Welcome, I am J D Emmanuel, aka James Daniel Emmanuel, I normally go by Daniel. For my music work, I choose to use "J D" to separate my work with music from my other type of work.
I compose and perform electronic synthesizer music, which sometimes includes electronically enhanced acoustic and electric guitar. The term I like to use for my music is Electronic Minimal. My music style is to first create a foundation using cyclic, poly rhythmic music, then build several layers of improvised leads and rhythms. The style is based on my deep jazz background influenced by my study of minimal music by such composers as Terry Riley, Philip Glass and Steve Reich.
I have an extensive background in spiritual and metaphysical studies. This is another influence in how I compose and perform my music as I also look at my music as an Electronic Meditation. In meditation, a mantrum is used to focus the mind and keep it from drifting during the meditation. The manturm then allows the meditations and comtemplations. My music is very similar to a mediatation in that the mantrum is the cyclic, poly rhythmic music foundation that I use to set the theme of the composition. The leads and rhythms are my meditations based on the mantrum foundation.
Not only is my music for general listening, it can also enhance the ability of the mind and the spirit to go beyond what is considered the "normal" boundaries of the five senses to the "Source of One's Being" for work with creativity, increase spiritual awareness, mind expansion or to just have a nice time being there to refresh the Soul. My music is wonderful as background when working, reading or studying to help focus for better retention without getting too tired, as well as used for relaxation or during a massage to release tension better for deeper body work.
The Deep Relaxation and Rain Forest mediation programs are designed for the beginner, who is just getting into relaxation/mediation, and the advanced meditator, who wants to experience different types
of meditation experiences.
To learn more about my research and experiments with music and the mind, visit my webpage Expanding Consciousness and Experiencing Altered States through Music.
You can also learn more about my background and work outside of music by visiting the Links section of this website.
However, if you just enjoy listening to electronic and jazz music, you may find something here for your listening tastes! You may even download them for later!
Guitars
- 1982 Martin D-35, sweet! Got it for only $900 in 1991, the sound was just starting to mature, now it is beautiful with a balanced bass and treble.
- 1973 Martin D-12-28 with upgraded neck, awesome 12-string sound, as a Martin should!
- 1998 Martin DBXR - I got this one in a pawn shop for $300. I could not figure out why it was so cheap and sounded almost as good as my D-35! When I researched it out, I discovered that it was a laminated guitar with wood bracing. This is a great axe that sounds great and plays easy!! I take it camping because it won't get hurt in humidity and heat.
- 1986 Casio MG-510 Midi Guitar with 3 pickups and Strat type body, very cool! Has a wonderful jazz/rock sound, frets really nice, the midi function is well thought out and works great with my synths!
- Fender Starcaster Fat Strat that combines 2 forward single-coils, a bridge humbucker pickup, and 5-way switching for incredible Fat Strat tonal range. It was cheap, but really cool!
- Fender Stereo Pak Guitar Processor which includes chorus, overdrive, distortion and speaker simulation. Got it back in 1992 while traveling in the San Francisco area.
Studio Hardware
- Teac A-3440, 4-Track Reel-to-Reel
- Teac A-6100 2-Track Master Reel-to-Reel
- Kawai MAV-8 Midi Patchbay
- Alesis 3630 Compressor
- Alesis Microverb III
- Nady GEQ 231
- Kawai MX-8R Mixer
- Midiman USB Midiport
- Tascam M-1B Mixer
- Behringer Denoiser
- QSC RMX 1850HD Amplifier
- Sony MDS-JB930 MiniDisk deck for basic mixdowns
Studio Software
- Mackie Tracktion 2
- Sony Soundforge 8
- Sony CD Architech 5
Past Instruments and Equipment
A lot of my music is currently free to anyone who would enjoy listening to it! Samples and full downloads are available in MP3/192 format.
It is copyrighted and not for unauthorized use or distribution.
Click here with any questions concerning the use or distribution of my music.
