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Freer ör Edgier - Mark Watkins
Freer ör Edgier came about as a request for a tune that was "freer or edgier." The music of the late Esbjörn Svensson and E.S.T were influential to this composition. The motif is spun out a la a 21st-Centruy Bach counterpoint with a broken jazz feel. Solo sections are in 8- and 4-bar units of layered accompaniment inspired by but sounding nothing like Tower of Power funk.
Ornithology - Charlie Parker, arranged by Mark Watkins
A tribute to the legendary Charlie Parker, this composition realizes two different Parker solos. One is treated contrapuntally while the other is in a homophonic Supersax style. Due to these alto solo settings, improvisation is in the tenor part.
The Revival - Mark Watkins
In contrast to the technically challenging compositions in this recital, The Revival is a hard swinging gospel blues. The composition has two main themes or heads - the first is a quasi stop-time with alto riffs and in the second reference is made to Stanley Turrentine's Prayer Meetin' with its ostinato bass line and sustained melodic material.
Don't Step On Your Neck - Mark Watkins
Compositionally complex, this work is based on fourths, altered and poly-chords, and altered scales. Following a bari cadenza is a technically demanding, energetic shout chorus of layered, driving riffs and almost familiar patterns where the primary difficulty lies in the alto and tenor. The title refers to the travesty of stepping on one's saxophone neckpiece. |
