Author Archives: Greg Scheer

Slowly

Posted on December 28, 2023 by Greg Scheer

“Slowly” (the song) has slowly (the adverb) been making its way into Outside Pocket gigs. I thought it was time I made a clean recording of it–though this is by no means anything fancy. This is a love song, but … Continue reading →

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Mode Blue

Posted on December 28, 2023 by Greg Scheer

“Mode Blue” was one of a few songs in which I played with the minor blues form. A minor jazz blues tune invariably moves from the minor i chord to the minor iv chord, i.e. Am to Dm. (Read more … Continue reading →

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Americana

Posted on December 28, 2023 by Greg Scheer

Before 2023 ends, I wanted to return to the recordings I made with Steve Talaga. As you may remember, these were a dozen or so jazz tunes that he and I recorded one afternoon in September. Nothing fancy, just playing … Continue reading →

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Interesting Thing

Posted on December 28, 2023 by Greg Scheer

I have been a member of the Rascals, Rogues, and Rapscallions since its inception in 1989, though less active in recent years. In those early years, I designed the Rascal flag, created a documentary about Burgettstown, PA, and have even … Continue reading →

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Hark the Herald, strings

Posted on December 28, 2023 by Greg Scheer

This December, I wrote four string arrangements of Christmas carols for Wendell Kimbrough and Church of the Incarnation in Dallas. I was simultaneously planning a service of carols for Rosewood Church in Jenison, so I decided to get double duty … Continue reading →

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Refugee King, string arrangement live at Rosewood

Posted on December 28, 2023 by Greg Scheer

A few years ago, I helped write a song called “Refugee King (Away from the Manger).” This year, I used it in a service accompanied by The All Saints Orchestra (St. Sinner’s holier half), so I decided to write a … Continue reading →

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Once in Royal David’s City (w/ Carlos Colón)

Posted on December 27, 2023 by Greg Scheer

As the year ends, I’m going to try to catch up on blogging 2023 compositions. Posting them in 2024 will seem…stale. This arrangement of the classic Christmas carol, “Once in Royal David’s City” is a collaboration between me and my … Continue reading →

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Christmas in Michigan

Posted on November 30, 2023 by Greg Scheer

I have a certain ambivalence about Christmas music. On the one hand, I like a bit of schmalz as much as the next guy. On the other hand, do we really need to listen to Mariah Carey from the day … Continue reading →

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Music Unites Us: The Making of…

Posted on November 15, 2023 by Greg Scheer

We started this “Music Unites Us” series with an overview video introducing the project. We’ll end with this documentary that goes behind the scenes, interviewing the performers and me about the creative process. I usually hate watching videos of myself, … Continue reading →

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Music Unites Us: Dòng máu Lạc Hồng (The Children of Lac Hong):

Posted on November 14, 2023 by Greg Scheer

Lương Chí Cường moved to America a few years ago after a successful singing career in his home country of Vietnam, even winning Vietnamese Idol. The song we chose for his collaboration with the Holland Symphony Orchestra was a rousing … Continue reading →

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