Isamu McGregor

Piano :: Keys :: Arrangements

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93 Reviews (81 Verified)
Isamu McGregor on SoundBetter

Colbie Caillat (USA). Richard Bona (Cameroon). Natalia Lafourcade (Mexico). Sadao Watanabe (Japan). Virgil Donati (Australia). These are just some of the global artists that I have had the fortune to work with over the years. Whatever style of piano or keyboards you are looking for, I can deliver - and at a very high level.

RECORDING: Whether you are looking for the perfect foundational piano part for your pop ballad, a unique blend of keyboard comp parts for your funk odyssey, or some searing lead synth blowing for your jazz fusion record, I can fill the role!

I was the bandleader and Musical Director for platinum recording artist Colbie Caillat from 2015-2021. I have also toured over the years with various other Grammy-winning artists, including Richard Bona and Natalia Lafourcade. In the jazz world, I have performed with a diverse array of artists, including Sadao Watanabe, Wayne Krantz and Bennie Maupin.

At my home studio I have a pristine Yamaha C3 baby grand piano. Sonically it is a little darker than most Yamaha's I have played, and it almost has hints of a Steinway sound. I have found it to be particularly versatile and wonderful for many different kinds of recording projects.

ARRANGING / ORCHESTRATION: From a pop string arrangement to a full orchestra, I can provide services for all your orchestration and arranging needs. I can deliver professional-grade scores and charts (Sibelius), and high-quality MIDI mockups.

It is most important to me that I maintain a strong connection with you (the client), as I respect the fact that you've chosen to work with me. You will always find me communicative, easygoing and quick to turn things around!

Send me an email through 'Contact' button above and I'll get back to you asap.

93 Reviews - 20 Repeat Clients

Endorse Isamu McGregor
  1. Review by Eduard A.
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    Isamu took our brief seriously and paid a lot of attention to details. What he came up with was exactly what we were after - first time. Communication was clear throughout. I thoroughly recommend Isamu.

  2. Review by Evans H.
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    Once again Isamu nails it , great piano and upright tracks ! Thanks for your patience and the great parts Isamu . Fantastic all over .

  3. Review by Kira Fontana | Kingdom Sound
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    Isamu was amazing to work with! I had a really tight deadline and needed string arrangements for a live show. He got to work in record time, and delivered everything exactly when I needed it. He was super responsive and happy to make any changes needed throughout, and the end results were fantastic! I look forward to working with him again, and highly recommend him to anyone looking for great, professional work!

  4. Review by Magnus H.
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    Always a great experience working with Isamu. He's a world-class musician.

  5. Review by Annabel Hailey
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    Isamu is obviously an incredibly talented and versatile musician, but also a great communicator with impeccable organisational skills. He immediately caught the vibe for the piano that I was looking for and created beautiful options to choose from. He also played bass and co-ordinated with other musicians. He made the process very smooth and enjoyable due to his versatility and positive vibe throughout. I am excited about the result and looking forward to working with Isamu again!

  6. Review by Zhengtao P.
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    Excellent work as always!! Thank you so much Isamu for recording on my chart!

  7. Review by Magnus H.
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    Isamu delivered a fantastic piano track, including a piano pop/rock solo part that was amazing. It's always a joy to collaborate with him, and the outcome is truly top of the game.

  8. Review by Evans H.
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    Isamu is fantastic , he transformed the song with his piano and strings arrangements . Attention to detail , creativity , mastering of piano playing is what Isamu is about. Great working with you !

  9. Review by Marino P.
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    It was a pleasure to work with Isamu. He is great to work with and provided many piano tracks. He also takes interest in all aspects of the song arrangement and provided various options.

  10. Review by Magnus H.
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    Once again Isamu made a great piano arrangement for my new song. It is always a joy to work with him.

  11. Review by Murtaza A.
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    Amazing talent. One of the best pianist/keys player I've worked wtih

  12. Review by Magnus H.
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    Working with Isamu is a great experience. This time he made a piano track for one of my new songs and it came out very beautiful. It’s a pleasure every time. I highly recommend him for piano work and arrangement.

  13. Review by Kenny Cash
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    It's always bitter sweet when someone comes into the control room, hears the production and says you sound great on piano. then I have to tell them it wasn't me, it was Isamu McGregor!

  14. Review by Hayden Maringer
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    Pleasure working with Isamu! Will definitely be working with him again in the future! Great keys player with great sounding recordings! Cant ask for more!

  15. Review by Zhengtao Pan
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    Wonder work as always! Beautiful playing and masterful solo, good control of the balance and dynamic/tension. Thank you!!!

  16. Review by Sol B.
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    by Sol B.
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    Great job, fast turnaround, very good comms.

  17. Review by eli-as123
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    5 stars, awesome to work with :)

  18. Review by Chahine
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    Isamu is just great - he got what the project needed immediately!
    Very professional!

  19. Review by eli-as123
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    5 stars, awesome to work with

  20. Review by Zhengtao P.
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    From small ensemble to bigband, Isamu has a variety of music language as a jazz pianist, thanks again for playing on my chart!

Interview with Isamu McGregor

  1. Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

  2. A: I have put out two jazz albums as a bandleader, and there are few things more gratifying than going through the process of bringing your original music from concept to product. That involves letting many very talented individuals contribute their time and effort to shaping your music into something greater than you even thought it could be. If there's something I enjoy just as much as playing music, it's the connections you forge with other people. As cliche as it sounds, music really does bring us all together, and it's fantastic.

  3. Q: What are you working on at the moment?

  4. A: Since January 2020, I've been part of a team working on a huge music installation project that will hopefully debut in NYC either later this year or in Spring 2022. We are simultaneously working on and/or coordinating the production of literally hundreds of tracks, which will all be a part of this crazy geospatial installation. It's hard to explain in a few sentences, but I can tell you that it's just very very cool.

  5. Q: Analog or digital and why?

  6. A: In my heart of hearts, analog. But the flexibility that digital allows for in certain areas is invaluable, especially in terms of efficiency. It really depends on the project.

  7. Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

  8. A: Professionalism and top-quality product, every time. Also I'm easy to get along with, so we'll have fun along the way.

  9. Q: What do you like most about your job?

  10. A: I'd say my favorite part of being a professional musician has been the traveling. I'm a total culture junkie, and I really love the fact that I've been able to perform in so many unique places around the world. Oftentimes with touring, you don't have too much time to actually sightsee before you have to fly to the next place. In 2017 I flew from NYC to Ahmedabad (India), where I was on the ground for roughly 32 hours before flying to Los Angeles for another gig. But I dragged myself out of the hotel between soundcheck and the gig, and wandered around the streets, just to get a taste. I would have hated it if I had gone all the way to India and just slept!

  11. Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

  12. A: Q: How quickly can you get this done? A: Just say when, and if it's within reason, I'll get it done.

  13. Q: What's your strongest skill?

  14. A: Piano playing. I studied classical piano for 10 years as a child, studied jazz piano in college and have gone on to play all kinds of music since then. I pride myself on my technical prowess and my sense of rhythm, but always making sure that it serves the song.

  15. Q: What do you bring to a song?

  16. A: A professional touch. A strong sense of rhythm and of composition. A respect for the craft of writing "parts", and an appreciation for the wildness of improvisation. In short, I try to give the song exactly what it is asking for, while giving it an opportunity to ascend even higher.

  17. Q: What's your typical work process?

  18. A: Because I do much more than just recording piano parts, my work process varies with each job and each client. What doesn't change is my attention to detail, my communication and my efficiency. My goal is to get you the finished product that you need, in a timely manner and with you enjoying the experience from beginning to end.

  19. Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

  20. A: I have a Yamaha C3 baby grand piano at my home studio. It records really nicely and is a bit darker than most Yamaha's, which is why I liked it so much. As far as keyboards, I'm a Nord guy (Electro, Lead), but lately I've been using Keyscape and other synth libraries for recording. Easier than having twenty vintage keyboards up and running all the time! As for orchestral samples, I have a deep collection that gives me a wide palette to work with, including BBC Orchestra and many Spitfire libraries.

  21. Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

  22. A: Herbie Hancock and Quincy Jones. Both of these monsters were able to traverse so much musical ground, and do it all at such a high level. I mean, Herbie played with Miles in the 60's, made "Rockit" in the 80's and then made a Joni Mitchell tribute album decades later. And Quincy...the guy was behind "Fly Me to the Moon" and "Thriller". The same guy! I truly love and appreciate musical versatility.

  23. Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

  24. A: My jobs are usually split between recording piano/keyboard parts and writing various types of arrangements. This could include: a string and/or horn parts to accompany a pop song; a string quartet arrangement of a pop song; or any other desired instrumentation, all the way up to full orchestra.

  25. Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

  26. A: That music is not something I do for a living. Many non-musicians I meet for the first time are often surprised and/or impressed when I tell them that I am simply a professional musician, with no day job or side hustle. To me, this is what I've been doing my entire adult life to earn a comfortable living, and I honestly can't imagine doing anything else. (Except maybe playing professional baseball - but that ship sailed a long time ago!)

  27. Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

  28. A: I always ask for reference tracks to make sure that we are aligned in what we are going for, from a stylistic standpoint. I try to get a full understanding of the scope of their project and what they are hoping to achieve. Similarly, I try to make any suggestions I can to help the music reach the next level. Sometimes a fresh pair of ears can contribute something to a track that has been overlooked - and that goes both ways!

  29. Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

  30. A: While you want to hire someone who is musically talented, it is just as important to find someone who handles their business professionally. Meeting deadlines, providing clear communication, and being completely honest with you about what your music is asking for. Talented music providers will get hired once, based on their merit alone. But true professionals are the ones who get repeat business, because they know how to properly handle their relationship with the client.

  31. Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

  32. A: The five fingers on my left hand - because even though lead lines and melodies are ear-catching, a song is nothing without its foundation!

  33. Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

  34. A: I've been a working professional musician since 2009. I studied jazz at New York University, and by the time I graduated I was already doing roughly 150 gigs a year in the NYC area. Over the next few years, I was doing closer to 200-250 gigs per year. I started touring more heavily in 2014, and since then I have performed in over 30 different countries, playing with some truly amazing musicians and artists.

  35. Q: How would you describe your style?

  36. A: Clean, assured, tasteful.

  37. Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

  38. A: Tedeschi Trucks Band, because Derek Trucks' slide guitar playing is phenomenal and I would love to be onstage to experience it.

  39. Q: Can you share one music production tip?

  40. A: Less is more.

  41. Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

  42. A: Half the time I'm working on original pop songs, or unique arrangements of pop covers. The other half of the time I'm laying down parts and/or solos for a jazz track, or something similarly creative.

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Lorelei Marcell, "Your Biggest Fan"

I was the pianist and string arranger in this production


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    Lorelei Marcell, "Your Biggest Fan"
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    Track 46 (Orchestral MIDI)
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    Isamu McGregor, "Relentless"
Terms Of Service

*Terms depend on the job, but generally: 1-2 revisions included, 2-3 day turnaround.

Gear Highlights
  • Yamaha C3 Baby Grand
  • Neumann + AKG Microphones
  • Nord Keyboards
  • Keyscape
  • Spitfire Orchestral Libraries
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