Artist Blog
Writings by new and established artists
Featured This Month
Patricia Brennan: MAGIC SQUARE – Composition by numbers
Patricia Brennan discusses her work "Magic Square" and her approach to composition by numbers.
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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.
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David Caffey: The Jazz Soli: The Arranger’s Solo
David Caffey frames some techniques he uses in soli writing along with giving examples and explaining his decision making process and the origin for the techniques he uses.
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The Archive
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Fred Hersch: A Composition Exercise to Try Today
Fred Hersch shares an exercise involving a hat, a kitchen timer, and a pencil that you should try today.
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Asuka Kakitani: My personal perspective on composing
Asuka Kakitani reflects on her experience as a composer, the value of melody, and parenthood’s influence on composition.
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Terry Promane: Give Me 5
Terry Promane discusses his 5 favorite arranging topics dealing with preparation, practice, and process.
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Paul Read: Minor and Major Seconds, 1959, Transcribing, Score Study and other Reflections
Paul Read reflects upon 5 things he’s learned in his career so far and the process of his growth and development.
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Florian Ross: Cooking & Eggs
Pianist and Composer Florian Ross outlines a well-balanced metaphor about reconnecting with our roots.
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Rick Lawn: Lessons I’ve Learned
Rick Lawn outlines 4 lessons for process and art that he’s learned over his career thus far. Additionally, he offers a software tool to…
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Bill Dobbins and Concerto for Jazz Orchestra: the Use of a Twelve-Tone Row in a Large Scale Jazz Composition
(Click here to hear Concerto for Jazz Orchestra) From the time I became the principal director of the WDR Big Band in the fall…
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Rick Lawn: Remembering Manny Albam
Rick Lawn remembers his mentor, composer and educator Manny Albam.
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David Berger’s Answers to Common Jazz Arranging Questions
Inspired by an advice column, David Berger presents 10 questions that he had as a young arranger, and answers those questions in this excerpt…