Big Band

"Durkee's Ferry Road" was composed in 2012 and is the recipient of a DownBeat Student Music Award for Outstanding Performance in the Graduate-Original Orchestrated Work category. This piece began as a writing project in which I was to base an entire piece of music on a small group of melodic cells. The goal was to be able to compose an interesting piece of music that recycled and re-purposed a small amount of material. The title is borrowed from a road just outside of my hometown that, when passed, signals my commencement on a long trip or, conversely, my arrival home. This performance was recorded by the Indiana University Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Brent Wallarab and features Amanda Gardier on soprano saxophone.

"A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square" was recorded in 2013 by the Indiana University Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Brent Wallarab. This recording features myself on the first solo, Matt MacDougall on guitar, and Mitch Shiner on drums.

This arrangement of "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning" was done in 2012 for Curtis Fuller's visit to Indiana University. The chart draws heavily on the arrangement Fuller recorded with the Jazz Messengers on the 1963 album Caravan. This recording features myself throughout as well as Matt Peterson on piano.

I arranged the John Frigo standard "Detour Ahead" for my masters recital at the Jacobs School of Music. This arrangement features solo trombone throughout and is orchestrated for a 12-piece ensemble that includes three saxes doubling on flutes, four brass, and rhythm section with vibes. The flutes and muted trumpets are featured in a brief soli following the trombone solo. When working with this piece, I was inspired by the writing style of Bob Brookmeyer, especially from his album Standards , and by the arrangements of Kurt Elling and Laurence Hobgood from the album Flirting With Twilight .

"Alone Together" was arranged in 2011 to be performed by the Indiana University Jazz Ensemble directed by Brent Wallarab. The piece features the melody being played by a quintet within the ensemble while the remainder of the ensemble provides supporting figures. Matt Roehrich on tenor and Joey Lamb on trumpet are the featured soloists.

"Ruby Falls (See Rock City)" was composed for my graduate recital in 2013. The title is derived from the roadside advertisements that are found along the interstates and highways all over the state of Tennessee. The first half of the composition is influenced by the music and playing of Fred Hersch while the ending is a nod to the Aaron Parks tune "Highway Distractions."