'Stepchild' is based on elements from John Coltrane's 'Giant Steps', 
a kind of looking thru the looking-glass at an evocative side of Coltrane's harmonic voyage.
Solos: Bevan Manson, piano; Phil O'Connor, clarinet; MB Gordy, percussion.
Members of the Hollywood Studio Symphony, conducted by Jeffrey Schindler:
Tom Boyd, oboe;
Catherine Del Russo, Eng. horn
Violins: Amy Hershberger, Eric Hosler, Susan Rishik, Neil Samples, Joel Pargman, Irina Voloshina, Alyssa Park, Margaret Wooten, Alwyn Wright, Raphael Rishik, Nancy Roth 
Violas: Pamela Goldsmith, Vicky Miskolczy, Carol Kleister-Castillo, Alan Busteed 
Cellos: Andrew Shulman, Maurice Grants, Diego Miralles, Steve Velez 
Bass: Don Ferrone, Sue Ranney, Stephen Dress

Stepchild

Conflict, whether brought on by neglect (Angry winds fostered by climate change bring fire to the Ventura hills), or an insatiable drive for power (almost any war), is avoidable, but what is the answer?
We know the results before they even happen....
(Solos: Amy Hershberger, violin; Luca Alemanno, bass; Bevan Manson, piano; Bernie Dresel, drums) Also: Nancy Mathison, bass clarinet; Geoff Nudel, alto saxophone; Nick Agdag, bassoon; Irina Voloshina, violin)

Fire Horizon

NY Seeds (Bevan Manson) BMI
Orchestra conducted by Jeff Schindler

NY Seed Violin OD Rough Mix 5 - 1-24

A jazz fantasy on a motif of Freddie Hubbard.  
Hollywood Studio Symphony, plus soloists Suzanne Pittson, Alex Murzyn, Bevan Manson, Carla Kountopes, Jerry Weimer 

Cupboard of Hubbard

Cupboard of Hubbard (B. Manson)

SMMtns mvt 2_Mix 5_tpo-100_48-24

Bevan is active as a composer/arranger/jazz pianist in L.A. and Albuquerque. He has received composing commissions from Sierra Chamber Music, the Pacific Philharmonic Foundation, the San Francisco Symphony,  the Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra, clarinetist Gary Gray, and L.A. Chamber Orchestra violist Victoria Miskolczy, among others.

He wrote and conducted string arrangements for saxophonist Gary Smulyan at New York's Blue Note jazz club, and recently wrote string arrangements for Manhattan Transfer singer Cheryl Bentyne’s new Sondheim album, of which JazzTimes Magazine commented that “ a kaleidoscopic, edge-of-sanity Comedy Tonight that, courtesy of arranger Bevan Manson, blends Baroque courtliness with Big Top buffoonery.” He recently produced and wrote arrangements for L.A. singer Cathy Segal-Garcia’s new album as well. 
(If you want to contribute to Bevan's upcoming orchestral album for next year, Paypal is the place: bevanmanson@gmail.com  or see below. Thanks!)

Bevan’s new (mostly) trio album, ‘The Jazz Cave’, has just been released on the Meistero Music label this August.  Also arriving soon is a jazz/studio orchestra CD and a classical CD as well.

His music has been featured in several major films, including Morgan Spurlock’s movie, ‘The Greatest Story Ever Sold’. His music has appeared in several TV series including‘Breaking Bad’.
He has written scores for several independent films including ‘Banya’ ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T58KWe_fcUI and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghqD10WF1mc), ‘Killian’s Chronicle’, and ‘The Imported Bridegroom’. 

He also worked on the theme song for the TV series ‘Parks and Recreations’, and has appeared on-camera as a sideline musician on other shows such as ‘House’, ‘My Boys’, ‘JAG’, and ‘Numbers’, among others.

The Washington Post called his Piano Quartet “powerfully polyrhythmic…also with sweet lyricism”.  The piece received an American Music Center (now New Music USA) grant.

Other works of his include a violin sonata, woodwind quintet, woodwind trio, a symphony, string quartets and trios, choral music with orchestra, and music for solo woodwinds.  He is a founding member along with Ed Neumeister and Gernot Wolfgang of the Improvisatory Minds composers group.

 His ‘California Concertino’ was premiered by Katherine Fink of the Brooklyn Philharmonic with Paul Dunkel conducting, and also performed by L.A. Chamber Orchestra flutist David Shostac with the Brentwood-Westwood Symphony.