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Roger Aldridge
Composer
About Me
I am primarily a jazz composer. A wide range of influences are
found in my music including tango, blues, samba, fusion, ragtime,
contemporary classical, American roots music, and other kinds of
music that interest me.
Jazz Composition, Berklee College of Music 1968.
BA Composition, McKendree University 1973.
MA Composition, Highlands University 1974.
Jazz and classical composition teachers include Herb Pomeroy,
Charlie Mariano, John LaPorta, William Maloof, John Bavicchi,
Dr. Robert Wykes, Dr. Stephanie Owen, and Dr. Champ Tyrone.
Listed in International Who's Who in Music.
Independent artist. A selection of my music is licensed for use in
TV, film, theater, and other visual media through Zudo Music
and Directional Music.
Recent Work:
MUSIC FOR MID-SIZE JAZZ ENSEMBLE. Instead of thinking of a mid-
size ensemble as a smaller version of a big band, a woodwind
quintet – with each instrument having a distinct tone color – is
envisioned as a role model. My scores use flexible instrumentation
to enable the music to be performed by many combinations of
instruments. Stylistically, the music covers a wide range from
American roots music to avant-garde.
DONUT MUSIC (solo guitar). Commissioned by Keith Calmes. The
composition was inspired by a line in a story written by my
granddaughter Eillonwy (then 8 years old): “Sitting in a dark
room, eating a chocolate donut”. The music represents a stream of
memories, images, and thoughts as one’s life is contemplated over
a donut. Written in 9 movements (or bites), the composition draws
upon various roots-based musical styles including blues,
Appalachian, tango, jazz, and samba.
MUSIC FOR TANGO-JAZZ BAND. Each piece in this series expresses a
particular quality of the tango.
BUZZARDS IN LOVE (wind ensemble). This composition turns the sound
of a wind ensemble or concert band into that of a contemporary
jazz orchestra. The music tells a story about two buzzards finding
each other. Section titles in the score include: buzzard search
for life’s meaning, buzzard attraction, buzzard tango, buzzard
dating, roadkill interlude (open improvisation section), and
buzzard love in the sky. This piece has a spirit of fun and
adventure.
ORIGINAL TUNES AND EXTENDED PIECES. Lead sheets for solo
instruments and small groups.
My Jazz Story
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