John Malcolm - the Official web site

... his music

John plays a range of musical styles - his live performances are always an energetic mixture of rock, folk, blues, and jazzy funk. He is an accomplished performer, his prowess with the guitar dazzling audiences as he plays improvised instrumental tunes which range from "anything from flamenco to blues to jazz to African influences."

listen to the music

This part of the johnmalcolm web site has music which you listen to online. We are phasing out Real Audio and going for MP3 format in both streaming and download modes. Note that most of the mp3's are in 32kbps format, to include those with slow connections and to leave some incentive to buy the CD's (so I get to eat). Check it out and let me know if there are any problems.

MP3 files

I'll put up MP3s here, both in 'stream' and 'download' mode. For a while you will see both Real Audio and MP3 format.

There is a lot of music accessible from this page. If you just want to hear over an hour of my current favourites, even as you go off to check your email etc., click

LISTEN NOW

Scroll down for info on released CD content.
It is free to listen, but don't distribute, broadcast or sell any of these recordings without permission; please send your friends here.

If the [Play Selection] or [Play All] links don't work properly on your system, try this: Right click (Option-click on Macs) on the link, then drag the resulting .m3u file into your iTunes in an empty "new playlist" window. Alternatively, opening the .m3u file within your player program may work.

You may have to edit the "content" section of your browser preferences, or to play the selection in Quicktime you can also use "Open URL in new player" from the File menu, and copy/paste the following into the address window:

http://www.johnmalcolm.com.au/music/sound/mp3/selection.m3u

Most visitors can just click the following heading:

Play my selection of tracks:

I will expand and change this new program from time to time. You can listen to my recent selection from all the tracks on this page.

Current Selection:

Descriptions of the new selection will be up soon.

RECENT HOME and LIVE RECORDINGS

I'm enthusiastic about getting more of my daily playing out where you can hear it. Check back soon. A lot of recent additions are from live minidisc recordings. Newly added stuff is at the top.

Live Recordings:

Most of these were recorded from the mixer onto mini disc.

DADGAD For my friend in Lisbon. The title is the tuning; a lap steel piece. There is also a live video of this on YouTube. Search "John Malcolm Lap Steel"
MP3 stream | MP3 download

Rolling Thunder Recorded live at the Alderley Arms 2002. Lyrics available to read.
MP3 stream | MP3 download

Snap Live loop improvisation. Firstly a percussive scratchy guitar loop is set up, then a bass line usng the octave pedal, then I improvise over the loop.
MP3 stream | MP3 download

Mbira Soup I'm enjoying the texture of the mbira loops. Live loop improvisation.
MP3 stream | MP3 download

Sydney Harbour A long trancy improvisation recorded solo at Nat and Ted's wedding party in Sydney last February. The mic. is turned off to keep it clean.
MP3 stream | MP3 download

Too Many Lovers 2 A more recent recording of this slow blues.
MP3 stream | MP3 download

Soulscape Quite a long improvisation on a theme of longing, influenced by the style of Javanese bamboo flute improvisations. Recently found on a minidisc recorded live back in 2005
MP3 stream | MP3 download

Madgas A very respectful bow to dGary, the amazing guitarist from Madagascar. The guitar is "stuffed", that is it has a piece of soft material under the strings near the bridge, giving a plinky sound. Live solo, no looping or overdubs. June 2007.
MP3 stream | MP3 download

Too Many Lovers ..and not enough love. Original Blues song; solo performance.
MP3 stream | MP3 download

Cuts Like a Diamond Recorded live to minidisc at Runcorn Tavern. June 2007. No looping in this one, just me solo. Flamenco influenced, original song. "What's another cut to a diamond? - Just another way to shine."
MP3 stream | MP3 download

MbiraR3 Recorded live to minidisc at Runcorn Tavern. June 2007. A "stuffed" or muted guitar (in FACFAC tuning, capo 4th fret) sets up the groove on the looper. Mbira is added, then standard guitar rocks it out. The piece is left hanging, introducing the next piece:
MP3 stream | MP3 download

BakerR3 Recorded live to minidisc at Runcorn Tavern. June 2007. A snappy Jazz guitar tune ending a live set. The chord progression is played into the looper; then I improvise some tricky lead lines.
MP3 stream | MP3 download

Mbira Jam 2 Recorded live to minidisc at Runcorn Tavern. June 2007.The loop in 6/8 time is set up on guitar. The mbira plays over the loop, leaving another layer. The guitar re-enters and jams.
MP3 stream | MP3 download

Dobro Outro (A very brief live wind-up on Dobro)
MP3 stream | MP3 download

Hot Air in Gm (A short live rave with a vaguely Latin feel. I played the chord sequence from my new song, "Tangerine" into the looper, and explored lead possibilities. This is how I find some fun in dinner music gigs.)
MP3 stream | MP3 download

AmGFE (A brief live excerpt of improvising lead while the looper repeats the good old Am G F E chord progression.)
MP3 stream | MP3 download

JindiJam (A loopy rave with a cosmic finish. Live, early 2007)
MP3 stream | MP3 download

Home Recordings:

(The Road That Leads) Back From The Blues The title track from a CD. This song is in a folk/country style, and is in the "Straighten-up-and-fly-right" family.
MP3 stream | MP3 download

Uneasy Dreaming (An electric/acoustic played through a Digitech TSR-24- kinda spooky background.)
MP3 stream | MP3 download

Angel Voices (Another with electric/acoustic played through a Digitech TSR-24- relaxing/hypnotic.)
MP3 stream | MP3 download

The Arrows

- lo fi originally recorded on cassette tape!
No remixing

Angel Gear (Words and music by John Malcolm) with The Arrows at the Embassy Hotel Brisbane 1993 John Malcolm (Vocal, guitar with synth), Ed Thompson (Sax), Seamus Kirkpatrick (Fretless Bass, back up vocal), Mark Illich (Drums)

MP3 stream | MP3 download