Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Work Overview

This is a medium tempo jazz composition in a swing style. It follows the form of the traditional 'Rhythm Changes' . The piano part makes use of some syncopated counterpoint ideas. Bass and drums are accompanying and occasionally playing figures together with the piano. The composition is designed to feature improvisations over the form of the tune, but can also function perfectly well without this. The drummer can simply follow the bass part and add their own individual swing jazz interpretation to this piece.

Work Details

Year: 1995

Instrumentation: Jazz piano trio: piano, bass, drums, plus trumpet and alto saxophone.

Duration: 4 min.

Difficulty: Medium — some high register phrases for double bass, and contrapuntal work for piano

First performance: by Alister Spence, Lloyd Swanton, Toby Hall — 2000. Sony Music Studios

The composer notes the following styles, genres, influences, etc on this work:
The piece is in a swing jazz style written for piano trio reflecting an interest in the work of: Thelonious Monk and Paul Bley. Other pieces I have written that demonstrate these influences are: 'Eagle Man' and 'The High Line' and 'Clearing House'.

Released on the album 'Three Is A Circle' in Australia on Rufus Records in 2000, and on Earth Spirit Records in Japan in 2003 ‘It would be no exaggeration to say that he, Spence, is fully rivalling the pianists who have brought about the present boom in piano trio music.’ Swing Journal (Japan), November 2003

Written to be performed by The Alister Spence Trio: since augmented for brass and woodwind.