SKU: PR.11641373S

UPC: 680160680344.

The concerto has always seemed an especially attractive medium to me, not necessarily because of its expectations of virtuosity (although flaunting it when you've got it certainly has its place), and emphatically not because of the perception of a concerto as a contest, but because so much of what I write feels song-like; I'm very much at home with the age-old texture of melody and accompaniment. I hope, before I move on, to have the opportunity to write concertos for all the major instruments, and perhaps some of the rarer ones as well. The oboe is not only one of the major instruments, it is one of my favorite instruments. I've always loved its sound, but since moving to New York I have gotten to hear and, in some cases, know some extremely fine oboists who broadened my appreciation of the instrument's possibilities. I especially remember a concert, probably in the late 1960's, in which Humbert Lucarelli played a Handel concerto, filling out large melodic leaps with cascading scale passages in a way that raised the hair on the back of your neck, somewhat in the way that John Coltrane's sheets of sound did. The sweeping scales in the second movement of my concerto were definitely inspired by Bert Lucarelli's performance. The first, third and fifth movements of the Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra are song-like, whereas the second and fourth have strong scherzo and dance qualities, including a couple of sections that sound like out-and-out pirate dances to me. The hymn-like tune at the beginning of the middle movement was originally begun as a vocal piece to be sung by my wife, son and daughter at my brother's wedding, but I couldn't come up with good works for it, so it ended up as an instrumental chant. The opening and closing of the concerto make use of the oboe's uniquely soulful singing. I had not heard Pamela Woods Pecha's solo playing in person when she approached me about writing a concerto, but I had heard her fine recording of chamber music for oboe and strings by the three B's (English, that is: Bliss, Bax and Britten) with the Audubon Quartet. I actually already had some oboe concerto ideas in my sketchbooks; although I didn't end up using any of those earlier ideas, it's interesting that most of them tended to share the general feeling and tonality of the eventual opening of the concerto. The work was completed on October 13, 1994. I hate the compromises involved in making piano reductions -- perhaps I would feel differently if I were a more accomplished pianist -- so I often decide to make piano reductions for four hands rather than two. My good friend Jon Kimura Parker is a terrific sight-reader, and I roped him into coming over to my place on February 17, 1995, to help me accompany Pamela on the first read-through of the piece. The first performance of the work took place on July 21, 1995, at the American Music Festival in Duncan, Oklahoma, with Mark Parker conducting the Festival Orchestra.

SKU: M7.AHW-3027

English.

This theoretical book is meant to improve contemporary jazz styles techniques for all musician players of modern jazz. We will divide this book into scale exercises, arpeggio exercises, jazz line phrases as well as contemporary chord progressions. Exercises consist of diatonic and chromatic exercises; and, line phrases, consist of jazz solos by great musicians such as Miles Davis, Bill Evans, John Coltrane, Freddy Hubbard, Woody Shaw, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Joe Farrel, Dave Liebman, Bob Berg, Michael and Randy Brecker, Jerry Bergonzi, George Garzone, Tom Harrel, Chris Potter, Brad Mehldau, Joey Calderazzo, Kenny Garrett, Branford Marsalis, Walt Weiskopf, Rich Perry, Seamus Blake, Alex Sipiagin and many other well known musicians these days. The majority of these exercises should be transposed to all twelve (12) tones, so we can achieve perfect coordination. Major chords, Minor chords and Dominant chords will be extended to their highest level, in scales, arpeggios and chromatic form. There will not be key signature centres, so we will work all exercises in accidental way. These exercises were made as an extension of my first book 'Improvise Now'. There are as well many improvisational lines transcribed from some of the previously mentioned musicians.

SKU: HL.50605225

ISBN 9781705168837. UPC: 196288081883. 9.0x12.0 inches.

This short piece for oboe and piano was inspired by the music of Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Lasting around six minutes, a laid-back blues-infected introduction gives way to a more rhythmic central section before a reprise of the opening music. The composer writes Out of the Cool was written to be enjoyed, so have fun with it!.

SKU: KN.64065

UPC: 822795640656. 9 x 12 inches.

Our 4th offering in the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra Signature Editions, is Once Around. This fast swing advanced level chart was among the first charts Thad Jones wrote for the new band in 1966, as a more modern contrast to the Basie-oriented arrangements that were in the band's early repertoire. Early 1960's forays into more open, modal jazz forms by Miles Davis and John Coltrane had turned the jazz world upside down in just a few years, prompting many artists to expand from bebop-oriented ii-V-I chord structures. This arrangement was one of Thad Jones' responses to that trend. This piece is a wide-open vehicle for improvisation. There are multiple open solo sections, each with extended improvisation opportunities. Duration 3:00.