jazz2

Estas Tonne - The Way Of The Gypsy

Estas Tonne - Place of the gods

Petite Fleur - Jean Marie Riachi

little solo over Sean Nowell's tune "for all intensive purposes"
Live at @nardisjazzclub Istanbul
with
Sean Nowell (tenor)
Tamer Temel (soprano)
Bulut Gulen (trombone)
Ercument Orkut (keys)
Alper YIlmaz (bass)
myself drums.

Soloing over "for all intensive purposes"

ABIDE (Live)
Eric Richards © 2013 (BMI)
Original hymn by Henry Lyte

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Jazz Orchestra
"New Music for Big Band from UNL" - February 5, 2013
Masa Ishikawa, piano
Aaron Stroessner, guitar
Chris Varga, drums

This piece was commissioned for the 2013 Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Jazz Orchestra by the Cumberland Jazz Society-David Kaufmann, coordinator. It was premiered at the Jazz Vespers Service of Saint Peter’s Church in New York City on Sunday, 13 January 2013. This recording is a live mix by the UNL Jazz Orchestra taken from our “NEW MUSIC for BIG BAND from UNL” concert on 5 February 13.

ABIDE uses thematic material from the well-known traditional hymn ABIDE WITH ME as an extended re-composition for the contemporary jazz orchestra. The hymn’s author, Henry F. Lyte, wrote from the perspective of one who faces a profound trial and asks for God to “abide” (generally defined as “to persevere” or “to dwell”) with him during a most difficult time. Mr. Lyte was indeed dying from tuberculosis as he composed the text and passed away a mere three weeks after completing the hymn. Also, ABIDE WITH ME is reported to be one of several hymns that were played by the Ship’s Band on the deck of the Titanic while the crew struggled to save as many passengers as possible as the ship met its demise.

My tack on the meaning of the word abides calls on man to be the active, rather than passive, participant. In Scripture, Christ implores his followers to “abide with me” and likens this process to branches abiding in the vine. This gives two different perspectives of abiding, both of them compelling and inspirational. As a Christian composer/arranger, my goal was to then create a work that is respectful to the original material and is life- affirming to the listener’s concept of abiding and perseverance.

The opening setting of the hymn is my own take on a basic harmonization taken from a standard hymnal. The winds of the jazz orchestra then play a contemporary reharmonization of the chorale melody that then transforms into a setting that is rhythmic and energetic featuring flugelhorn and tenor saxophone. The piece proceeds into an open solo section to incorporate improvisation into the structure and this leads into a contrapuntal passage featuring the trombones and then the trumpets.

There is a final statement of the hymn theme in the full ensemble, which should be exuberant and joyful. The piece ends as it began, with a brief, introspective statement of the original hymn material.

Soloing over "for all intensive purposes"

ekin