News

10.06.2023 New Instrumental Song, “JB Floyd” Released Today

Today I release a new instrumental piano improvisation called “JB Floyd.” Go take a listen here!
Also, with this release, I begin a series of instrumental releases under the name “Piano Spells.”

Below are some thoughts about the the piece. I sincerely hope you enjoy it!

Song/Recording Credits:

“JB Floyd”
(Written by Gabe Dixon)

Gabe Dixon – piano

Produced by Gabe Dixon & Dustin Ransom
Engineering by Mitch Dane and Dustin Ransom
Mixed and Mastered by Dustin Ransom
Recorded in Nashville, TN at Sputnik Sound, March 8, 2023

Single Artwork by Brody Lowe

Thoughts from Gabe…

This past March, after recording my song “Passing Through” on the grand piano at Sputnik Sound in Nashville, I still had a few minutes of time booked, so producer Dustin Ransom suggested I just “play something.” This 5 minute & 29 second improvisation is the result.

After listening back a few times, I couldn’t help but be reminded of my piano teacher at University Of Miami, JB Floyd—a piano virtuoso and a composer who was an excellent teacher to me and many others. When I went to study with him at age 18, I was a good player who had been studying classical piano since I was 7, and, since age 12, I had also been moonlighting in clubs and venues in Nashville and throughout the east coast playing in various bands—rock, blues, funk, jazz, R&B, pop, and country—and writing songs. Instead of Dr. Floyd shunning this “non-classical” side of what I did, he encouraged it. He met me where I was and introduced me to not just the music of Alban Berg and Carl Maria von Weber, but also Keith Jarrett, Bill Evans, and Brazilian Choro Piano Music.

My big problem when I first met him was that my playing technique had been causing me injuries. A was experiencing tendonitis and maybe even carpel tunnel syndrome, and the piano repertoire I would need to learn in school was too advanced for my old technique, so I needed a new one. He helped me relearn how to play. And before taking the leap of faith to embark on that journey of reconstructing my technique, I remember asking Dr. Floyd, who at the time was almost 70, “so, do you ever have any problems with pain or anything like that?” He thought for a second and said, “no, I don’t think so. . .” and then joked, “well, maybe a little tennis elbow.”

The fact that I can now play day after day and night after night without injury is largely due to his 4 years of guidance. His mentorship was one of the best things that ever happened for my musicianship, and I am forever grateful. I hope you enjoy this musical moment captured on March 8th, 2023.

-Gabe