Toontrack has announced the release of the Big Band Grooves MIDI pack, a new collection of drum MIDI grooves and fills inspired by traditional big band arrangements.

Toontrack Big Band Grooves

This MIDI pack is performed in the shadow cast by the giants and inspired by the almost bottomless well of inspiration they created. Expect anything from the sophisticated and subtle to the fiercely intense and syncopated.

From a wealth of traditional swing material in various tempos to a latin-flavored collection of straight bossa nova-inspired beats, these grooves have all the traits you need to lay down the perfect big band drum foundation.

Big Band Grooves features

  • Drum MIDI grooves and fills inspired by traditional big band arrangements.
  • Performed by classically trained jazz session drummer.
  • 2/4, 3/4 and 4/4 in straight and/or swing feel with tempos ranging from 85 BPM to 296 BPM.
  • More than 500 individually played files in total.
  • Organized in ‘Slow,’ ‘Medium,’ ‘Medium Fast,’ and ‘Uptempo’ folders for swing feel.
  • Organized in ‘Latin,’ ‘Bossa Nova’ and ‘Songo’ folders for straight feel.
  • Dedicated section for genre-typical tom grooves.
  • Ideal for jazz/big band arrangements, scoring and general songwriting.

The MIDI pack is available for 25 EUR / $29 USD.

Also available is the Big Band EZkeys MIDI pack, a collection of piano MIDI inspired by traditional big band music.

Toontack Big Band EZkeys MIDI

The horns may be the most easily identifiable ingredient in the often busy sonic landscape of a traditional big band arrangement, but the unsung hero of the melodic rhythm section is undoubtedly the piano.

This EZkeys MIDI pack was inspired by the timeless musical legacy left by the likes of Count Basie, Nat King Cole, Duke Ellington and the many other players and band leaders who immortalized the piano as an unquestionable component in the big band format. From the frail harmonics of a subtly struck open chord at the top of the octaves to the thunderous impact of a percussive pattern at the low bass range, the piano has a voice like no other. It literally covers the entire dynamic and expressive scope – melody, harmony and rhythm.

This collection of EZkeys MIDI sets out to do just that: give you a broad palette of big band-inspired song structures across all tempos, feels and styles that apply.

Big Band EZkeys MIDI features

  • Piano MIDI inspired by traditional big band music.
  • Performed by professional session player.
  • 3/4 and 4/4 in straight and/or swing feel with tempos ranging from approx. 110 BPM to 236 BPM.
  • Categorized in A, B, C and ‘Endings’ sections.

The EZkeys MIDI pack is also 25 EUR / $29 USD.

More information: Toontrack