Brent Edstrom (b. 1964) : Concerto No. 1 for Jazz Piano and Orchestra (2007)

Brent Edstrom (b. 1964) (USA) Concerto No. 1 for Jazz Piano and Orchestra (2007) Pianist : Brent Edstrom Dir : George Shangrow 1- Overture Americana (7.39) 2- Nocturne in Blue (8.09) 3- Lament (4.37) 4- Jazz Fantasy (7.41) 5- Impromptu (8.08) 6- Finale (4.19) With the authorization of the American composer Brent Edstrom. Brent Edstrom : « The first movement is a boisterous overture that pays homage to the American experience. The piece evokes the sights, sounds, and smells of a bustling American city. A metaphor for the crucible of modern-day American life, "Overture Americana" combines many diverse elements from the American musical landscape including hints of composers such as Bernstein and Copeland, and a splash of Thelonious Monk. - Nocturne in Blue : An obvious reference to Gershwin's seminal « Rhapsody in Blue », "Nocturne in Blue" evokes a night scene and was inspired by the legacy of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. In the introduction, subtle orchestration combines many disparate elements and clashing "blue notes" to create a mournful wail reminiscent of early jazz singers such as Bessie Smith. The introduction gives way to a ballad consisting of lush extended and altered harmonies. - "Lament" is a reflection on the tragedy of racism in America and the marginalization of jazz musicians in the twentieth century. The movement was inspired by rare footage of Charlie Parker performing with Coleman Hawkins. Parker's reverence for Hawkins is clearly evident, yet his obvious joy is juxtaposed with a sense of profound sadness. In a similar way, jazz often evokes the duality of joy and sorrow. - "Jazz Fantasy" is a vivacious movement which is loosely based on a sonata allegro form. While the primary theme sounds vaguely like a theme from the classical Viennese period, the harmonies strike an interesting balance between simple tertian structures with extended harmonies and polychords. The development section utilizes blues elements as well as pulsating "train" rhythms. - The "Impromptu" utilizes a simple ostinato figure to provide a framework for a flowing melody reminiscent of Romantic-era composers such as Frédéric Chopin. The movement was inspired by a composition by jazz pianist Bill Evans titled « Peace Piece », a work that is based entirely on a simple ostinato figure. - In the early 20th Century, stride pianists such as James P. Johnson and Willie "The Lion" Smith would attempt to outdo each other in informal "cutting contests." The "Finale" represents a cutting contest of sorts between the piano and orchestra. The piano part was written to honor the the stride tradition of pianists such as Art Tatum, Earl Hines, Fats Waller, Teddy Wilson, and early Count Basie and is used as the basis for a piano improvisation. In the last section, orchestral choirs are added layer-by-layer to create a cacophony of sound which propels the composition to its conclusion. » Major Works : - Concerto No. 1 for Jazz Piano and Orchestra (2007) - Seascapes, for Orchestra (2007) - Piano Concerto No. 2 (2013) - Sonata, for French Horn and Piano - Sonata, for Trumpet and Piano - And there was light, for Orchestra (2009) - Romance and Scherzo, for String Quartet - Sonata, for Flute and Piano - Uncommon Journey, for Wind Symphony - Mountainscapes, for Wind Symphony And several arrangements for Jazz Band. To better know the american composer Brent Edstrom: Pour mieux connaître le compositeur américain Brent Edstrom : http://brentedstrom.com/ LIST OF UPLOADS OF COLLECTIONCB, COLLECTIONCB2 and COLLECTIONCB3 and IDEAL "DISCOTHEQUE" OF MORE THAN 1,300 ORCHESTRAL WORKS OF FEELINGS : http://www.corentinboissier.net/