diff --git a/ruby/bin/jamtrack.rb b/ruby/bin/jamtrack.rb
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
diff --git a/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/jam_tracks_manager.rb b/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/jam_tracks_manager.rb
index 07b264df0..1c4b481aa 100644
--- a/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/jam_tracks_manager.rb
+++ b/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/jam_tracks_manager.rb
@@ -1,20 +1,36 @@
+require 'json'
+require 'tempfile'
+require 'open3'
+
 module JamRuby
 
-  # describes an audio track (like the drums, or guitar) that comprises a JamTrack
+  # Interact with external python tools to create the JKZ
   class JamTracksManager
     class << self
-      def save_jam_track(jam_track, user)
-        spec = Gem::Specification.find_by_name("jam_ruby")
-        py_root = spec.gem_dir + "/lib/py/jam_tracks/"
-        puts "Executing python in #{py_root}"
+      def save_jam_track_jkz(user, jam_track)
+        py_root = File.expand_path(File.join("..", "..", "jamtracks"))
+        tmp_dir = Dir::Tmpname.make_tmpname("/tmp/jamtrack", nil)
+        puts "Executing python in #{py_root}, outputting to #{tmp_dir}"
+        
 
-        sku=""#jam_track.sku
-        public_key=""
-        private_key=""
-        tracks_filename=""
-        output_jkz=""
-        title=""
-        `python #{py_root}jkcreate.py -D -k #{sku} -c art.png -p #{public_key} -s #{private_key} -I #{tracks_filename} -o #{output_jkz} -t '#{title}'`
+        sku=jam_track.id
+        tracks_filename=tmp_dir + "/jamtrack.info"
+        output_jkz="tmp_dir/#{jam_track.name.tableize}.jkz"
+        title=jam_track.name
+        
+        # From http://stackoverflow.com/questions/690151/getting-output-of-system-calls-in-ruby/5970819#5970819:
+        #Open3.popen3("ls") do |stdin, stdout, stderr, wait_thr|
+        Open3.popen3("python", 
+          "#{py_root}/jkcreate.py", 
+          "-D -k #{sku} -c art.png -p #{tmp_dir}/pkey.pem -s #{tmp_dir}/skey.pem -I #{tracks_filename} -o #{output_jkz} -t '#{title}'"
+        ) do |stdin, stdout, stderr, wait_thr|
+          pid = wait_thr.pid
+          exit_status = wait_thr.value
+          err = stderr.read(1000)
+          raise ArgumentError, "Error calling python script: #{err}" if err.present?
+        end
+        
+        tmp_dir
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/ruby/spec/jam_ruby/models/jam_track_right_spec.rb b/ruby/spec/jam_ruby/models/jam_track_right_spec.rb
index 5d136d62a..1df21358f 100644
--- a/ruby/spec/jam_ruby/models/jam_track_right_spec.rb
+++ b/ruby/spec/jam_ruby/models/jam_track_right_spec.rb
@@ -27,5 +27,15 @@ describe JamTrackRight do
       right_2.errors[:user_id].should == ['has already been taken']
     end
   end
+
+  it "saves JKZ" do
+      user = FactoryGirl.create(:user)
+      jam_track = FactoryGirl.create(:jam_track)    
+      right = JamTrackRight.create(:user=>user, :jam_track=>jam_track)
+      expect {
+        JamRuby::JamTracksManager.save_jam_track_jkz(user, jam_track)
+      }.to_not raise_error
+  end
+
 end