Latin GRAMMY-Winning Tango
Con Un Nudo En La Garganta (“With a knot in the throat”)
Just as the expression connotes the inability to express something adequately, this piece tries to convey what words cannot. Out of all my compositions for big band, this is unquestionably the one that, both in spirit and in style, is closest to tango, the distinctive urban sound of the Rio de la Plata.
Mate Amargo (“Bitter mate tea”)
Mate is a tea typically drunk out of a dried gourd with a metal straw (bombilla) in the southern part of South America. It is a stimulant, similar to coffee, and very bitter when had without sweeteners, which is exactly what Mate Amargo means: unsweetened (or literally “bitter” mate). This movement is based on the folkloric rhythm of chacarera, a Spanish-influenced Argentine style written in 6/8 which constantly superimposes the feel of 6/8, 3/4 and 2/4 meters.
Eir
The struggles that women have to deal with on a daily basis because of inequality and a society based on patriarchy are gradually coming to the forefront of our consciousness, not only to women but to men. After reading a heartfelt and painful statement by Shannon Barnet, the WDR Big Band trombonist, about her many struggles as a woman in the male dominated jazz world, I decided to write a piece to feature her that depicted women as resilient and silent fighters. After some research about female warriors, I found Eir, the medieval Norwegian Valkyrie of peace and clemency. This piece is devoted to these ideals.
Lapidario (“Merciless”)
In Spanish, lapidario is an adjective that we Argentineans often use idiomatically to describe a comment that is merciless, cutting, and hurtful. This piece has two contrasting themes, one very aggressive based on the imposition of different major and minor triads; the other more melodic and nostalgic, each reflecting the different aspects of the lapidario comment.
La Ley Primera – (“The First Law”)
This piece is inspired by the famous long poem “Martin Fierro” by José Hernández (1834 –1886), and Argentinean children grow up familiar with many quotes from it. One of my favorites is “Los hermanos sean unidos, porque esa es la ley primera, y si entre ellos se pelean, los devoran los de afuera” (“Brothers should be united, because that’s the most important law, and if they argue, they will be devoured by outsiders”). This is one of the simplest tunes I have written in a long time; it’s based on the Argentine rhythm and form of the zamba, almost unaltered, and features mainly one voice: the alto sax.
Chicharrita – Big Band
See video! 2 versions will be downloaded, one featuring the flute (as in the video) and another in which the flute part is played by the soprano.
Mentiras Piadosas – Big Band
“Zum” (Tango) by Astor Piazzolla
As played by the orchestra of Osvaldo Pugliese and adapted for quartet.
“Patético” (Tango) by Jorge Caldara
As played by the orchestra of Osvaldo Pugliese and adapted for quartet.
“Mala Junta” (Tango) by J. De Caro & P. Laurenz
As played by the orchestra of Osvaldo Pugliese and adapted for quartet.