PULLMAN, Wash. Music from the classic 1961 recording “Blues and the Abstract Truth” by Oliver Nelson will be performed by the Washington State University faculty ensemble Jazz Northwest at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12, in Kimbrough Concert Hall, part of the WSU Faculty Artist Series.
Proceeds from ticket sales benefit the School of Music Scholarship Fund. Tickets, on sale one hour before the performance in the Kimbrough lobby, cost $10 general admission, $5 senior citizens 60 and older and non-WSU students, and free for WSU students with ID.
Jazz Northwest is directed by Frederick “Dave” Snider. Featured soloists are Gregory Yasinitsky, alto saxophone; David Turnbull, trumpet; David Jarvis, drum set; David Hagelganz, tenor saxophone; Brian Ward, piano; and Snider, string bass. Graduate student Matt Lanka will play baritone saxophone for this concert.
“Blues and the Abstract Truth” is an exploration of the mood and structure of the 12-bar blues and variations with one chart based on rhythm changes. Some historians regard the album as a continuation of the trend toward greater harmonic simplicity and subtlety via reimagined versions of the blues that was initiated by Miles Davis’ album “Kind of Blue.”
Jazz Northwest will perform six compositions from the recording. “Stolen Moments” is the most famous: the melody is 16 bars and the solos are in a conventional 12-bar minor blues. “Hoe-Down” is a 44-bar structure, and the solos are based on George Gershwin’s “I’ve Got Rhythm.”
“Cascades” modifies the traditional 32-bar AABA form by using a 16-bar minor blues for the A section, stretching the form to a total of 56 bars. The three remaining compositions are based on the 12-bar form with chord variations.
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