This month we’ve brought together a number of compositions that relate to jazz or world music in varying degrees, sometimes not in the most direct or obvious way.  Where are the boundaries between contemporary classical and jazz styles?  What are different ways composers look to wider folk and world musics for inspiration?  Many composers featured this month effortlessly weave in and out of jazz/improvisatory and classical practice, creating fascinating and eclectic bodies of work.  We hear in some of the works a focus on melody and harmony, with folk tunes or a chart-based approach. Several works for sax ensembles or big band are of the toe-tapping variety while others have an adventurous contemporary flavour.  Yet other works are scored for small colouristic bands or chamber ensembles.  We hope you enjoy this ride through a diverse collection of sounds.

SOUNDCLOUD

Hear something that catches your attention? To find out more about a musical work, click on the track name in the playlist and then again on ‘view track’. To find out more about a particular composer, click on their name in the ‘Details’ section below.

DETAILS

1. Melissa Douglas, GLINT
   for saxophone quartet. Performed by Carnelian Quartet at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, recorded 10th of May, 2016.
2. Jared McCunnie, The Pursuit
   for big band. Performed by Melbourne Composers’ Big Band.
3. Elliott Hughes, For Greener Grass Mvts I & II
   for large jazz ensemble. Performed by Brad Linde’s Big Ol’ Ensemble, Jazz Gallery NYC, June 2015.
4. Keyna Wilkins, Full Moon
   for solo trumpet. Performed by Will Gilbert.
   
5. Nadia Burgess, In Motion
   for saxophone orchestra. Performed by the Sydney Conservatorium Saxophone Orchestra conducted by Michael Duke. Recorded by Greg Ghavalas, 31 October 2012.
   
6. Brad Gill, Orovela
   for clarinet, guitar, horn, percussion & piano. Performed by Sydney Conservatorium Modern Music Ensemble.
   
7. Jenna Cave, A Little Shorter
   for 10-piece jazz orchestra. Performed here by the Bennett’s Lane Big Band (live recording) at the 2007 Melbourne International Women’s Jazz Festival. Feat. Julien Wilson (soprano sax), Eugene Ball (trumpet), Andrea Keller (piano).
8. Elissa Goodrich, Compas
   for flute, vibraphone, double bass & drums. Performed by States of Play: Phil Bywater (flute), Tamara Murphy (double bass), Elissa Goodrich (vibraphone), Daniel Farrugia (drums). Recorded live @ ABC studio Southbank, engineer Russell Thompson, producer Elissa Goodrich. From self-titled recording States of Play (2013).
   
9. Carlin Hara-Crockford, Nomads
   for saxophone orchestra (SSAAATTTBB). Performed by Queensland Conservatorium Saxophone Orchestra.
   
10. Sally Greenaway, Falling of Seasons
    for big band. Performed by the Jazzgroove Mothership Orchestra.
    

We’d love to hear about your listening experience! Share your thoughts or send messages of support to our featured composers and performers in the comment box below. We also encourage you to click through to Soundcloud to like, comment and subscribe to Making Waves as well as the composers, performers, and presenters featured.

The Jazz-World Waves playlist will be featured until 1st December 2017. All previous playlists from 2015 to present are available in our blog archives for the life of the project, so please do explore the website for previously featured sounds.

Image credit: Mark Wolf