Collier, G: The Jazz Composer

Graham Collier, born in Tynemouth, England in 1937, is a highly regarded jazz composer, whose music has been compared to that of Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus and Gil Evans. He was the first British graduate of the Berklee School of Music, and the first recipient of an Arts Council jazz bursary. He is the author of several previous books on jazz, and for 12 years was artistic director of the jazz course at the Royal Academy of Music. He currently lives in Greece, where he continues to compose, travelling from there to present concerts and workshops around the world. More on Graham at his website, or jazzcontinuum, his blog and collection of previous writings.

Presents an analysis of the place of the composer in jazz. The author takes a detailed look at the music of Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus and Gil Evans.

contents take time out to listen: introducing the jazz composer. Part One: Defining the Situation. 1 something borrowed, something new: repertoire. 2 jazz happens in real time, once: the performance. 3 well man, we just blow: improvising. 4 who does what when: arranging. Part Two: Showing the Way. 5 one plus one makes three: duke the compiler. 6 thinking of a better way: duke the composer. Part Three: Rediscovering the Potential. 7 why would we want to repeat it?: the jazz museum. 8 infinite possibilities: the revolutionary decade. 9 deepening the game amid the background hum: jazz as art. 10 it ain't who you are (it's the way that you do it): on not being an american. Part Four: Skinning the Cat. 11 no more blues?: reassessing the tradition. 12 don't be afraid: advanced arranging. 13 I hear a symphony: painting new pictures. 14 taking a chance: relinquishing control. Part Five: Directing 14 Jackson Pollocks. 15 rolled steel into gold: a basis for change. 16 'play a rat patrol sound': moving beyond the notes. 17 the final word: recognising the vibrations. Notes. Bibliography. Index.