Leaves of Grass

About

Named for the poetry of Walt Whitman, this work expresses the humanist and egalitarian ideals of the great poet, integrating a range of musical influences from the American continent, from pastoralism to free jazz to the blues. There is a songlike sense of wonder on 'Opening' which features a fluid soprano saxophone, aptly supported by a rich ensemble chorale. 'A Chants of Paints and Joys' opens with a plaintive alto saxophone over a melancholy brass wail, eventually accelerating into a bittersweet, dance-like theme. Drums herald the transition to 'I Sing the Body Electric', an unabashedly celebratory down-home bluesy piece. The sense throughout Leaves of Grass is of an earthy reflection upon nature, community, and the ups-and-downs of life.