Rebirth of the Third Stream

"Any music stands to profit from a confrontation with another; thus composers of Western art music can learn a great deal from the rhythmic vitality and swing of jazz, while jazz musicians can find new avenues of development in the large-scale forms and complex tonal systems of classical music."
—Gunther Schuller

Ken Schaphorst conducts the NEC Jazz Orchestra in a  tribute to the genre reinvention that Gunther Schuller brought to NEC 40 years ago, and that has evolved into today's Contemporary Improvisation program. Pianist Ran Blake (in photo), founding chair of NEC's Third Stream/Contemporary Improvisation program, joins the group for one number.

The program walks through the evolution of music that fits the Third Stream definition and its evolution: jazz compositions that are orchestrated with the complexity of a classical symphony; classical works that have been "recomposed" by jazz musicians; original works by classical and jazz composers that blend genres.

Duke Ellington A Tone Parallel to Harlem
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, arr. Gil Evans Arab Dance
J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie, arr. Bob Graettinger You Go to My Head
Bob Graettinger Modern Opus
Charles Mingus, arr. Sy Johnson The Shoes of the Fisherman's Wife Are Some Jive-Ass Slippers
Leonard Bernstein Prelude, Fugue, and Riffs
Steve Lacy Worms
Ran Blake, arr. Ken Schaphorst Horace is Blue with Ran Blake, piano
George Russell All About Rosie

Jon Garelick writes about this concert in the Phoenix.

NEC Jazz Orchestra

Saxophones
Will Bridges, alto
Billy McShane, alto
Hery Paz, tenor
Jack Finucane, tenor
Tyler Burchfield, baritone

Trumpets
Matt Joseph
Kai Sandoval
David Neves
Aaron Dubenion
Josh Gilbert

Trombones
Quinn Carson
Dan Gabel
Eric Stilwell
Michael Prentky

Rhythm Section
Nikolaos Anadolis, piano
Ben Eunson, guitar
Zwelakhe Bell le Pere, bass
Willie Rodriguez, drums

Guests
Zoe Christiansen, clarinet
Luke Park, clarinet and alto saxophone
Alex Henton, Jennifer Hyde, horn
Lucas Jensen, bass trombone