arrange • compose • conduct
Posts about vocal jazz.
One of the gifts of teaching music beyond the Western canon is the opportunity to teach music that does not hold score fidelity as an essential ingredient. Vocal harmony music – vocal jazz, contemporary a cappella, and related genres – offers a multitude of opportunities to teach beyond the score. […]
When we differentiate between foreground, middleground, and background parts in vocal music, the shorthand tends to be about dynamics – volume. Louder for the foreground, quieter for the background. But there is more to differentiating these parts than just pure decibel change. Volume change. Naturally. Timbre change. Brighter, more core […]
I have been blessed with some fabulous Patrons on Patreon supporting me in creating new vocal music every month. In April, my project was an a cappella SATB arrangement of “What’ll I Do?” – the classic Irving Berlin ballad that recently entered the public domain. Patreon supporters get free access […]
“I don’t like their voice” is about the least compelling criticism I’ve ever heard. Almost any singer whose voice is distinctive from the average sound is going to receive this criticism. I’ve heard it recently about both Jacob Collier and Lin-Manuel Miranda. But I could have heard it said about […]
Please enjoy Shades of Blue’s virtual recording of “Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens” – out in virtual choir style now. It was the hardest chart we recorded remotely this year. Darmon Meader’s writing never disappoints, and this is a fun and silly song for him to play with. It […]
It’s my end-of-school-year tradition to publish the repertoire my ensemble sang over the year. With my fourth year at GRCC in the books, here are the pieces Shades of Blue learned and performed. Shades of Blue had eight singers (2-2-2-2) in the fall semester and nine singers (2-2-3-2) in the […]
I consider the albums recorded by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong (Ella and Louis, Ella and Louis Again, and Porgy and Bess) to be some of the most important jazz vocal albums of all time. The playing, the singing, the swinging, the sheer joy of these albums is immeasurable. I […]
I was part of my first live concert in 15 months today. The first concert after the long quiet. The last time I went that long between musical performances, I was a toddler. Thank you, Shades of Blue, for your yesness. For facing the many challenges of 2020 and 2021, […]
Please join me and GRCC Shades of Blue this Friday for a real, live, in-person concert! We’ll be presenting an evening of vocal jazz outdoors on GRCC’s campus. There will be lawn seating – bring blankets! Music will include three group numbers, as well as five solo songs that Shades […]
My new Patreon is focused on creating a new vocal/choral work each month, and a big part of that is arranging songs newly released into the public domain. In April, I created a new SATB arrangement of the Irving Berlin standard “What’ll I Do?” – and I’m working to find […]