When "The One" begins you instantly know that you’ve heard it before. Not this exact composition but the thousands of others that follow the same exact formula. Greg Manning’s The One follows all the standard conventions of radio-bound Smooth Jazz with little to no deviation.
We classify "The One" is as "Very Smooth".
Tap for more information on our "Smoothness Scale".
Greg Manning steps in gracefully at 0:36 and is the one saving grace of the entire ordeal. He lays down some very elegant keys that gives the track a very calm feeling. If Vaughn's portion of the first verse is cruising on a sunny day, Greg Manning steps in and makes the beach the backdrop.
At 2:36 the switches up a bit with a seemingly synthesized string arpeggio but it is too refined and structured to add character to the composition. There's no dynamics, no crescendos, just the arpeggio on top of the kick, snare, kick, snare drum pattern. This section is closed out with Manning playing a great but rather short piano solo. It is very graceful and jazzy which was great to hear.
In an interview with the Smooth Jazz Network, Greg Manning called "A Song for Peace" his most personal composition as he wrote it to create lasting change for those feeling helpless due senseless killing in the war abroad. He wanted to do his job as a human being and in doing so he enlisted the expertise of Kirk Whalum and veteran guitarist Ray Fuller, the two musicians played a huge part in making the track a great listen. People often say that music has healing power and often opens hearts and to that it was mission accomplished for the team. Will there ever be peace on Earth, that's a daunting question and as Greg Manning shows the answer lies with you and I.
Add some Greg Manning music to your Relaxing Jazz Playlist, he is an expert composer, musician, and pianist with a knack for good song. His music typically remains at a 3 on the Smoothness Scale and often incorporates Funk and other genres to make for some fun arrangements.
Greg Manning ft. Phil Denny - Top Down
Greg Manning - And So It Begins
Blake Aaron - Feels So Right
We classify "The One" is as "Very Smooth".
Tap for more information on our "Smoothness Scale".
The Verses
Julian Vaughn gets first dibs on the melody and he makes it clear that this track will land as a faithful #3 "Very Smooth" on the 6ZEROS Smoothness Scale. He keeps it straight-forward the entire track never taking any risks or stepping outside of the rigid aural boundaries of the Smooth Jazz Pop formula.Greg Manning steps in gracefully at 0:36 and is the one saving grace of the entire ordeal. He lays down some very elegant keys that gives the track a very calm feeling. If Vaughn's portion of the first verse is cruising on a sunny day, Greg Manning steps in and makes the beach the backdrop.
The Chorus
At 0:56 the Chorus kicks in with the vocals “you are the one” repeated frequently which is serviceable but very formulaic. There's really not much to the Chorus...there's no build up, no change of pace, the first couple measures are an accurate representative of everything else to come.Highlights
Around 1:20 Manning and Vaughn begin to go back and forth which could have been a real treat if they were not confined to the rigid template they were following. Instead of a great duet of sorts we get two pop melodies going back and forth that in the end just doubles down on the generic.At 2:36 the switches up a bit with a seemingly synthesized string arpeggio but it is too refined and structured to add character to the composition. There's no dynamics, no crescendos, just the arpeggio on top of the kick, snare, kick, snare drum pattern. This section is closed out with Manning playing a great but rather short piano solo. It is very graceful and jazzy which was great to hear.
Verdict
There’s a market for this music and I have no doubt that the targeted demo will enjoy it on the way to the winery or while sipping cocktails on their pontoon boat. Does the The One do anything for the genre? No. But after giving us "Between the Sun and Moon" which was very out of the for Greg Manning I can give this song a pass.I give "The One" 4 out of 6ZEROS
Who is Greg Manning?
Greg Manning is a professional musician, composer, and pianist who is music alum at Berklee College. He has worked with the likes of Kirk Whalum, Judah Sealy, Herb Alpert, Keb Mo, and more. In addition to playing Piano, Greg Manning is also an expert Producer and Mixer and has worked on projects for Kevin Jackson, Paula Atherton, Blake Aaron, and Kim Scott. Manning has also served as music director for Grammy award-nominated Jonathan Butler. It is no doubt that Greg an amazing artist and has made a lasting impact on Smooth Jazz music. A fun fact from the Greg Manning official website is that he played on Whitney Houston's single "I Will Always Love You".In an interview with the Smooth Jazz Network, Greg Manning called "A Song for Peace" his most personal composition as he wrote it to create lasting change for those feeling helpless due senseless killing in the war abroad. He wanted to do his job as a human being and in doing so he enlisted the expertise of Kirk Whalum and veteran guitarist Ray Fuller, the two musicians played a huge part in making the track a great listen. People often say that music has healing power and often opens hearts and to that it was mission accomplished for the team. Will there ever be peace on Earth, that's a daunting question and as Greg Manning shows the answer lies with you and I.
Add some Greg Manning music to your Relaxing Jazz Playlist, he is an expert composer, musician, and pianist with a knack for good song. His music typically remains at a 3 on the Smoothness Scale and often incorporates Funk and other genres to make for some fun arrangements.
Music You Must Hear From Artist Greg Manning
Greg Manning - Sunrise BoulevardGreg Manning ft. Phil Denny - Top Down
Greg Manning - And So It Begins
Blake Aaron - Feels So Right
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