Symphony No. 3 ... Portraits In Jazz (2000)
Thomas Oboe Lee
About this work:
Commissioned by the American Jazz Philharmonic and the American Composers Forum.
Program note:
Symphony No. 3 ... Portraits in Jazz is in four movements.
1. Mingus!
2. Focus on Stan Getz.
3. Miles is God!!!
4. Elegy for Duke
5. The Jazz Messenger!!!
Each movement is a re-interpretation or re-invention of each jazz artist's style. The first movement features the wild, driving bass-line of Charles Mingus ... pushing the band toward the apocalypse!!! The middle sections is an abstract "blues" featuring a trombone solo ... à la Jimmy Knepper!!! The second movement is an original tune ... a post-bossa ballad that Stan could've played. The third movement is in the style of late-period Miles. Funkin' all the way to Heaven!!! The fourth movement is for Duke. The tune is a distillation of a single motive from the Duke original, "Fleur Africaine." The last movement is a tribute to the inimitable drumming of Art Blakey.
Year composed: 2000
Duration: 00:21:00
Ensemble type: Orchestra
Instrumentation:
Instrumentation notes: Big Band and Symphony Orchestra in five movements: Charles Mingus, Stan Getz, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington and Art Blakey.