Thanks for the input! I made a few small edits and I also think I fixed that snare!  Here is the new version.  I replaced the link above, but here it is again.

https://clyp.it/hbhdbdoh

Thanks guys, glad you're into it! I had a blast making this one.

Is it the higher end of the 808s that need more you think? Just more character up there or more throughout? Or is the sub level good?

I'll just give this one bump.

Seeing as though a lot of us are producing electronic music, I think its important to look at how the key we pick affects the bass energy in a track.  For example, if you choose the key of Eb the fundamental will be just below 40Hz.  That's all well and good, but you have to take the sound systems you play on into account.  Most of them don't really reach lower than that so your track can sound like it loses power.

It's just yet another thing to take into account 

I have a degree in instrumental jazz studies so I can't really think without my sax or a piano.

That being said, piano is king! It's by far the best tool for writing in any style.

In simplest terms, you can start by voicing chords with only the root, 3rd and 7th.  That is all the information you need to tell if a chord is major, minor or dominant.

Normally I wouldn't recommend a real book, but for looking at how harmony moves they're great!  I would also recommend stealing chords from one of the charts inside the real book and try to produce a simple track with the voicing I illustrated above.  It's never considered cheating to steal chords from jazz standards.  It's actually called a contrafact if you do.  Swindle took the chord changes from "Autumn Leaves" to make the track "Summer Fruits."

That would be a good place to start!

Cheers!