Yearning For Ordinary

Premiered by the University of Northern Iowa’s Jazz Band One, “Yearning” is a controlled piece that portrays an individual’s struggle to find contentment. It is written for 5 trumpets, 4 bones, 5 saxes, and 5 rhythm section members. Doubling includes optional flugelhorn, clarinet, and bass clarinet. A studio version can be heard on UNI’s 2019 album: Vibrant Lights.

Spillway

(The 100 Year Flood)

Spillway tells the story of the massive North Dakota flood during the summer of 2011. It begins with the swirling, lapping sounds of the Missouri River, leading into the immense destruction and power that ensued. As the waters recede, the river is washed out, returning to its normal patterns. Originally written for UNI’s Jazz Band One, “Spillway” is scored 5-4-5-5 and can be heard on the groups 2016 album: Where the Paths Meet.

Why Bother Dreaming

This is an angry piece, as you may have guessed from the title. Musician’s are known to gain inspiration from their lives and experiences, with this coming from a period of great turmoil in mine. It is scored 5-4-5-5, with solo space for trumpet 2. Originally conceptualized as a partner to “Yearning for Ordinary,” the two pieces can be played back to back or separately as desired.

Scored for 5 saxes, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, and 3 rhythm members, “Unrequited” is an experiment for myself. I decided before writing it that the piece would be a ballad and focus on a major tonality. These are things that I haven’t forced myself to work on too often, but I think it resulted in a composition that is different from my other works. There is solo space for piano and trumpet in this gentle and accessible ballad.