Here’s a behind-the-scenes glimpse at my isolated piano track for Chris Missen’s song, Sleepy Jane. This is a mid-tempo Country-Fusion track with lush, jazz-influenced harmony that I recently recorded for his upcoming album, set to drop sometime in 2025.

My piano approach on this track is inspired by Michael Omartian’s playing with Steely Dan, particularly on Rikki Don't Lose That Number and Aja—think Floyd Cramer’s slip-note style blended with modern jazz-rock upper-structure voicings and latin rhythms over a laid-back country groove.

Note: The piano doesn't play through the entire song. It enters at the first chorus. To keep things concise, I’ve edited out the sections where the piano isn’t playing.

I wanted to share this because I always find it fascinating to hear piano parts on their own— it gives you a deeper appreciation of the piano’s role in a song’s overall arrangement. It’s also a great way to highlight the detail that goes into recording that can often be obscured by other instruments in the final mix.

If you're an aspiring piano player, you might find it useful to listen to how certain choices—like voicings, rhythm, embellishments, licks, or dynamics—support and shape the song.

Studying isolated piano tracks by the pros was an invaluable part of my musical development. If you’re learning how to craft expressive piano parts in Country, Pop, or Jazz-influenced styles—or just want to hear how subtle voicings and phrasing choices come together in a real session track—I hope this gives you some inspiration.

🎹 Interested in learning how to play or create piano parts like this? I offer customised lessons that focus on real-world musicianship—from playing in different popular styles and improvisation to songwriting and arranging. Contact me to find out more or book a free consultation.

Music & lyrics by Chris Missen

Piano part composed and performed by Lisha Kayrooz

🎧 I'll be sharing more isolated piano parts from the album soon—don't miss it!