Free Jazz Education and Music
I wrote this song in 2001. Wanjiku was inspired by the book Pedals of Blood, recommended to me by my step-father Bruce Baron, who studied with the author while doing his undergraduate degree in education. I recorded the song in
Yesterday I wrote a short 3 chord tune by writing the melody first using a minor pentatonic scale. Many great songs use a pentatonic scale (or relative minor pentatonic) as a theoretical basis for all or part of the melody.
Here’s a simple progression with a chromatic melody. It’s in the key of G starting and targets iii minor (maj7) and I using substitute secondary dominants. I became interested writing really short form tunes by both Monk (Light Blue) and
I wrote a short original piece for my friend and Marimba player Michael Compitello. Mike is an amazing musician whom I’ve had the honor of working with at KU. This is a duo piece which is a study in cycle 5 motion using minor harmony.
Alto saxophonist Andy Ehling and I finished recording our 3rd album and are releasing the tracks one at a time over social media. We are joined by the same ensemble from the Reunion album; Leonard Thompson on piano, Brad Williams
I find that composing is a great way to spend time alone and to work out ideas that you may also use when you improvise. Original tunes also give you something to record and play with other people while contributing
