Jazz Concerto for Trombone

This is the first movement of the Jazz concerto that I described in the Writer's Block forum. Basically, it uses an AABA structure, with some extra added bits. Features solo trombone heavily. Being a jazz concerto, there is ample spot for improvisation, as can be seen if you view the sibelius file. The solo part is hard, but I can play it. I think the way I could improve it is to include more for winds to do, it's very brass - heavy at the moment. It also has few dynamics/phrase marks/et cetera - I only put those in as and when the piece is going to be performed.

mallets.MID

22-01-2007 violin and piano.sib

Lead trumpet parts are out of conventional range, but I know trumpets can play that high, I've heard Maynard live. It wasn't as difficult to write as I'd envisaged, I used strings as I would normally voice saxes and it worked fine. I intend for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th movements to be a relaxed swing, a ballad, and a fast latin respectively. Tell me what you think!

This starts off slowly, with a woodwind choir, however, then kicks into the Latin groove that underlies this segment of the piece. The solo trombone is augmented here with a flute, Soprano sax, and harmon trumpet, to form a solo 'quartet' for this movement. Solo section follows, with an ad lib solo for both Soprano Sax and trombone. The next section is a bit of fun - trombones/tuba quintet, then adding trumpets in a jocular style. Return to the head and finish. This piece has been fun to write - what do you think?

PS. Also including second movement - I don't think anyone saw it on the first topic.

Divertimento, 1) Allegro con brio.mid3rd Movement

Divertimento, 2) Menuetto.mid 2nd Movement

Urgh, midis are horrible. Particularly these, which for no adequately explainable reason seem to have changed the solo Trombone into a violin. What joy.

i don't like the frequent and seemingly meaningly pauses in the beginning, but it picked up quickly and started driving! very jazzy feel, obviously. very catchy tune! :] i like the isolated hits in the trumpet, very well used. gets slightly repetitive at times...and in the middle, it just seems to die...i loved it when the full ensemble was playing, but i think you stretched the middle interlude a bit too long. jazz, IMO, is supposed to be driving and constantly moving. and the drum set got annoying after a while...maybe add some snare rhythms or something besides the constant repeating pattern you have. there are a few breaks, yes, but it really got annoying by the end. hmm, now that's it over, besides loving the very last few measures, i think from the point where the trombone solo leaves to the end is quite..boring? i loved the part where the trombone solo and the rest of the ensemble were playing together: i felt that was really well done, but after that...it just sorta died. good work with the middle, but maybe revisit the last half?

oh, and sorry for the randomness...i reviewed while i was listening and just typed my thoughts. :]

Aah. I forgot to mention. The gap in the middle with seemingly no tune is an ad lib trombone jazz solo. If I was playing this, I'd want at least one of those in a jazz concerto. Ditto for any other gaps which seem to have nothing going on. The first few bars with the pauses is a cadenza, in the midi it will sound awful. I'll try and make a recording as soon as possible so you can hear how I imagine the whole piece sounding. As for the drum parts (and indeed vibes and bass) these are intended to be played by a jazz-trained rhythm section - in which the drummer will embellish the part himself. Of course all of this isn't clear in the MIDI.

BTW, it'll be me playing on the recording. Will probably get it done, but have a lot of work to do currentl.

You should listen to Hugh Frazer's Jazz Concerto.

I'm really in no place to judge jazz, but I'll tell you what I think of the overall sound quality.

I found the piece somewhat confused at times. Too many parts with contradictory materials made for rambling music. It got better around the 1 minute mark and then went back and forth between clarity and rambling.

I do like how you let the trombone fly! I can see how this concerto leaves much room for improvisation, a cornerstone of all great jazz!

Again, please don't take these comments to seriously: I know nothing of jazz. This could be masterpiece and I don't even know it! ;)

Haha! Just on a side note, for some reason this concerto reminded me of Roger Rabbit!!! I have no idea why - it has been ages since I watched or even heard of that movie, yet it came to mind.

Anyway, good work overall. I wish I could give you a better, fuller review, but my limited knowledge of the genre forbids that. I can see that you are good at what you do and frankly enjoyed the piece... it had a nice swing feel to it - made me move in my chair! Good work.

Hugh Fraser's Jazz concerto - what instrument's it for?

On a side note, I miss the saxophone section. Although it wouldn't be wrong to have it in a jazz concerto, having it would just make it a big band with strings and woodwind, in essence. Working on the second movement at the moment - will post when finished.

It's not for any instrument really

I had the benefit of learning from this brilliant man from vancouver, brilliant composer. It's a Concerto for Jazz Orchestra, and all of the instruments have moments to shine, because he treats his orchestra like one single instrument. It's one of the most fascinating pieces of music I've ever heard. It has I think 4 to 6 movements. One focuses on the piano, another on double bass, another on trombone, and another, believe it or not, on a female vocalist. I heard it, and it is just simply bnlliant. I can't explain it anymore. He even wrote a Jazz Mass. Let me give you a link. Buy his CD, you'll definitely be getting your moneys worth. Probably one of the greatest musical minds in Canada.

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/hughfraser

You can listen to some audio clips. This is BIG jazz.

Wow, listening to the track, it sounds very Kentonish in places. I may well buy this, as soon as I get some cash...

I have £5 left in the world =P

2. Explore.MID

battletheme.mid

2nd movement is complete! This is better, I think, although there is still a spot for improvisation, it is shorter, and the orchestra plays a lot more stuff. Still miss the saxes, but have found a way to remedy that - Bassoon + Clarinet + Horn playing same things. Not the same though.

I liked the music a lot. You did well with the midi instruments. I wish there was a little more variation in the tempo, but I liked the overall story of the song.

Changing topic title.

Merged. In the future please do not post multiple movement works in more than one topic, add the movements in the original topic and ask a moderator to merge it with the first post.

The music is good, although jazz in not my thing, in fact I dislike jazz quite a bit, but yours is good. That is a compliment, trust me. :glare:

- Jen