JackSquare here! "Jazz" and "banjo" aren't too words you'd normally put together, but that didn't stop my from recording a banjo cover of Specialist from Persona 4! Specialist is a cool, jazzy tune that's experienced lots of popularity, not only from Persona 4, but also from the meme scene. On my first play through of Persona 4, I knew I had to tackle this track. The OST as a whole is fantastic, but this tune really stood out.
Deciding to cover Specialist with the banjo specifically was a decision that came later, however. I had been practicing "single string" lead lines, and felt like the song worked well on the banjo. In banjo, single-string refers to the style of playing where you are picking a single string, as opposed to using lots of rolls (three-finger or Scruggs style). The banjo is generally thought of as folk/Irish/bluegrass instrument, but I love taking the acoustic, organic tones of folk instruments and layering them in to other genres. Hence, this jazz fusion cover!
The supporting cast consists of electric guitar, keys, drums, bass, and a little acoustic guitar to round out the track! The acoustic comes in later, but I feel like it helps to buoy up the last section of the cover with bright tones and percussive elements. Can't beat that Breedlove!
I had a blast working on this one, and I hope that you enjoyed listening to it! As always, be sure to check out my YouTube channel for more covers and music related videos!
-JackSquare
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