Time Takes Odd Turns
Released August 30, 2024
Naught Won
Uses an 0157 pitch set. Chord wise that equals maj 7 sus 4.
Simple Song
This piece was an attempt to write a simple diatonic melody and then orchestrate/harmonize it in gradually more complex ways. The other influence on this song was buying a hammered dulcimer down in French Lick Indiana.
80’s Suite -
Book One
This was written as an homage to late 70s and early 80s Genesis tracks.
80’s Suite -
One More Time
This is an 80s Power Ballad I wrote with Cindy Formella when we were in the band “Skin Deep”.
80’s Suite -
Lucky 13
I wrote this in spring 1981 in my second semester jazz arranging class with Dominic Spera at IU. Dominic encouraged me to continue writing for big band, but he was not that fond of pieces in odd time signature like 13/4. He gave me a B+ on this chart, the only assignment from him I did not get A on. So of course I only made two very small changes from the 1981 edition (but I thank Dominic anyway).
En La Casa de Los Perritos
This grew out of an assignment in a Jazz Composition class I took from Berklee on line. (Note - these puppies are not snarky.)
Well You Better
So this track MAY be a bit snarky. It is a swing tune with an angular melody originally written for a local High School Jazz Band. It proved too demanding for them, so for this project I made it even more challenging, at least for the saxophone players.
Ballad for the A1 Band
A-1 is how some small town DJ read Al Cobine’s first name. The members of the Al Cobine and VonOhlen/Carter/Allee band were my first musical heroes. Some of the personnel, like my dad and my first trumpet teacher Jim Edison, played in both bands.
Cats and Mouses
We did this on our COVID CD, but I wanted to get a better version of it, so we did a studio version. It’s kind of like a Tom and Jerry cartoon soundtrack with jazz solos.
Bossa Monday Suite
This was first written in the key of E minor and we played a lead sheet version at the Verve Monday night jazz jam in Terre Haute. For a Big Band chart, I changed the key to B flat minor and wrote and introductory section that kind of resembles 70s Philip Glass and a closing section that was inspired by Chick Corea’s Latin tunes.
Simply Stuff and Nonsense
This material was removed from an earlier version of Simple Song, and then squooshed together to get this fun bit of musical mayhem. (It includes a samba canon.)
