Artistry In Rhythm (Artistry In Metal)
 

 

This is my take on Stan Kenton's theme Artistry In Rhythm, which has been subtitled Artistry In Metal. The chart was actually written quite a few years ago for a band my daughter had at the time, a metal band with a brass section (hence the subtitle). Sometime in 2020 I had sent Michael Kim a midi demo of the arrangement. He called and asked if he could record it and, if I was OK with that idea, would I mind adding a solo trumpet part.

 

I've known Michael for about 10 years and it's always great to see young musicians pursue their dreams. He is a great trumpet player, who seems to make playing in the extreme upper register look effortless. It was a pleasure working with him, his production team and all the great players you see in the video.

 

 

CONNECTIONS

 

Off to Winnipeg, Manitoba for the premiere of a new co-composition titled Connections, composed with Jean-Nicolas Trottier from Montreal. I'll be directing and Jean-Nicolas will be in the trombone section. This is a 46 minute, 8 movement work. I discuss the work with Classic 107 host Chris Wolf which you can find on my video page. 

 

Back to the Future

with Fred Stride & Jean-Nicolas Trottier

SUNDAY, November 27, 2022, 2:00 pm. Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG) - 300 Memorial Blvd.

 

The Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra looks back to the future with performances of forward-looking music by artists that shaped jazz to come. We present a world premiere co-composition by composer/historian Fred Stride from Vancouver and composer/musician Jean-Nicolas Trottier from Montreal. A multi-movement work, Connections, shows inspiration from many of the great classic big band composers like Duke Ellington, Bill Holman and Thad Jones. This work is a collaboration between two of Canada’s most active big band writers. Fred Stride has led a big band for over 40 years, and has been influenced by many of the great jazz orchestra composers such as Duke Ellington, Bill Holman, Thad Jones, Ron Collier and many others. Though from a younger generation of writers, Jean-Nicolas has also also been influenced by Ellington and Jones, and by trombonist Slide Hampton.

These musical influences will be on display in their joint composition (called “Connections”) that the WJO will perform on November 27, commissioned by the WJO with assistance from the Canada Council. Other pieces on the program include Ellington’s I’m Gonna Go Fishing, Hampton’s Slide’s Derangement, and Thad Jones’ Quietude.
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Avec des interprétations de musique d’avant-garde par des artistes qui ont façonné l’avenir du jazz. Avec une toute nouvelle composition de Fred Stride et Jean-Nicolas Trottier 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saskatoon Jazz Orchestra - Pictures at an Exhibition Re-Imagined

 

Heading off to Saskatoon for a concert on Saturday, April 29, 2023 with the wonderful Saskatoon Jazz Orchestra. This is my third concert with the band and this time we'll be playing my big band arrangement of Modest Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition along with a few other compositions and arrangements to fill out the program.

 

I orginally wrote this arrangement in 2004 for my UBC Jazz Ensemble. It was inspired by an arrangement I had made of The Old Castle the year before for a performance at the North American Saxophone Alliance Conference (NASA) which was hosted that year at UBC. This got me interested in looking at the other movements to see if I could twist and turn them into big band arrangements. The original piano pieces by Mussorgsky ran about 30 minutes, this new version, or re-imagining, now runs to 60 minutes. Most of the increase in performance time is due to letting various soloists loose to have a say and contribute in a creative way to the music. The ensemble and several soloists are featured quite prominantly - so perhaps a better title might be Pictures Of A Jazz Orchestra.

 

Info at https://saskatoonjazzorchestra.com/events/

 

April 29, 2023, 7:30 pm Broadway Theatre Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

An International Jazz Day Eve celebration featuring the one and only guest conductor and arranger Fred Stride. Join us on the eve of International Jazz Day for this very special night of music making as award winning Canadian composer Fred Stride guest conducts the SJO and sharing his extraordinary compositions and arrangements. As the centerpiece of this concert, the SJO will present Modest Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition reimagined through the creative mind of the one and only Fred Stride.

 

A review from North Sask Music Scene

 

Four Stellar Jays

 

The Vetta Chamber Music society commissioned Four Stellar Jays, a work for violin, piano, soprano saxophone and bass. The resulting jazz-influenced work is being premiered from March 11 through March 14, 2021.

Info: https://vettamusic.com/concerts

The Saskatchewan Suite
 

 

In 2019 the Regina Jazz Society commissioned me to compose a one hour suite telling the story of 150 years of history and culture of the province of Saskatchewan, through the sounds of big band jazz. The concert, which was filmed and recorded, featuring the resulting Saskatchewan Suite, occured in Regina, Saskatchewan on December 28, 2019. The big band, the Saskachewan All Star Big Band, was made up of some of the finest Sasakatchewan musicians, many brought home from afar for the occasion. The cd/dvd package is being released by Chronograph Records April 2021.

Info:   https://chronographrecords.com/releases/saskatchewan-suite/