Commissioned by Lien Percussion Ensemble in 2010 and premiered at the Taiwan National Concert Hall on 10/30/2010.

The various styles of Brazilian Samba are as diverse as Brazil itself. Yet no matter which style you are listening to, your body moves along with the energetic groove of the music. It often mixes with other musical cultures such as reggae to give us a fresh perspective. I wasted no time to mix it up with other grooves around the world too. This “hybrid vehicle” includes Bossa Nova, Bollywood dance rhythm, as well as a Chinese “rap” form called Xubainan (or counting olives). A Chinese Opera narrative form, spoken words are accompanied by a steady pulse from the temple block. The lyrics are sung side-by-side with samba rhythms. So if you pick it up during the piece, please sing along!

"B for Brazil!" for large percussion ensemble

ETAOIN SHRDLU Is an orchestral variation that was inspired by a non-sense phrase etaoin shrdlu, which appears on newspapers using “hot metal” typesetting – a “run down” of the keys on the Linotype keyboard when errors were made by the operator. ETOIN SHRDLU explores the possibilities of sound of the orchestra, spontaneity, freedom in form and errors. 

Friday, September 20, 2013
La Jolla Symphony Orchestra
Steven Schick, conductor
Mandeville Auditorium, UCSD

Etaoin Shrdlu for orchestra

"My Happy Drunk Bossa"
Composer / Singer: Toon Yun (CASH)
Arranger: Alan Chan
Alan Chan Jazz Orchestra concert
May 21, 2017
Gateway Performance Series, Los Angeles, California
toonyun.com • alanchanjazzorchestra.com

My Happy Drunk Bossa (jazz big band version)

I had an amazing experience staying at my friends Joy and Han's residence in Altadena, California a few years ago. With their organic lifestyle - from their huge garden, yarn-making to Hans calling their home "ranch," I came up with the imaginary "Rancho Calaveras," this time with "animals" and Rodeo cowboys added to it. Now it's a truly Californian "¡Rancho musical!"

This second version was created in September, 2012, played by the BMI/NY Jazz Orchestra. The final version will feature a banjo.

Rancho Calaveras (versión segunda)

May 7, 2017, Carpenter Center, CSU Long Beach
Symphonic Jazz Orchestra (Mitch Glickman, conductor)
Francisco Torres, bone; Bill Karr, soprano sax; Jamey Tate, drums; Ralph Morrison, violin

2017

Denali World – Symphonic Jazz Orchestra premiere performance

During the 2011 season of GPS, Alan Chan and Elaine Cohen co-presented the Gateway Jazz Initiative, an interdisciplinary program including an exhibition of Elaine Cohen’s collages and the debut concert of Gateway Jazz Orchestra. These two-movement piece was written for this project.

Monte Alban - 2 poems by Elaine Cohen

During the 2011 season of GPS, Alan Chan and Elaine Cohen co-presented the Gateway Jazz Initiative, an interdisciplinary program including an exhibition of Elaine Cohen’s collages and the debut concert of Gateway Jazz Orchestra. These two-movement piece was written for this project.

Music by Alan Chan / Text by Elaine Cohen
Performed by Gateway Jazz Orchestra (leader: Alan Chan)
Narrator: Lauren Marks

Solita - 2 Poems by Elaine Cohen

Recorded on March 3, 2013, Alan Chan Jazz Orchestra Concert at Gateway Performance Series, West Los Angeles, CA
Soloists: Kevin Garren, soprano saxophone; Tom Luer, tenor saxophone; Andrew Synowiec, guitar; Andy Martin, trombone

The original Chinese title of this work, Qian Dao Yuan*, literally means “Moving-Capital-Blues.”  This piece is a composer’s reflection on the severe pollution in Beijing, the capital of China. The number of infamous dust storms has increased and intensified in recent years, due to soil erosion and desert expansion created by over-harvesting during the Cultural Revolution (1968-78).  In addition, industrial and urban pollutants from factories and cars have worsened the air quality.  Over-population and industrialization have also caused water shortages in the region.  In 2002, the former prime minister of China, Zhu Yong Ji, warned that moving to a new capital may be the only option if no action is taken soon.

* It is also a pun on a title of a famous novel Chin Gong Yuan, which talks about political conflicts in the imperial household of the late Chin dynasty (late 19th century).

"Moving to a New Capital" for jazz orchestra

In this one-hour show based on Winter News, a poetry collection by Alaskan poet John Haines (1924-2011), composer Alan Chan explores the magical landscape of the north with six performers incorporating improvisation and narration. It will also feature musical setting of Cape Cod artist Elaine Cohen’s poem "In January."

This recording contain selections from the following movements:
I. In January / II. Christmas, 1962 / III. Tundra / IV. Postlude

Performance Information:
Friday, December 21, 2012 10pm
The Stone NYC

Brittany Aujou, vibraphone; Alan Chan, composer/conductor; Gregory Chudzik, bass; Joe Hertenstein, drums; Sean Sonderegger, woodwinds; Kristin Page Stuart, voice; Harvey Valdes, guitar

This work was funded in part by the Composer Assistance Program of New Music USA.

Recorded by Don Mount

"Winter News" Project / selected movements

Live recording at the "Alan Chan Jazz Orchestra" concert on March 3, 2013.

Soloists: Jeff Stradling, piano/toy piano | Ken Fisher, bass clarinet | David Huges, bass | Kevin Garren/Alex Budman, soprano saxes


Peanut Noir for jazz orchestra

Alan Chan is a multi-faceted composer with works written for orchestra, jazz big band, Chinese instruments, and various percussion and chamber settings. He creates original and innovative music by incorporating music from cultures around the globe, in order to bring a refreshing experience to audiences. He has received commissions from around the world and awards from ASCAP, ArtEZ (Netherlands), American Composers Forum (ACF), Percussive Arts Society (PAS) and Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong (CASH), among others.

alanchanmusic

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