Jaco Pastorius's "Three Views of a Secret" was arranged for the Metropole Orkest as part of the 2013 Metropole Orkest Arrangers Workshop. As performed by the Metropole Orkest conducted by Vince Mendoza at Lantaren Venster in Rotterdam, The Netherlands featuring bassist Richard Bona.
"Lament for Bob" was composed in 2012 under commission by the United States Air Force Airmen of Note. This is a tribute to the recent passing of Bob Brookmeyer, one of my largest compositional influences. The piece begins with the trombone choral, to which the flugelhorns are added. The piece continues to gain momentum, leading into the flugelhorn solo. They are given ample space in the middle of the piece to solo on a backdrop woven by the rhythm section and horns. The piece comes to a large climax as the band morphs into a primal cry that slowy dies away to nothingness.
This laid-back swing tune, "Afterthought", features the drums and the beauty of the flugelhorns and trombones in combination throughout the melody. The solo sections for the trombone and trumpet give them the chance to solo on contemporary changes in two different sections and moods of the tune. The shout chorus after the solos sections showcases the brilliance of the ensemble's sound and also features some nice work for the saxes.
Originally written for orchestra and narrator, this version of "Sylvan Spirits" for baritone vocalist and orchestra was a prize winner of the "2 Agosto" International Composing Competition. The piece captures the atmosphere of the woods by presenting settings of poems by Anne Brontë, Rudyard Kipling, and Robert Frost. As performed by the Teatro Comunale di Bologna Orchestra in Bologna, Italy.
"Just Waiting" was written for the University of Illinois Jazz Trombone Ensemble in 2010. As performed by the group on the WILL radio show "Live & Local" in Champaign, IL.