Select Compositions

Jazz Symphonies

Symphony #1 in F Minor: The Classical Symphony (identity 36) 

     Movement I:  Allegro alla Swing

     Movement II:  Jazz Ballad

     Movement III:  Jazz Waltz

     Movement IV:  Jazz Fugue Fantasia

     Symphony #3 in D Minor: Enigmatic Perfections (identity 63)

     Movement I:  Dance of Live (Sonata in Jazz waltz style)

     Movement II:  View from a Precipice (Jazz Lament, dedicated to the memory of Milt Jckson)

     Movement III:  Our Legacy (alla Ragtime/Trio)

     Movement IV:  Jazz Fugue Fantasia (On With the Chase)

Symphony #4 in F Major: Juneteenth  (identity 34.1)

     Movement I:  Allegro alla Rag 

     Movement II:  Adagio alla Spiritual 

     Movement III:  Sankofa (8:08)

     Movement IV:  Finale alla Introduction and Fugue 

Publisher: American Composers Alliance

Symphony #6 in A Flat Major Homage to Ragtime (116F)

     Movement I: Allegro Alla Rag (11:43)

     Movement II: (9:25)

     Movement III: Ragtem Intermezzo (9:09)

    Movement IV: Fugue alla Rag (6:00)

     Symphony #7 in A Major (identity 133)

     Movement I: Sonato Allegro alla Swing

     Movement II: Jazz Ballad (Obscure Vision)

     Movement III: Jazz Waltz 

     Movement IV:  Jazz Fugue

Symphony #8: Echoes from a Simpler Time (identity 159)

     Movement I: Lullaby and Jazz Fugue 

     Movement II: Doo-Wop Nocturne

     Movement III: Jazz Waltz 

     Movement IV:  Allegro alla Swing

Symphony #9: Symphony of  Prayers

(Poet and Orchestra)

     Movement I: Spiritual Choral Fugue

     Movement II: Jazz Ballad (Mr. Leaf)

     Movement III: Rag (Homage to God Rag)

     Movement IV:  Spiritual (Steal Away)

     Movement V: Jazz Fugue (The Gift)

Symphony #10

     Movement I: Allegro alla Swing

     Movement II: Jazz Ballad

     Movement III: Modern Rag

     Movement IV: Fuge in G Major alla Ngoma

Symphony #11

     Movement I: Allegro alla Swing

     Movement II: Elegie

     Movement III: Canonic Swing

     Movement IV: Jazz Fugue at the Second

Symphony #12: Bebop Remenicense (identity 168)

     Movement I: Jazz Fugue alla Bebop

     Movement II: Jazz Ballad

     Movement III: Canonic Swing

     Movement IV: Jazz Fugue in A Minor

Symphony #15: New Beginning (identity 173)

     Movement I: Quadruple Jazz Fugue

     Movement II: Jazz Ballad

     Movement III: Canonic Swing/ Second Line

     Movement IV: Fugue in E Minor

Cantata/ Oratorio

Al-Inkishafi (Identity 14)

(Symphony Orchestra and Chorus)

This beautiful and meditative oratorio is a choral/symphonic setting of an East African poem.  The premiere performance was on April 21, 1984, at the University of Texas Performing Arts Center Grande Concert Hall, featuring Ms. Barbara Conrad of the Metropolitan Opera (Mezzo-Soprano Soloist), actor Moses Gunn (English Narrator), John “Mtembezi” Inniss (Kiswahili Narrator), Chuck Davis of the New York based Chuck Davis Dance Company (Choreographer), the Southern University Chorus of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Maestro Sung Kwak and the Austin Symphony Orchestra.  Note:  This work is in the artist's manuscript.

      Featuring:

     Mezzo-Soprano Soloist 

      English Narrator

      Kiswahili Narrator

      Ballet

Publisher: Universit Microfilms International, 1981

Chrismons

(Jazz Cantata)

     Movement I: Overture     

     Movement II: O Joseph, Son of David

     Movement III: From you O' Bethelehem

     Movement IV: Take the Child and His Mother

      Movement V: Lamb of God Movement VI: He who Follows Him

     Movement VII: I am the Alpha and the Omega

Symphonic Poem

Genesis (identity 175)

(Jazz-Choral Symphonic Poem)

     Movement I: Day One - Darkness and the Spirit of God

     Movement II: Day Two - Firmament

     Movement III: Day Three - Creation of the Earth

     Movement IV: Day Four - Greater and Lesser Lights

     Movement V: Day Five - Creatures of the Sea

     Movement VI: Day six - Creatures of the Earth

     Movement VII: Day Seven - Blessed Day of Rest VII

Chamber Orchestra

Elegy for Mr. Alvin Batiste (identity 121)

(featuring flute soloist)

CD: From the Heart 2007 

Publisher: American Composers Alliance

Elton's Nocturne (identity 51.3)

(featuring flute soloist) 

CD: From the Heart 2007

The Portal (The Little Fugue in G Minor) (identity 122)

Publisher: American Composers Alliance

Corsica (Identity 45.2)

(featuring viola soloist)

CD: From the Heart 2007

Publisher: American Composers Alliance

Three Charts (identity 19.2)

(featuring flute soloist)

Three vernacular melodies:

1. "In Search of an Angel" (Identity 19.2a)  Jazz Adagio
2. "Deceiver My Love"  (Identity 19.2b) Allegro alla Neo-Bebop 
3. "Nakupenda" (Identity 19.2c) Ballad (CD: From the Heart 2007)

Asante Sana Sana (identity 18.2)

(featuring flute soloist)

Kiswahili for 'Thank You Very Much'.  The composer dedicated this work to Oprah Winfrey upon hearing of the work she did in Africa.

CD:  From the Heart, 2007

Publisher: American Composers Alliance

Swing for Violin and Orchestra (identity 136)

(featuring violin)

Undulations

CD:  From the Heart, 2007

Publisher: American Composers Alliance

Three Rag Offerings (identity 7)

(in three movements)

Rag and Fugue (identity 73)

Chamber Ensembles 

String Quartet in G Minor (Identity 162)

(for viola and violoncello)

     Movement I:  Allegro alla Swing

     Movement II:  Blues Fugue in A Minor                                         

     Movement III:  The Portal (Identity 122)                      

     Movement IV:  Spiritual alla Swing

Songs Softspoken (Identity 113)

1.  "Appassionata"
2.  "Katrina Lament"(Publisher: American Composers Alliance)
3.  "From the Heart"        
4.  "Eternally Yours" 
5. "Dark Beauty"      

Baching the Blues

(15 blues variations for flute and harp)

Publisher: American Composers Alliance

Bop'n the Rag Blues

(for flute and piano)

Publisher: American Composers Alliance

Deep River (Ricercare)

(for choir and piano)

Publisher: American Composers Alliance

Rhythm Sonata (1-13)

Rhythm Sonata No. 1: flute, drum set, harp, viola,violoncello(Publisher: American Composers Alliance)

Rhythm Sonata No. 2 - 13: vibraphone, harpsicord, cello, drum set

Three Rags (identity 164)

(for flute and piano)

     A. Rag in C Minor

     B. Rag in E Major

     C. Solemn Rag

Blues Invention No. 2 

(for flute and harp)

Jazz Orchestra

Don’t Get Around Much Anymore (Identity 37d) 

This arrangement of Duke Ellington's masterpiece is scored for jazz orchestra and tenor vocalist - though the arrangement is equally suitable for soprano vocalist. It is essentially true to Ellington's original harmonic and lyrical conception, but offers in addition new orchestrational and accompanimental features. Some reharmonization of the lyric is also featured. Key of C.

Instrumentation:  Jazz Orchestra (7 brass)

Featuring:  Tenor Vocalist (though the arrangement is equally suitable for Soprano Vocalist)

Publisher: Greeley, Colorado: The University of Northern Colorado Jazz Press

Round Midnight (Identity 37b)

(alto flute, harp, strings)

Presenting an arrangement of a Thelonius Monk composition  scored for Alto Flute, Harp and String Orchestra. The tempo and harmonic structure of the original preserved, but embellished and enriched by countermelodies, reharmonization and a softer, more symphonic orchestration. The tempo accelerates at the start of the improvisational section, providing an effective dramatic contrast to the opening and closing statements of the theme.  This work is ideal for both jazz and classical chamber groups that feature the appropriate instrumental resources. It can also be performed by contralto or mezzo-soprano soloist substituting for,or singing along with, the alto flute in all but the improvisation section.

Publisher:  Greeley, Colorado:  The University of Northern Colorado Jazz Press, 1999

Double Fugue on the Theme by Duke Ellington

Jazz Passacaglia

(Parts I and II)

Tribute to Duke, Count Jimmy, Quincy, Tadd, and Thadd for Piano and Orchestra

Blues Prelude and Fugue

Jazz Chamber Ensembles

Maple Leaf Rag (Identity 66:3a)

This is one of five Joplin arrangements written for small jazz chamber ensemble

Publisher: Greenly, Colorado: The University of  Northern Colorado Jazz Press

Publisher:  Greeley, Colorado:  The University of Northern Colorado Jazz Press

The Chrysanthemum (Identity 66:3c)  

This is one of five Joplin arrangements written for small jazz chamber ensemble

Publisher: Greeley, Colorado: The University of Northern Colorado Jazz Press

The Strenuous Life (Identity 66:3e)

This is one of five Joplin arrangements written for small jazz chamber ensemble

Publisher: Greeley, Colorado: The University of  Northern Colorado Jazz Press

Piano

Song for Annell (Identity 11)

A classic blues fantasy performed in Boston, New York, and Santa Barbara.

Publisher: American Composers Alliance

Preludes for the Young Pianist  (Identity 5)

1.  "Lullaby for Sonny"  
2.  "Song of the Fourth"
3. "Clouds"

Afro-Inventions Book 1 (Identity 38.1)

Twelve Inventions in African-derived styles.

     1.  Swing

          DVD:  Eclectic Musings, 2006

     2.  Rag

     3.  Ngoma

     4.  New Orleans

     5.  Traditional Calypso

     6.   Afro-Latin 

​​​     7.  Neo-Salsa

           DVD: Eclectic Musings 2006

     8.  Afro-Latin

     9.  Neo Funk

          DVD:  Eclectic Musings, 2006

   10.  Swing

   11. Neo-New Orleans

   12.  Neo-Bop

Publisher: American Composers Alliance

Classic Rags Book One

1. "Wash Rag"
2. "N.I.K. Rag"
3. "The Mellow Rag"
4. "The Chicago Rag"
5. "She Puts the Itch in Bitch"
6. "Rag for a New Heart"
7. "Perk Me Up"
8. "Joplin Lives"
9. "In a Meeting Rag"
10. "Funny Bone"
11. "Festive Rag"
12. "Birthday Rag"
13. "A Tinge of the Orient"
14. "A Ragtime Offerning"
15. "The Elton Rag in C Major"

Amazing Grace

(flute and piano OR flute harp and strings)

CD:  From the Heart, 2007

Publisher: American Composers Alliance

Piano Rags

Festive Rag (Identity 147)

A Glimpse Into Another World Rag (Identity 150)

Birthday Rag (Identity 91.1)

A Night in Chicago Rag (Identity 94)

In a Meeting Rag (Identity 104)

Joplin Lives (Identity 108)

My Neah Rag (Identity 89)

Beauty in Darkness Rag

The Budding Rose Rag (Identity 1)

Afro Fugues in Three Parts

(Volume I)

1. Affro Fugue in G Major alla New Orleans
2. Fugue alla Swing in G Minor
3. Blues Fugue in C Minor
4. Fugue in G Major alla Ngoma
5. Fugue in F Minor alla Quasi Ngoma
6. Blues Fugue in D Minor
7. Fugue in A Minor alla Doo-Wop
8. Fuge at the Third in E Minor
9. Three Part Fugue in C Major
10. Three Part Fugue in G Minor

Afro Fugues: Extraordinary Fugues in Three Voices

​

1. Fugue at the Sixth alla Quasi New Orleans
2. Fugue at the Seventh in D Minor
3. Extraordinary Fugue in F at the Second alla Quasi Swing
4. Extraordinary Fugue in C Major  
5. Extraoridnary Fugue at the Second