{"id":406,"date":"2011-07-03T10:37:20","date_gmt":"2011-07-03T14:37:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/jazzbeyondjazz\/wp\/2011\/07\/symphonic_jazz_compositions_bi\/"},"modified":"2011-07-03T10:37:20","modified_gmt":"2011-07-03T14:37:20","slug":"symphonic_jazz_compositions_bi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/jazzbeyondjazz\/2011\/07\/symphonic_jazz_compositions_bi.html","title":{"rendered":"Symphonic “jazz” compositions, big bands and holiday blasts"},"content":{"rendered":"

The American Composers Orchestra readings of short symphonic works by jazz-oriented composers which I wrote of in my CityArts column and posted about here<\/a> are now available to hear, thanks to Lara Pelligrinelli at NPR’s A Blog Supreme<\/a>. The 23rd annual BMI\/New York Jazz Orchestra concert, featuring “New Works for Big Band” and the naming (not yet publicized) of the winner of the 11th Annual Charlie Parker Jazz Composition Prize<\/a>. I’m looking for a third item regarding really large scale opportunities for jazz composers (and listeners), but the student competitions, festival appearances, and other emanations of a tradition which by the logic of the marketplace ought to be pretty much over are too plentiful to start to mention (ok, here’s one: Savannah’s 6th Annual Patriotic Big Band Salute <\/a>on July 4 starring Jeremy Davis and the Fabulous Equinox Orchestra).<\/font><\/p>\n


\nNot that symphonic compositions, writings for big band and holiday blow-outs are all the same, but I idly wonder if continued interest in massive ensembles is a result of multitudes of jazz-college graduates looking for the comforts of company. Even Duke Ellington asked Will Big Bands Ever Come Back? <\/i>in 1965, as the original title for an album<\/a> which included this fine rendition of the American anthem by George Gershwin, “Rhapsody In Blue” (thanks to <\/i>A Blog Supreme’s David Brent Johnson for the heads up on this). <\/p>\n

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