Artist Blog
Patricia Brennan: MAGIC SQUARE – Composition by numbers
Patricia Brennan discusses her work “Magic Square” and her approach to composition by numbers.
Read MoreMehmet Ali Sanlıkol: Bringing the Brazilian Capoeira & Turkish Folk music to the Jazz Orchestra
Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol discusses the intersection of Brazilian and Turkish music also discussing the influence and application with berimbau and saz.
Alan Ferber: Womb-mates to Band-mates – an interview with Mark Ferber
Alan Ferber interviews his twin brother, Mark Ferber, where they discuss influence, history, writing for drums, and style.
Angelica Sanchez: Astral Light of Alarid (Video Analysis)
In this Video Edition of the Artist Blog, Angelica Sanchez analyzes her work “Astral Light of Alarid” discussing orchestration and other compositional elements.
Kenny Berger: Don’t Block the Rear View Mirror
Kenny Berger talks about his pathway to and through composition involving Brooklyn, Duke Ellington, and the BMI Jazz Composer’s Workshop.
2023 Prize and Commission Recipients
March 31, 2023 – The International Society of Jazz Arrangers & Composers (ISJAC) announces the recipients of its 2023 Prizes…
Read MoreDavid Sanford: John Lewis’s Blues in A Minor, an arranging challenge
David Sanford discusses his personal relationship and analysis of John Lewis’s Blues in A Minor and how it led to his 2 cello arrangement.
Rio Sakairi: An Open Love Letter To…
Rio Sakairi discusses the nature of jazz and her experience with that question from an arts programming perspective.
S’yo Fang: Composition Inspired By Other Forms of Art
S’yo Fang discusses how texture and gestalt influenced his award-winning work “Tree.”
Frank Carlberg: Some Harmonic Strategies In (Jazz) Composition
Frank Carlberg discusses techniques he uses to open up harmonic possibilities for new works with a particular focus on triads, tetrachods, and other harmonic devices.
John Korsrud: Introduction to Hocketing and Kenny Wheeler’s Last Work
John Korsrud discusses how he uses the compositional technique hocketing in a jazz context as well as Kenny Wheeler’s last large ensemble commission.
Terri Lyne Carrington: In Conversation with Kris Davis and Devon Gates on jazz, gender, and New Standards.
ISJAC Board Member Terri Lyne Carrington sat down with Kris Davis and Devon Gates in this interview covering jazz, gender, and new standards.
Fall Giving Campaign Oct 18-28
Dear Friends and Members of the ISJAC Community, We’re so excited for the future of ISJAC. We’re very…
Read MoreAnthony Branker: Finding the Inspiration to Compose
Anthony Branker discusses some approaches to composition when you’re looking for inspiration including how Copland’s approach, physicality, theory, and the world around us.
ISJAC Welcomes Annie Booth as Managing Director
It’s with great delight and excitement for the future that we announce the hiring of Annie Booth as ISJAC’s first…
Read MoreErica Seguine: The Power of Patience as a Composer, the Importance of Discernment and Trust, and the Gift of Perspective
Erica Seguine discusses the power of patience as a composer, the importance of discernment and trust, and the gift of perspective