxophone duet arrangement of the classic Cedar Walton jazz tune. Features Doug Angelaccio on alto sax and Kevin Pike on baritone sax.
from my jazz duets album One By One

Episode 43 - Winds of Change Episode # 43
Experimental mixed-meter rock with a kick-ass riff on the chorus and saxophone-with-distortion solo in the middle.
song available on Amazon.com, youtube and iTunes

Episode 42 - Too Late for Goodbyes/Chains of Love Medley Episode # 42
Wacky song this week. I take 2 semi-obscure eighties pop hits -- Too Late for Goodbyes by Julian Lennon and Chains of Love by Erasure -- and combine them into one song. Featuring alto sax, wooden blocks with sand paper on them, shaker, keyboard and triangle.

Episode 41 - Rocket Man Episode # 41
This is Elton John's classic Rocket Man arranged for alto sax and acoustic bass guitar. I mess around with the time signature on this, throwing in some mixed meter and double-time swing.
from my jazz duets album One By One

Episode 40 - All The Time Episode # 40
Quirky little pop tune that features a Yamaha keyboard with a broken C# key (get your finger anywhere near it and it blurts out a C#), vocal through distortion, a bizarre feedback-esque alto sax solo and a great pop vibe.
song available on iTunes and Amazon.com.
from Confessions of a DIY Junkie

Episode 39 - Detour Episode # 39
John Kotchian plays drums and upright bass on this track, and I jam on the baritone sax and add in some handclaps.
song available on youtube, iTunes, Spotify and Amazon.
from Fractured Intuition
More music like this at the Fractured Intuition website.

Episode 38 - Saxomophunk Episode # 38
I lay down a funky bari sax line then layer 3 alto saxes on top, plus a drum beat and some real hand claps.
song available on iTunes and Amazon.com.
from Big Ol Chunka Funk

Episode 37 - I Got Legs for This Episode # 37
DIY hip-hop in which I sample my own boombox recording from '89 and layer it with a quasi-rap melody.
song available on iTunes and Amazon.com.
from Confessions of a DIY Junkie

Episode 36 - Falling Into You Episode # 36
Pop/rock song about suddenly falling for someone. Features brass slide on electric guitar, electric and acoustic guitar, mandolin string noise and my vocal harmonizer effect box.
song available on iTunes and Amazon.com.
from Rock n Roll Wasteland

Episode 35 - Hippopotamus Rex Episode # 35
Alto sax and organ backed up by guiro and bass. What began as a second line groove morphed into this sparsely orchestrated jazz tune.
song available on iTunes and Amazon.com.
from microjazz

Episode 34 - ase nascimento Episode #34
This is from so se kwa, my tribute to Milton Nascimento and the music of Clube da Esquina. In it, I include washboard, shekere, mandolin, party noisemaker, a brass slide on acoustic guitar with alternate tunings, whistling and extensive falsetto. Also, check out the mixed meter chorus (8+5+9).
from so se kwa
song available on iTunes, Amazon and Spotify

Episode 33 - Blah Blah Blah Episode #33
Baritone sax, African hand drum and guiro mixed in with lots of keyboard through distorion and blah blah blah
song available on iTunes and Amazon.com
from Funky Junkie

Episode 32 - Mondo Mando Episode #32
Mandolin Madness! I overdub mandolin many, many times and add in some alto sax and funky bass.
song available on iTunes and Amazon.com and youtube
from Big Ol Chunka Funk

Episode 31 - O Christmas Tree / Angels We Have Heard On High Episode #31
More than just a Christmas medley, I combine these 2 classic Christmas carols with a bossa nova groove and saxophones.
song available on iTunes
from Christmas Snowballin'

Episode 30 - You Got It Episode #30
Latin-tinged techno featuring vocal changer effects and my old Boss DR-660 drum machine.
song available on iTunes and Amazon.com
from Funky Junkie

Episode 29 - Fanfare for the Silver Horse Episode #29
My tribute to Horace Silver. I play saxophone, keyboard, tambourine, bongos and egg shaker on this tune. Features Adam Johnson on bass and Ken Johnson on trumpet (no, they are not related).
song available on iTunes and Amazon.com.
from microjazz

Episode 28 - Ode to the Convenience Store Episode #28
DIY insanity! I sample my old tape recordings from the '80s, add effects, cut and paste and then layer new material. Featuring my debut on a child-size violin and my vintage Star Wars lightsaber.
available on Amazon.com and iTunes

Episode 27 - Sugar Episode #27
This is my arrangement of jazz great Stanley Turrentine's most famous song. It's a duet with me on alto sax and John Kregor on guitar. I've added a unison intro to the song, sped up the tempo, and added a pedal over the head [jazz-ese translation: the note in the bass stays the same while the chords change in the beginning of the song].
from my jazz duets album One By One
Check out the original version of Sugar by Stanley Turrentine
song available on youtube, iTunes, Amazon and Spotify.

Episode 26 - What's Cookin' Episode #26
Funky mandolin feature with harmonica through wah-wah-pedal, electric upright bass, organ and bari sax. In this episode I also discuss my varipitch trick for recording fast licks at a slower tempo.
song available on iTunes and Amazon.com
from Big Ol Chunka Funk

Episode 25 - Balance Episode #25
I experiment with balancing different musical elements, such as high and low, mixing in the left and right channel, odd and even meters and short and long versions of a musical theme. Features alto sax, tenor sax, flute, recorder, wooden flute, shaker, keyboard and chest thumping.
song available on iTunes and Amazon.com.
from microjazz

Episode 24 - The Theme from Sesame Street Episode #24
I take the classic theme from Sesame Street and juxtapose it over a minor groove in 5/4 time.
song available on Spotify and youtube
You can also check out my solo sax version of this song on youtube.

Episode 23 - 3 Songs for the Price of 1 Episode #23
A musical smorgasbord in which I combine 3 songs into 1. Indie rock featuring wooden flute, distorted guitar and vocals.
song available on iTunes and Amazon.com
from Confessions of a DIY Junkie

Episode 22 - Echoes of Another Time Episode # 22
A somber jazz ballad featuring Kevin Pike on alto sax and John Kotchian on drums and bass. A 1-second delay effect on the saxophone makes for some unique harmonies.
song available on iTunes
from Fractured Intuition
Click here to go to the Kevin Pike/John Kotchian free jazz duo website.

Episode 21 - Bolero: Ravel vs. Coltrane Episode #21
Here is my jazz version of the famous classical piece by Maurice Ravel. Has a McCoy Tyner/John Coltrane feel to it.
Song available on Amazon and Apple Music
You can check out the original orchestral version by Ravel on youtube.

Episode 20 - Wachet Auf, ruft uns die Stimme (Cantata No. 140 by J.S. Bach) Episode #20
I arranged the theme from the 4th movement of Bach's Canata No. 140 as a duet for alto and baritone saxophone.
song available on iTunes and youtube.
from the album Wachet Auf, und spielt das Saxofon

Episode 19 - Sea Monkey Episode #19
A song that asks the question "Why can't I see my sea monkey?" Featuring a funky sax solo and lots of chorus effect.
song available on iTunes and Amazon.com
from Funky Junkie

Episode 18 - Willow Weep for Me Episode #18
The famous jazz standard arranged by Kevin Pike for alto sax and baritone sax
from One By One

Episode 17 - Rock n Roll Wasteland, parts 1 and 2 Episode #17
The epic conclusion to my Rock n Roll Wasteland album, in the style of a seventies rock opera
song available on iTunes, Amazon.com and youtube
from Rock n Roll Wasteland

Episode 16 - Vale Episode #16
jazz minimalism: 2 chords + an extended tenor sax solo, backed by brush clicks, bongos, shaker, piano and bari sax.
song available on iTunes and Amazon.com.
from microjazz

Episode 15 - Space Dog Episode #15
I open up the vault and find a rare electronica/video game music track I wrote 10 years ago.
song available on iTunes and Amazon.com
from Podcast Music

Episode 14 - King Wah Episode #14
Big, happy groove with lots of wah-wah, alto sax and bari sax
song available on iTunes and Amazon.com
from Big Ol Chunka Funk

Episode 13 - Hymn for the New America Episode #13
A song about moving beyond the racism in America's past and present. Featuring organ, guitar, mandolin and harmonica
song available on iTunes and Amazon.com
from Rock n Roll Wasteland

Episode 12 - BQCT Blues Episode #12
This is a mixed-meter funky jazz tune featuring saxophones and a slap bass solo by Chuck Hosch.
You can also watch the video to see all my notes and scribbles from when I was working on this song.
song available on iTunes and Amazon.com.
from microjazz

Episode 11 - Aftermath Episode #11
My collaboration with John Kotchian is a series of free jazz improvisations edited together.
song available on iTunes and Amazon
from Fractured Intuition
Click here to go to the Kevin Pike/John Kotchian free jazz duo website.

Episode 10 - Gimme Some Stuffs Episode #10
Gettin' funky with bari sax, guitar and alto sax through a wah-wah pedal
song available on iTunes and Amazon.com
from Big Ol Chunka Funk

Episode 9 - It's Alright Episode #9
fun with vocal effects to make it sound like a group
song available on iTunes and Amazon.com
from Funky Junkie

Episode 8 - Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) Episode #8
Brian Wilson meets Horace Silver: my cover of the Beach Boys' song from the classic Pet Sounds album
song available on Spotify and youtube.

Episode 7 - Wednesday Night Boogie Episode #7
I jam on alto sax with piano and handclaps backing me up. Recorded this on a Wednesday night.
song available on iTunes and Amazon.com
from microjazz

Episode 6 - Honeybun Episode #6
Funny tribute to the Little Debbie Honeybun with banjo, melodica and electric guitar
song available on iTunes and Amazon MP3.
from Confessions of a DIY Junkie
You can also watch a very strange music video of Honeybun on youtube

Episode 5 - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Episode #5
Funky jazz arrangement in 5/4 of the traditional Christmas carol.
song available on iTunes
from Christmas Snowballin'

Episode 4 - Jolly Old St. Nicholas Episode #4
Bet you've never heard this Christmas classic played like this before.
song available on iTunes
from Christmas Snowballin'

Episode 3 - Vibraslap Man Episode #3
This is a song I wrote in 2002 that features the vibraslap. "Vibraslap Man, you're part of the band. If you love what you do, that's cool with me and good for you."
song available on youtube, iTunes and Amazon MP3
from Rock n Roll Wasteland

Episode 2 - Loco Motif Episode #2
This is my best impression of a train. I used woodwinds, a steel drum, party noisemakers and a triangle.
song available on youtube, iTunes and Amazon.com
from microjazz

Episode 1 - the Typewriter Jam Episode #1
I jam on an old-fashioned typewriter and alto sax through an effects pedal.
song available on iTunes and Amazon.com