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About Forms
In 1990, I wrote my first extended composition, _Blue Interlude_. At that time, Jelly Roll Morton’s and Duke Ellington’s methods of constructing longer, more complex pieces were a great inspiration. Keep reading »
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Sitting next to Jeff Hamilton judging the Essentially Ellington Festival is the highlight of my year
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I truly love Jeff Hamilton. He is not only deeply soulful and totally engaged with the music, he is incredibly funny. Sitting next to him judging the Essentially Ellington Festival is the highlight of my year. Keep reading »
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Bolden is the rarest form of originator: one who invents an approach that is itself an entire universe
When Dan Pritzker approached me to do a mythic version of Buddy Bolden’s life, I was excited for the possibility. Though no recording of Bolden has ever been found, I tried to conceive of his style as a more advanced composite of Keep reading »