1 - Hold Fast

     
         The opening track on the album is Hold Fast. Composed in mid-2018, this piece was inspired by keyboardist/composer Jan Hammer and his numerous imitators which saturated commercial music, including advertisements, in the mid-1980s to late 1990s. The composition is meant to evoke a cigarette boat speeding through Biscayne Bay in chase of smugglers or perhaps just a recreational excursion. This tune, as well as many others on the album, are not strictly programmatic, and instead, only hint at a possible extra-musical narrative.

         Hold Fast begins with a drum intro, reminiscent of the roll-off used by marching ensembles. (Introduction) A simple guitar strumming pattern follows, which helps support a short saxophone melody. This is the "Opening Statement." (Section A) The verse comes next with a square wave melody supplanting the saxophone, and a Cuban-inspired bassline providing harmonic support. (Section B) The chorus section is next and the saxophone plays the melody while the guitar plays a complimentary lick. (Section C) Following the chorus is a unison riff played by the saxophone and the guitar. (Section D) It is used to increase excitement and add a slight disorientation through unconventional rhythms and intervals. Having a wild, unpredictable texture and line serves as contrast to the more conventional sections of the piece. Afterwards the verse and chorus are repeated. The piece ends with a restatement of the opening section and short rhythmic tag. The full form is as follows:

          I
          A
          B
          C
          D
          B
          C
          A1