(cont.) In addition to directing the ensemble, Bruce also performs on bass guitar using the traditional tuning. Though for a number of performances of the Overture he had used a double bass tuned in the g-d-G-C scordatura tuning (the subject of his dissertation), limited studio time required an easier recording medium. Recorded in 1994.
©1993 Bruce Jackson
Browse Month
February 2016
Overture for Jazz Septet (Part 2 of 3)
(cont.) This recording of the Overture was performed by freshmen and sophomore students at Ball State University. The ensemble was under the direction of Bruce Jackson. They had worked together for one academic year and had performed on several student concerts in preparation for this session. Recorded in 1994. (Description continued on Part 3)
©1993 Bruce Jackson
Overture for Jazz Septet (Part 1 of 3)
The Overture is one of four compositions included in Bruce Jackson’s doctoral dissertation. The composition is typical of his third stream style influenced by Gunther Schuller, who was serving as President of New England Conservatory of Music while Bruce was a student there. It was Dr. Schuller who encouraged him to develop a program of study that included Jazz Studies and Bass Guitar. Recorded in 1994. (Description continued on Part 2)
©1993 Bruce Jackson
Job, A Modern Oratorio (Part 4 of 4)
(cont.) Special guest vocalists and readers from the community joined the group in this setting of the Book of Job. Readings of the words of the antagonists were accompanied by improvisations on synthesizer and percussion. Recorded in 1980.
©1980 Bruce Jackson
Job, A modern oratorio (Part 3 of 4)
(cont.) This work is typical of his dissonant style with its avoidance on consonant intervals, employment of disjointed melodic lines, and use of contemporary contrapuntal techniques. Recorded in 1980. (Description continued on Part 4)
©1980 Bruce Jackson
Job, A Modern Oratorio (Part 2 of 4)
(cont.) The oratorio was performed under the direction of Dr. Jack Groh by the Schola Cantorum, the premier vocal ensemble of the University of Arkansas. Performers were drawn from the community and the Northwest Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. Recorded in 1980. (Description continued on Part 3)
©1980 Bruce Jackson
Job, A modern oratorio (Part 1 of 4)
This recording is an excerpt from Bruce Jackson’s masters’ thesis at the University of Arkansas. His thesis included a second work titled Sermon of Psalms for Soprano and Quintet, based on Psalms 11 – 15. Recorded in 1980.
©1980 Bruce Jackson
Opera Improvisation
This brief excerpt is an improvisation on themes from Bruce’s latest compositional project. Recording on an old Tascam four-track used for experimentation and exploration, Bruce cut three tracks improvising on themes from the suite that serves as the musical foundation for his opera project. Since concluding his volume of poetry Tales, Politics and Religion, he has been focusing on this major work. Recorded: July 2007.
c2007 Bruce Jackson
Goin’ Fishin’
A musical joke, this up-tempo blues was an early training piece introducing the lads to this important style. This recording omits several verses, since it was recorded for a demo. Though it incorporates a story line utterly out of the experience of the band, it is meant to be nothing more than a bit of tongue-in-cheek. In this recording, Bruce did all the vocals and bass work, Kelsey (age 12) was on synthesizer, and Aaron (age 14) was on percussion. Galen did not perform on this recording. Recorded in 1998.
© 1998 by Exis Jaxn
Fanfare 20th Century
This fanfare is a computer sequence developed during an experimental period working with that medium. This is the third movement titled “War to End War.” It has an anti-war theme that has appeared in many Exis Jaxn compositions. The piece was composed with an inexpensive sequencer called Ballade on a 486 loaded with DOS 6.0 and the LAPC-1 sound card. It was performed at Ball State University in a composer’s forum investigating music and technology. To this day Bruce maintains his 486 for occasional compositional forays back to the dark ages! Recorded in 1992.
© 1992 by Bruce Jackson