I'm very pleased to share an updated version of D. C. Stride, an upbeat jazz-rock instrumental. This “remix” version includes new tracks for the horn section.

Also new is a string quartet, entitled American Elegy for Strings. In stark contrast with D. C. Stride, the Elegy is bittersweet, melancholy, and elegiac, lamenting our country's loss of so much progress since January 2025. We need to remain optimistic and resolute to overcome our recent setbacks, but the Elegy offers comfort in those moments when we need to indulge a sense of loss and channel outrage into resolve.

This month, I'm pleased to highlight three new compositions. 

• Maybe Heaven is Waiting… was written a year ago for a songwriter challenge. Although the original version had just voice and piano, the final arrangement is for rock band and string orchestra. 
• Prayer of Saint Sebastian (music for film) was composed over two days in February as organ music for a funeral scene in an upcoming film. It uses a  traditional structure of a hymn tune followed by a variation and features the organ at the Lakeside Temple of Practical Christianity in Oakland, CA. 
• The Voyage of the Dawn Treader Suite (music for film) is a composition for full orchestra inspired by one of the books in C. S. Lewis’ famous Chronicles of Narnia. The eight-minute suite consists of four themes: 1. The Dark Island, 2. The Green Mist, 3. The Lords of Telmar, and 4. Epilogue

Rhys Jones grew up in Altadena, California. Following the massive Eaton fire in January that destroyed so much of Altadena, Rhys wrote Altadena Strong to honor the town's  history, the strength and diversity of it's  people, and to share some hope for recovery and rebuilding. 

You can help the people of Altadena recover and rebuild by downloading Altadena Strong for a $5 donation. Your  donation will directly benefit local charities focused on Altadena's recovery: the Altadena Rotary Club, Pasadena Community Foundation, and Altadena Library Foundation.  Please visit the Altadena Strong page and to download and contribute. And if you like the song, please spread the word and let other people know. Thank you!

Merry Christmas to all! New for December, Rhys produced and released two new pieces for film.

• Event Horizon is a dark, suspenseful piece intended as  the opening theme for a sci-fi film. Scored for strings, pipe organ, and percussion, the piece features the Rodgers organ at the Lakeside Temple of Practical Christianity in Oakland, CA.
• The Gathering is a film cue for a scene with people gathering for some mysterious purpose… Scored for solo cello, string orchestra, and tabla.

You can hear both songs on the Music for Film page or through your favorite streaming service. 

Rhys released two new singles for November - My Wildest Dreams and Golden Hour (late night mix). 

• My Wildest Dreams is a cool, electro-pop ballad built on a bed of synths, piano, bass, and spare percussion, and features a guitar solo. 
• Golden Hour (late night mix) is a remake of Rhys' 2023 song Golden Hour; this slimmed-down version is more intimate, retaining the bossa nova feel of the original but adding a cool saxophone. 

Both songs are featured on the Rhys Jones Music Music for You page or through your favorite streaming services.

Rhys is pleased to announce the release of two new singles: Tonight's a Special Day and If Waiting Ever Ends. While the two tunes feature different instrumentation, both reflect the darker side of the jazz spectrum. 

• Tonight's a Special Day is a dark, mysterious and brooding electro-jazz piece with lyrics , vocals, saxophone, synths, and percussion. 
• If Waiting Ever Ends is a more traditional moody jazz instrumental featuring tenor sax, piano, acoustic bass and brushed drums. 

Both songs are composed, performed, and produced by Rhys Jones, and are now streaming on popular sites like Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music and Spotify.

Totem - A Spirit Garden, a video by Trevor Bryant, features a music soundtrack by Rhys Jones. Trevor's  photographic work uses imaginative techniques and natural elements to create a world of totem images. Video produced by Trevor Bryant, music by Rhys Jones. Click link below image to view on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydU2rSfzn-8

Rhys recently composed a new piece entitled Celestoria using two sample libraries from Crow Hill Company: Celestatone and String Murmurations. The finished piece was entered in a Crow Hill Composer Challenge. You can find Celestoria on the Music for Film page. Rhys plans to revise the composition, adding parts for reeds and woodwinds. 

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