Picasso(s): Interactions

This is a 4-movement composition for improvising jazz ensemble. The music is a development of a piece that I wrote for solo saxophone as part of my PhD project, and was funded by a grant from Arts Council England. The main research aim was to challenge the idea that freedom of pitch choice should be considered a fundamental aspect of contemporary jazz practice, which then provided a framework for a wider conceptual examination of themes relating to creativity and originality in contemporary jazz practice.

The suite is based on the concept of 'pitch limitation', with each of the 4 movements using a different approach to the same set of pitches, themselves derived from Coleman Hawkins' 1948 recording 'Picasso'.

Part 1 is entirely composed and explores the use of orchestration in relation to pitch limitation. Part 2 uses conduction, a series of hand gestures, to lead the ensemble. Part 3 uses the pitches in order, with each individual performer deciding when to play every pitch in the sequence. Part 4 is a composed melody played in unison.