Welcome Greece Odyssey Jazz Ensemble

WELCOME GREECE ODYSSEY!

I’m looking forward to hearing from you and working with you -
…. so whenever you are ready to start blogging – DROP ME A LINE!

Tom Davis!

ATU Jazz Ensemble Commission – Composer’s Travel Log

Day one in Russellville

After significant flight re-routing due to winds, running to catch a plane like that old commerical with the footbal-player-who-shall -remain-forever -nameless, and waiting 4 hours for my bags to catch up to me (they must not run as fast an offensive end). I spent a fine day at ATU  talking about improvisation, playing with the improvisation students, discussing tonal gravity, and working with Clay Hooten and the Dardenelle High School Jazz Kids.

All in all I thought that music was communicated on many levels. Evidence? Smiles, Light Bulbs going off (those aha moments!)  and  – oh yes – I could defeintley hear these musicians THINKING music through their playing.  We were communicationg without speaking as it should be!

A great lunch “meeting” with Phillip Parker and Hal Cooper and Tim Howe – great pulled pork!

Dinner at The Howe’s was also very relaxing and pleasant – many thanks for the comfort and hospitality!

I am told I need to get to “Whattaburger” by Shari – so… I will do my best…

I think the nicest thing about this visit is the PRE visiting on skype, through blogging, facebook and my website. I really felt that I know everyone when I meet them and a great deal of teaccheaing took place BEFORE my arrival. In fact I was very easily able to turn the knob up to “11″ rather than only getting ”9″

Tom!

ATU Jazz Ensemble Commission

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Two Skype sessions with the ATU musicians this week. The first was a Jazz Ensemble Rehearsal on Wednesday that revealed some notable improvements in balance, time and approach. I cannot thank the band enough for their attention to the musical values we discussed last week. I am pretty excited to fly out to work with them next week and attending the premier. We spent some quality time on the ending as well as the aleatoric material needed some explanation.

Thursday I was able meet with the soloists (see picture) to discuss some frameworks for improvisation. Tonal gravity was the major topic and the application of those principals in communicating musical ideas to the listener.

I think the amazing thing was that, given the time delay over the internet, we were still able to participate in call and response exercises and share ideas! It just needed to be in 5/4 rather than 4/4!!!

ATU Jazz Ensemble Commission

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Today I worked with the ATU band via the interneet over SKYPE – a video conferencing service. My sense is that we got a great deal of work done and were able to begin to shift a few paradigms regarding balance, blend and intonation. I am finding more and more that if I am going to write music that is demanding of precision in those areas – that I have an obligation to teach those areas well. The notes from that rehearsal can be seem on this quicktime Video on YouTube. Wartch this video by clicking HERE.

Arkansas Tech University Jazz Commission

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SCROLLING SCORE – Instrument of Justice

I just loaded a movie of the score with audio on the ATU Facebook Group.
You might like to follow along as you listen. It is pretty cool!

To view the  video CLICK HERE

Arkansas Tech Jazz Ensemble Commission

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333 AGAIN?

When I went to the Blog to return a comment the stats read 1,333.

Just a coincidence … right…?

333 Again?

Arkansas Tech Jazz Ensemble Commission

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Instrument of Justice – Plunger Technique Video

A description of plunger set up and performance techniques employed in Instrument of Justice

Play the video HERE

Arkansas Tech Jazz Ensemble Commission

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INSTRUMENT OF JUSTICE – VIDEO – USING THE MATRIX FOR IMPROVISATION

Follow this link to view a PowerPoint on the use of the matrix to improvise on Instrument of Justice

The video can be viewed HERE

PDF’s of worksheets can be found HERE

Arkansas Tech Jazz Ensemble Commission

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INSTRUMENT OF JUSTICE – PAD BASS DESCRIPTIVE VDEO

The Synth Part in Instrument of Justice is to be set on general Midi 89 or 90 – Pad Bass. This video describes the EQ settings for this sound. It is CRITICAL for realizing the composition correctly.

The video can be viewed HERE

Arkansas Tech Jazz Ensemble Commission

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INSTRUMENT OF JUSTICE – PRACTICE TRACKS NOW ON LINE!

You will now find practice tracks for Instrument of Justice by following this link: PRACTICE TRACKS or by going to the “My Band” tab on my Facebook Home Page

The Practice Tracks are for Full Band, Soloists, Drums Only and Rhythm Section Only. You will find them VERY helpful.  You can listen to them via streaming audio or download them. I suggest that you put them on your iPod (or other mp3 player) and listen ALL OF THE TIME until you are comfortable with the construction of the piece!

Tom