Description

Commissioned by Kirk Clague for the Exeter Union High School Jazz Ensemble

In The Present is a medium tempo contemporary swing chart with a lot of metric, harmonic, and dynamic surprises. It’s a great chance to show off your drummer and soloists, and would be an ideal opener or second tune for your festival set. Less experienced soloists will shine on the modal solo section (only a few chords), and those with more experience can really stretch out as well. Solo sheets included the correct scales and some ideas to get soloists started.

I’m grateful to my friend Kirk Clague, a wonderful educator and bassist, for commissioning me to write this piece for his band. In The Present is also dedicated to the memory of our dear friend, colleague, and fantastic drummer Brian Hamada. The subtitle, “Shikata Ga Nai,” means “it can’t be helped” (so often true in life) and reminds us to live in the present.

Publisher: Mike Dana Music

Listen to the audio demo here

See a score sample here

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